Unique New Zealand experiences

Are you heading to Queenstown New Zealand looking for some unique New Zealand experiences?

With an amazing diversity of landscapes, a strong Maori heritage, and an almost limitless range of things to see and do, New Zealand (and Queenstown in particular) is a holiday paradise.

And we have a wide range of amazing activities that are uniquely New Zealand (or at least have a unique kiwi twist).

So we've put together some ideas for you - we hope you enjoy.

And of course if you have any questions, just ask us.

here's our selection of some very unique new zealand experiences

Just click on the highlighted links to find out more about each activity.

Our selection of relaxing but unique New Zealand experiences

Around 450 metres above Queenstown, Bob's Peak is home to the Skyline Gondola, an institution in New Zealand.

Your gondola takes you from your street level check in at 53 Brecon Street, up to the Skyline complex, where some of the most stunning views on the planet await.

As you hop out of the gondola, have a quick look back towards town. What a view.

We like to head directly to the observation deck, before relaxing for a snack or a coffee at the cafe. If time allows, we love to have a meal at Stratosfare restaurant (but be sure to book a window seat). The changing light at dusk is a beautiful sight.

Don't forget those final pictures from the observation decks, before finishing with a ride (or several) on the luge (we can never stop at just one).

This is a great spot to just chill and take in the views in an iconic New Zealand location.

Down at the town pier in Queenstown, there's a fantastic family attraction known as Time Tripper.

Time Tripper includes a theatre presentation about the region's creation and history, and the Maori legend of the lake.

This is followed by an underwater viewing of the huge trout and eels that inhabit Lake Wakatipu. You won't believe the size of some of them. We also love the cute diving ducks.

And if you are like us, every time you stroll along the lake edge, your eyes will be drawn to the clear waters of the lake, trout spotting.

After your viewing, for a change of pace, jump onto the Kawarau Jet, for a thrilling ride.

Time Tripper is a great value family attraction, and highly recommended.

Come and see Queenstown from a different perspective on the historic TSS Earnslaw. This coal-fired jewel has been a part of the area's history since way back in 1912.

Beautifully restored, the TSS Earnslaw is much more than just a cruise on a lake. This is a visual feast, with breathtaking scenery, showcasing the Remarkables mountains, which tower more than 2,000 metres above the pristine waters of Lake Wakatipu.

Stroll along the observation decks, watch the coal fired engines that power the Earnslaw, relax with something to eat or drink from the onboard cafe (we love the muffins), or explore the small onboard museum.

The TSS Earnslaw has a range of experiences available featuring Walter Peak farm, a working farm at the head of Lake Wakatipu. You can include a delicious lunch or dinner at Walter Peak, a back country horse trek, or the farm tour.

This is a must do if you are in Queenstown.

Please be aware that the TSS Earnslaw is usually taken out of use, for maintenance work, during the winter months.

For a truly rural kiwi experience Walter Peak High Country Farm is not to be missed.

Your tour begins with a serene cruise across Lake Whakatipu, aboard either the historic TSS Earnslaw, or the Spirit of Queenstown.

Disembark and be welcomed for a guided farm tour, where you are able to interact with a variety of farm animals like sheep, alpacas, working farm dogs and cattle.

Watch live demonstrations that reveal much about farming in New Zealand.

Then relax with a yummy afternoon tea, before heading back to Queenstown.

A wonderful family adventure.

Famed English author Rudyard Kipling once declared Milford Sound the "Eighth Wonder of the World", and when you visit you will see why.

From the drive in through the Homer Tunnel, to the towering snow capped peaks, thundering waterfalls, and deep dark waters of Milford Sound, your senses are tested at every turn.

For many, this is a once in a lifetime experience, and it's difficult to put the sheer beauty into words.

Part of the World Heritage listed Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound (and it's twin Doubtful Sound) are pristine wilderness wonders.

There are various organised tours leaving from Queenstown and Te Anau, including some fly in/fly out options (weather dependant).

If you are staying in Queenstown, it's a four hour one way drive to Milford Sound, which makes for a very long day if you drive yourself. So we always recommend taking an organised coach tour/cruise combo. From the town of Te Anau it's only two hours each way, so staying in Te Anau is an option if you prefer to drive yourself.

You can search all available tours using the search box.

New Zealand has over 2,500 glaciers, with most of these located on the stunning South Island. Perhaps the best known are the twins Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier, and the Tasman Glacier.

Fox and Franz Josef are the most easily accessible, with both having service towns nearby. So you can base your self in Franz Josef village or Fox Glacier village for a couple of days and explore from there.

Or, you can choose from a range of road and air tours that operate out of Queenstown and Mt.Cook.

Walking on a glacier is a surreal experience. Total isolation, pure clean air, ice caves and ever changing ice formations make it an unforgettable experience.

You can see a range of tours below.

Found only in New Zealand, the iconic kiwi is a reclusive little bird, and unless you go to a sanctuary or breeding centre, it's almost impossible to see one in the wild.

Fortunately we have places like the Kiwi Park in Queenstown where you can see kiwi and over 20 species of native birds and reptiles, like the cheeky kea, the kaka, weka, and the unusual tuatara.

The park is centrally located about 5 minutes walk from the town centre at 51 Brecon Street Queenstown.

Can you imagine flying in a helicopter to a golf hole 1,500 metres above Queenstown in the alps?

Is this our most stunning golf hole? We think so, and it's an unforgettable experience for golf tragics like us.

This unique par 3 looks down on Queenstown, and has four different tee boxes designed to give you the best chance of making that ever elusive hole in one.

Sign up now for one of the most unique New Zealand experiences available.

Now here's a different experience. At the Minus 5 bar in Queenstown, your hosts greet you, then take you inside where they fit you out in jacket, boots and gloves.

From there, it's inside to an arctic wonderland. Eighteen tonnes of ice have been used to craft everything from the firniture and bars to the walls and some awesome ice sculptures.

Over the next hour, enjoy two cocktails (or mocktails) served in ice glasses, and don't forget those photos to help you remember the experience.

What a great, inexpensive activity for the family. And surrounded by beautiful gardens! Disc Golf is the perfect, affordable way to spend a morning or afternoon exploring the beautiful Queenstown Gardens.

Available during Queenstown Ice Arena’s open hours, the 18 hole course is great fun for the whole family.

Unless you have a large group there's no need to book. Just head into the Ice Arena to hire your disc, then head out onto the course.

A fantastic family adventure in central Queenstown.

And while you are at the Arena, also check out their bumper cars and ice skating.

Now here is a burger joint that is truly world famous. Celebrities from around the globe (like Ed Sheeran) have sampled the delights of Fergburger.

Flavours like the Fergburger (New Zealand beef), Sweet Bambi (venison), Little Lamby (local lamb), Chief Wiggum (pork) and The Codfather (blue cod) are a wonderful introduction to our local produce.

Fegburger is so popular that you may need to wait in line for a while, but the wait will be worth it. Enjoy.

Queenstown is not just known for it's fine pinot noir. There's also a flourishing craft beer industry here, and for those that like something a little more exclusive than an off-the-shelf beer, Queenstown has lots of options.

One of the best ways to experience our craft beer options is to take a guided tour like this one. Visiting three local breweries, you can sample thirteen craft brews, and enjoy a paired lunch.

A great way to experience some unique brews here in paradise.

Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s prime biking centres, with a constantly expanding network of trails, designed for all ages and experience levels. Scenic rides, winery tours, mountain bikers, downhill carvers, and adventurers are all catered for here.

The 150 kilometre Queenstown Trail is one of New Zealand’s Great Rides, and features stunning scenery. Mountain bikers are well catered for with three lift-accessed parks, like the Ben Lomond Trails , and a dirt jump park like no other.

The Queenstown Trails website has lots of information about local rides.

You can see a few of the available tour options below:

The Otago region is widely recognised as one of the world's premier pinot noir producers.

The famous Gibbston Valley Winery was one of the local pioneers, releasing its first vintage in 1987. These days, pinot noir accounts for more than 75% of local plantings, and with over 100 wineries within the region, there's no shortage of opportunity to sample our local product.

There's a wide range of tours available, with many offering pick up/drop off from central Queenstown locations. A much better option than driving yourself.

Here's a selection:

Now here's some unique New Zealand experiences that will get your heart racing

Back in the 1950's, a clever kiwi engineer by the name of Sir William Hamilton decided that he needed to invent a boat that could travel in the very shallow fast flowing rivers around his property. Through trial and error he perfected a water propulsion system that these days, powers jetboats around the world.

Jetboats are perfect for navigating the rivers around Queenstown, and give access to otherwise inaccessible areas.

Jetboat adventures like the Shotover River and gorge, the Kawarau River and the Dart River all have their own charms, but one thing is for certain, all offer unique New Zealand experiences.

Your jetboat adventure can take you to pristine wilderness areas, through towering gorges, or through rivers and streams that are seemingly far too shallow to even attempt. But they do.

Come and try for yourself.

Ok so imagine this. You, and your "pilot" are hurtling along the calm waters of Lake Wakatipu at speeds up to eighty kilometres per hour, in something that looks like a metal shark!

Suddenly, your "shark" dives under the surface, before pointing skywards and blasting back into the air before crashing back onto the surface.

If you are an adrenaline lover, we guarantee that you've never experienced anything like this.

Hydro Attack were the first in the world to use these incredible machines, so come and experience it for yourself.

This is where it all began. Back in the 1980's, local legend A.J. Hackett pioneered commercial bungy jumping from the historic Kawarau Bridge. That site still operates today, and over the years, thousands of people (us included) have leapt from the bridge (and thousands more have just watched from the observation deck).

Queenstown is widely regarded as the bungy capital, and in addition to the original 43 metre jump at the Kawarau Bridge site, you can also jump from the 134 metre Nevis bungy, New Zealand's highest. A.J. Hackett also have jump sites in Auckland and Taupo (both on the North Island).

We jumped at Kawarau back in the late 90's, and can say without hesitation, that it was one of the most challenging, but thrilling things we have ever done.

So if you have always wanted to try, don't hesitate. Rock on up and have a go.

You can go to the A.J. Hackett website here.

The rivers around Queenstown offer perfect conditions for whitewater rafting. And the locations could not be more scenic. There's a great range of tours available to suit various levels of experience, and your guides will make your trip one to remember.

Here's a few examples of what's available:

If you are fortunate enough to fly into Queenstown, you will appreciate why this is regarded as one of the most scenic landings in the world.

But as great as the views are from a plane, imagine what they are like from a parachute!

Imagine a tandem jump from 15,000 feet, with the alps and lakes on display below, as you freefall for up to 60 seconds. What a rush!

If the thought of jumping from a plane doesn't excite, you can always try an indoor jump! Yep, there is such a thing.

Here's a couple of available options:

This is a wonderful opportunity to test yourself in a pristine wilderness environment.

As you leave the base in central Queenstown, excitement builds, as your guide prepares you for the day's adventure.

You can choose the level of participation, and your guides are happy to adjust on the go to suit your preferences.

Ancient forest leads to the beginning of the canyon. Then it's time to explore via zip line, abseiling, negotiating slides and waterfalls, chutes, pools and rock passages.

After your tour, hot showers and refreshments cap off a thrilling day.

The Queenstown half day canyoning adventure should be high on your "to do" list.

There's a road near Queenstown that leads to Skippers Canyon, a wonderful back country spot surrounded by towering tussock lined hills. Skippers Road is gravel, but is well maintained. It was even rated by the British Automobile Association as one of the twenty five most scenic roads in the world.

But the only downside (literally) is that it twists and turns through the hills, exposing some serious drop offs to the valley below. Scenic, stunning, but, banned by car rental companies. That's right, you are not allowed to drive your rental car on Skippers Road.

But there is a way to see Skippers Canyon.

The Skippers Canyon 4-Wheel-Drive Tour takes you along Skippers road, as your experienced guide expertly navigates the way through this impressive canyon, stopping at sites like the suspension bridge and the abandoned Skippers township.

Take the time to explore original buildings and artefacts, and even stop at one of the richest gold bearing rivers in the world to try your luck with some gold panning.

Unique New Zealand experiences don't get much better than this.

Have you ever tried ziplining?

If not, New Zealand, and in particular Queenstown, is the perfect spot to try.

Can you imagine racing down a line at speeds of up to seventy kilometres per hour, accompanied by jaw-dropping views?

Well that's exactly what awaits here in Queenstown.

There are several options available like the A.J. Hackett site at the historic Kawarau bridge, where you can bungy and zipline on the same day at the same location.

But high above Queenstown on Bob's Peak, there's another option that offers those amazing alpine views. Board the famous Skyline Gondola (gondola ticket cost not included), and head to the summit.

Once there, head to the tree deck and gear up for your adventure. You can choose from 1, 2 or 3 hour experiences, and we promise, the views and ride will leave a lasting memory.

Thanks for visiting our Unique New Zealand Experiences page. We hope it's inspired you to visit.

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