Queenstowns best summer activities: a first‑timer’s guide to sunshine, scenery and thrills

Our selection of Queenstowns best summer activities has something for everyone.

Queenstown in summer (December to February) is pure joy: long golden evenings (think 9.30pm sunsets), a sparkling Lake Wakatipu and big-sky alpine views in every direction.

If it’s your first visit, this handpicked list of Queenstowns best summer activities balances high-adrenaline icons with relaxed, romantic and family-friendly favorites that are consistently praised by travelers.

Book a couple of must-dos, leave room to relax, and let the lake and mountains do the rest.

Read on to find out about our choices for Queenstowns best summer activities.

Here's our top 10 picks for Queenstowns best summer activities

1) Shotover Jet Queenstown - Beach 3 Arthurs Point Road Arthurs Point

The Shotover Jet Queenstown is one of Queenstown's original thrills, and one of Queenstowns best summer activities.

As you drive through Arthurs Point the sound of the jetboat can be heard on the Shotover River below, and as you cross the old bridge, it comes into sight, and the anticipation builds. Wow!

After a safety briefing it's time to board, and then you are off.

The skilled skipper takes you on a thundering ride through the narrow Shotover River canyons at hair-tingling speeds. As your captain gives a hand signal there's a sense of excitement, and then your skipper throws the boat into a 360° spin. On our last ride, people were yelling and cheering, which I'm sure just encourages the driver to do another spin, lol.

We love the Shotover Jet!

• Good for: Adventure seekers, teens and up, groups.
• Plan it: Allow 1.5 hours door-to-door. Morning runs often mean calmer winds and clearer water. Bring sunglasses with a strap; you may get a light spray.
• Parking: free parking available on site.
• Accessibility: there is clear wheelchair access from the car park to the base building. Staff can provide vehicle access from the base to the beach area if needed.
• Did you know that the jetboat is a New Zealand invention? Sir Charles Hamilton developed the jetboat to allow access along shallow waterways near his home.

2) Skyline Queenstown Gondola and Luge - 53 Brecon Street Queenstown

If you've been planning a trip to Queenstown, you will probably have found some iconic photos taken from up high looking down on the town and Lake Wakatipu. Chances are, they were taken from Bob's Peak.

The Skyline Gondola takes you more than 400 metres above Queenstown to Bob’s Peak for those jaw dropping views across Queenstown and the Remarkables. The gondola ride up to the top is simply stunning, and we always find ourselves looking below for points of interest as we ascend. It all looks so different from up here.

At the top, there's a range of activities, including a cafe, restaurant, gift shop, star gazing, and access to some of New Zealand's leading mountain bike trails. But the view draws us out to the observation decks, and we always spend time out there taking it all in.

But our favourite activity is the luge. It's an addictive thrill for all ages, and we love racing down the luge track, only centimetres above the ground (trying to stay focussed is difficult with those views). For beginners, the helpful staff will guide you to the easier track for your first run.

The Queenstown gondola and luge is definitely one of Queenstowns best summer activities, where just one ride is not enough. 

• Good for: Families, couples, first-timers.
• Plan it: Go early or late afternoon to dodge peak queues. Combo passes with multiple luge runs offer the best value. Sunset up here is spectacular on clear days, and we recommend a window seat for an evening dinner at Stratosfare.
• Parking: There is a multi level pay for use car park at the Skyline base in Brecon Street.
• Accessibility: The Skyline complex is wheelchair-friendly, and the Gondola cabins allow wheelchairs to roll directly in without any lip to negotiate. Please be aware that the tracks around the complex are not wheelchair accessible, nor is the Moonlight Theatre.

3) Onsen Hot Pools - 160 Arthurs Point Road Arthurs Point

After a day exploring the regions delights, it's time to relax in one of Queenstown's fantastic hot tubs or pools. Imagine laying back in your own private hot tub, surrounded by some of the most inspiring scenery imaginable.

Perhaps the most popular are the Onsen Hot Pools. Located at Arthurs Point, overlooking the Shotover River and canyon, this is serenity personified.

Private cedar tubs are framed by sliding windows that open to a stunning canyon view over the Shotover River. Soft lighting at dusk makes it extra dreamy and romantic.

They offer a free shuttle from town which you will need to book as part of your pool booking.

• Good for: Couples, honeymooners, anyone craving calm.
• Plan it: Summer slots book out—reserve weeks ahead if you can. Evening and twilight sessions go first.
• Parking: There's free onsite parking available for cars. There's no parking for campervans or motorhomes.
• Accessibility: There's a winding, one hundred metre downhill walk, on a gravel track, from the car park to the Onsen complex. The track has a gentle slope and is wheelchair accessible, but the trip back up to the car park can have some challenges if mobility is limited. Access to the main pool area is wheelchair friendly but access to the cedar hot tubs involves a few stairs.

4) TSS Earnslaw Cruise + Walter Peak BBQ - departs from the RealNZ Visitor Centre, Steamer Wharf, 88 Beach St Queenstown

Want to see Queenstown from a different perspective? The views from out on the lake take on a whole new level of wonder, as the mountains behind the town unfold. It also gives you a wonderful view of how interwoven the town is with the mountainous topography.

The historic TSS Earnslaw is a century-old steamship offering several options, including cruise only, cruise and lunch/dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm, farm tours (the kids love this), and horse treks.

This has to be one of the most relaxing experiences available in Queenstown, and we love sitting back with a coffee or beverage and watching the world go by (the hot muffins are yummy). The small onboard museum is well worth a look, and there's an observation deck where you can watch the engines and the crew as they stoke the fires! The TSS Earnslaw meanders along the lake at a gentle pace, so walking around the observation decks is easy, allowing you to take lots of pictures from different vantage points.

The meals at Walter Peak are the stuff of legend, and feature a wide range of local produce, and plenty to eat. It’s all beautifully run.

• Good for: Families, multi-generational groups, couples.
• Plan it: The lunch sailing is a standout. Sit on deck for Remarkables views; kids love feeding the animals. Allow half a day.
• Parking: Access is right in the Queenstown town centre where free parking is very limited. Paid parking options are available on surrounding streets or at parking stations like Wilson and Man Street.
• Accessibility: The historic TSS Earnslaw is wheelchair accessible, but does not have accessible toilets. The BBQ dining experience and restaurant are wheelchair accessible, but the access to the restaurant from the wharf involves a sloping gravel path, which can be problematic for unassisted wheelchair users. The farm tour and eco experience involve gravel paths, unsuitable for wheelchair users.

5) Gibbston Valley Wine Tasting (tour or bike) - around 20-30 minutes from central Queenstown

The winery area around the Gibbston Valley is often referred to as the “Valley of the Vines”, and our local wineries offer a perfect opportunity to leave the stress of daily life behind.

Hot dry summers, cold winters, and high altitude combine for unique growing conditions. And all set in a landscape featuring towering ranges and deep gorges.

Pinot noir accounts for around seventy percent of production, but chardonnay, pinot gris, riesling and sauvignon blanc are also grown here.

Local cellar doors are welcoming, and if you are looking for a relaxing escape, featuring some wonderful wines and local produce, a long lunch in the Gibbston Valley could be just the thing. And from there, there's still plenty of time and daylight left to head back into town to enjoy some more of Queenstowns charms. Maybe grab a famous Fergburger and a drink at Perky's floating bar?

Companies like Appellation Wine Tours, Altitude Tours and Queenstown Wine Trail are all highly regarded, and you can read about our favourite tours on our dedicated page here.

• Good for: Couples, friends, food lovers.
• Plan it: Join a guided tour for carefree tasting, or rent bikes/e-bikes and follow the off-road trail from Arrowtown to the wineries. Book lunch to anchor the day. Don’t drink and drive.
• Accessibility: local wineries generally cater well for those with mobility issues, but please check the conditions with your chosen tour company before booking.

6) Ben Lomond Track (or Queenstown Hill if you’re short on time)

The Ben Lomond Track is a great challenge, if you are looking for those amazing alpine panoramas without needing any technical mountaineering skills.

Ben Lomond is a full-day leg-burner with huge summit views, and climbs over 1,400 metres to the Ben Lomond Saddle. A moderate level of fitness is required, and in winter, conditions are impacted by snow and ice, making this a challenge suitable for experienced trekkers.

Queenstown Hill is a shorter, but still rewarding climb. Taking 2 to 3 hours, the walk covers a little over 5 kilometres, with access from Belfast Terrace, just a short walk from the town centre. Wonderful views and the "Basket of Dreams" sculpture await you at the summit.

There's lots more information on our "5 Best Short Walks In Queenstown" page.

• Good for: Hikers and photographers.
• Plan it: Start early, carry water, hat and sunscreen, and check track conditions. If you’re tight on time or hiking with kids, Queenstown Hill is ideal.
• Accessibility: Unfortunately not suitable for those with mobility issues. The Frankton Track is an excellent option if mobility is an issue.

7) Kawarau Bridge Bungy (the original) or the Nevis

AJ Hackett’s Kawarau Bridge is the birthplace of commercial bungy, and was our choice for our first bungy way back in the late 1990s.

This legendary location at the Kawarau Gorge is easily accessible from Queenstown (around 20 minutes drive), and should be on your Queenstown bucket list. The Kawarau bungy is right up there on any list of Queenstowns best summer activities.

If you've never jumped before, you may need to build up some courage, like we did, with a visit to the bungy centre, where you can watch others take the plunge. There's a large observation deck, that fills with spectators, who provide lots of encouragement to the next jumper. 

This is not for everyone, but we loved the challenge, and can say, hand on heart, that it's perhaps the most exhilarating thing that we've ever done.

As you stand on the platform, the trained staff do everything to ease your nerves, as they attach the bungy cord and prepare you for your 43 metre (141 ft) descent towards the Kawarau River. They know their stuff, and when we jumped, they even asked us if we wanted to get wet or not! We attempted our best swan dive, and the descent was rapid, and adrenalin pumping. We were surprised by how gentle it was as the cord reached full extension. There was no sudden pull, and we loved bouncing back up after the initial plunge. When you stop bouncing, the attendants at the bottom (who are in a small rubber raft tethered to the river bank) pass a pole to you to hold and they then pull you down towards the raft, where they remove the bungy cord. As we made the climb back up to the top, you couldn't wipe the smile off our faces. We paid extra for the videos of our jumps. This was something we wanted recorded to show our friends and family lol.

Want more? The Nevis Bungy and Nevis Swing ramp up the altitude and the wow.
Good for: Bucket-listers, adrenaline fans.
Plan it: Spectators can watch at Kawarau. The Nevis includes transport from town—book ahead. Check the AJ Hackett website for current age/weight limits, health condition restrictions, and weather calls.

8) Milford Sound Day Trip (fly-cruise or coach-cruise from Queenstown)

No visit to Queenstown would be complete without devoting at least a full day to a visit to Fiordland National Park. Home to Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound, Fiordland National Park is a stunning World Heritage listed region famous for deep dark sounds, thundering waterfalls, and towering peaks that disappear into the clouds.

Milford Sound is perhaps the more popular of the two, and was once described by the famous English author Rudyard Kipling (the Jungle Book) as "the eighth wonder of the world", a title that sits perfectly.

There's lots of discussion about which one you should visit, and we cover that in some detail here, but if time allows, we would stay a couple of nights at Te Anau, and would visit both.

But for this article, we'll concentrate on Milford Sound.

You can read about Milford Sound on our dedicated page, but take it from us, this is one of the most mesmerising places on earth. The sheer grandeur of Milford takes your breath away and as your tour boat leaves the jetty, your eyes are immediately drawn to the towering peaks and waterfalls that surround you. This is one of the wettest places on earth, so clear sunny days are uncommon. But don't despair. When it rains, the waterfalls come alive, and dozens of them thunder down the sheer cliffs into the sound. Depending on your tour, your captain may even nudge the bow of your boat under one of the falls! Your cruise will usually take you out to the mouth of the sound, before turning for home. Wildlife spotting is great fun and dolphins, seals and occasionally penguins frequent the area.

The other point worth mentioning is the drive to Milford Sound from Te Anau. Regarded as one of the finest drives in the world, words can hardly do this route justice. Picture sheer cliffs that are so high, it's almost impossible to tilt your head back far enough to see the peaks, often capped in snow. Waterfalls tumble seemingly from the clouds, and as you near the Homer Tunnel, the scenery takes on an almost other worldly appearance. It reminds us of something from one of the Jurassic Park movies.

A trip to Fiordland is at the top of Queenstowns best summer activities.

So whatever you do, allocate a day to a Milford Sound tour. You won't regret it.

• Good for: Couples, families, nature lovers, photographers.
• Plan it: If budget allows, fly one way and coach the other for two perspectives.
• Pack layers: Milford’s weather changes fast. Book early in peak season.
• Should I drive there? Unless you are staying at Te Anau for the night, we would not drive there from Queenstown. The journey takes between four and five hours each way, on unfamiliar roads. To make a morning or mid-day cruise you would need to leave Queenstown around 5 or 6 am! For this reason, we strongly recommend doing an organised coach/cruise combo from Queenstown. These are long days, but very well run, with expert commentary, some stops along the way at points of interest, and best of all, the luxury of someone else doing the driving.
• What about flying there? This is a wonderful alternative. There are various flight options for your Milford Sound fly cruise from Queenstown, and these make for a much shorter day. Flying is a more expensive option, and flights can be subject to cancellation if the fickle Fiordland weather changes. You can also consider flying one way and coaching back.
• Accessibility can vary between tour providers so please check before booking. 

You can read about a range of Milford Sound tours, read reviews, and book your tour below:

9) Paragliding from Bob’s Peak - leaving from the ZipTrek store at 45 Camp Street

Skytrek Tandem Hang Gliding & Paragliding  are experienced local pilots, and offer an exhilarating experience, from New Zealand's highest commercial take-off.  Established for over 30 years, they pioneered tandem hang gliding in New Zealand, and have flown over 75,000 customers!

After meeting at their office in downtown Queenstown, it's a 20 minute bus ride to Coronet Peak, and as you climb to the take-off point, the excitement builds. What's it going to be like?

After a safety briefing and rigging up, it's just a few running steps, and you’re soaring tandem above Queenstown with your pilot, floating on thermals over the lake and town. 

The views of the Wakatipu valley and beyond are jaw droppingly beautiful. Your highly experienced pilot guides you through the air and it's a truly serene experience. Flying like a bird. Wow!

A smooth landing concludes a memorable experience.

• Good for: First-time flyers, teens and up, couples.
• Plan it: Wind rules the day; keep your schedule flexible. Wear closed shoes and a light jacket. Photo/video packages are popular.
• Accessibility: not suitable for those with mobility issues, heart health issues or children under 6.

10) Queenstown Trail Biking (lake loops or Arrowtown to wineries)

Queenstown is a bike riders paradise. A well planned series of trails connect lakeside paths, historic bridges, rivers and vineyards, and it's a wonderful fun way to explore the region.

The Queenstown Trail is a collection of smaller trails, but totals over 150 kilometres, an can be tackled as a four day odyssey, or just in sections to suit you.  E-bikes make it easy for all fitness levels. Their website is an excellent resource where you can filter the results by time, distance, mobility, and mode of transport (riding/walking etc).

A good starting point is the Frankton Track which snakes its way from central Queenstown, along the shores of Lake Wakatipu, to Frankton.

• Good for: Families, casual riders, scenic seekers.
• Plan it: Start mid-morning to avoid early chill. Take water, sunscreen and a camera. Shuttles can return you to town after one-way rides.
• Accessibility: Have a look at the Queenstown Trail website to filter results.

Handy Tips about Queenstowns 10 Best Summer Activities

• Book the big ones first. Onsen, Milford flights, bungy and Shotover Jet often sell out in December–February.
• Start early. Trails, luge and popular cafes are quieter before late morning.
• Be sun smart. UV is strong—hat, sunglasses, SPF 50+, and plenty of water.
• Mix your pace. Alternate big-adventure mornings with lazy lake afternoons or time in the vines.
• Think about combinations, like the Shotover Jet and the Onsen Hot Pools, both at Arthurs Point.
• Check requirements. Age/height/weight limits, weather and river levels can change—confirm the day before.

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