Things to do in Queenstown: a dream town along Lake Wakatipu

Set on the banks of Lake Wakatipu with alpines surrounding it in all directions, Queenstown will take your heart away! With lake shining in the summer sun or the snow-capped alpines in winters, this little gem in the Southern Lakes District of New Zealand surely draws people year-round. Queenstown has it all to keep you captivated as long as you are here—spending romantic evenings or sun soaked days in lush gardens along the beautiful lake, experiencing adrenaline rush while engaging in a plethora of activities in this ‘adventure capital of the world’, enjoying in the downtown bars, or trying your luck in one of a kind ‘wharf casino’ overlooking the beautiful lake, etc.

Queenstown is also the ideal place to set up the base for onward travel to Milford Sound, Mount Cook, Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, Lake Wanaka, Fiordland National Park, Christchurch and many more. Do stay in one of the apartments or hotels with a view of Lake Wakatipu, and among the various options, the ‘Crowne Plaza’ offers the best view in my opinion. The airport is located at 10 minutes’ drive from the city centre and can easily be reached by bus or shuttle. Hiring a car in Queenstown is a must as it has its perk of letting you stop and enjoy at all the designated viewpoints (when you plan your day trips), for which public transport is not available. For those of you who prefer the public transport, there are private day trips planned to suit your requirements and for those travelling on a budget there are relatively frugal options available as well! Irrespective of the agenda of your visit to this dream town, here are some of the things to do in Queenstown that must be a part of your itinerary.