What To See: Queenstown
Getting to Queenstown on Air New Zealand
New Zealand was the second leg of my summer of 2019 trip to Australia, New Zealand, and Hawai’i. To get to Queenstown, I flew non-stop from Melbourne, Australia on Air New Zealand. The flight aboard the Air New Zealand A320 was routine, and I had plenty of legroom in my exit row aisle seat (seat 11D).
There was quite a bit of commotion and laughter when the safety demonstration video played. Apparently, Air New Zealand had released a rap video safety demonstration. The public worried that it was too difficult to understand, so the video was replaced. The current safety video mocks the fact that rap video was replaced and was one of the most amusing safety videos I’ve ever watched.
About an hour before the 3-hour and 15-minute flight landed, flight attendants passed out landing cards. I had been worried about customs and passport control in New Zealand as I had read many horror stories about people being fined NZD$400 for failing to declare items in their luggage. I filled out the landing card, declaring my prescription medications, hiking boots, and some aboriginal artwork that I had purchased in Uluru.
Once we landed, I claimed my luggage and waited in the queue to speak to a border agent. I explained what I was declaring and showed the prescriptions for my medication. She asked about my hiking boots, and I said I had cleaned them thoroughly with hot water to ensure that they were clear of all soil deposits. Finally, she asked about my aboriginal art. I said that the artwork was purchased in Uluru and that it was sealed with a coat of varnish. My answers seemed acceptable, and I was told to go into the “cleared” lane, which meant I wouldn’t even have to go through the x-ray machine.
As I began to leave, another lady approached me and said, to come with her, we have to have a conversation. She explained that my declarations had a bunch of red flags and that she needed to search my luggage. I unpacked everything and the following items were flagged: multiple stuffed animals, a ceramic koala, a ceramic kangaroo, and two wooden aboriginal sculptures. I was made to wait for about thirty minutes while these items were inspected and x-rayed.
The agent explained to me that she did not believe that I was a tourist and figured I was smuggling items into New Zealand. At this point, I was slightly annoyed. I showed her my travel blog business card and explained that the stuffed wombat she was holding was actually a gift for my nephew, and I’d appreciate it if she’d be gentle with my items. A few minutes later, a supervisor arrived and said that they were sorry I was incorrectly flagged. I get that New Zealand wants to keep their country safe, and free from people smuggling items in, but my treatment seemed a little bit over the top. I never did find out what they thought I might be smuggling in from Australia.
The original agent seemed extremely disappointed that she had not caught someone smuggling items into New Zealand. It seemed like even after her supervisor had apologized that she didn’t believe that I was really a solo traveler, teacher, and blogger. About an hour later, I was through customs and headed to the taxi queue. It was the first time I had ever been pulled aside in my travels. While it gave me something additional to write about, it was not a great first impression of New Zealand.
What To See: Queenstown, New Zealand - Table of Contents
- Getting to Queenstown
- Queenstown Accommodations – Hilton Resort and Spa Queenstown
- Getting Around Queenstown
- Skyline Queenstown
- Queenstown City Centre
- Flame Bar and Grill – My Favorite Restaurant
- Disappointment – Milford Sound and Fjordland
- Queenstown Tours and Tours Departing from Queenstown
- Earning Points and Rewards
- Support Buzzin’ Around the World – Visit Our Affiliates
- Related Content
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Queenstown Accommodations - Hilton Resort and Spa - Queenstown
My original reservation was for the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton Queenstown.
When I went to check-in, I was told that my reservation had been upgraded to the Hilton Resort and Spa. The Hilton and the Doubletree are connected, so it was only a few minutes to walk from the Doubletree’s registration desk to the Hilton’s registration desk.
My room at the Hilton Resort and Spa Queenstown was a Deluxe King Room with a View. While the room was typical of what I would expect from Hilton, some additional features are worth noting. First, the room had a gas fireplace that could be used to quickly remove the chill of the Queenstown winter. This was unique as it was the first time I’d ever stayed in a hotel room with a fireplace. Next to the fireplace was a large workspace that I used to update my website and upload my pictures.
Although not characterized as a suite, the room definitely had the feel of a suite. Across from the fireplace was a couch and a chair that faced one of the rooms two televisions. This television was mounted directly above the fireplace.
One of the most spectacular features of the room was the bathroom. The bathroom had a rainfall type shower, two sinks, and an oversized bathtub. There was plenty of warm water, and the bathtub was perfect for soaking my sore muscles after many hours and kilometers of walking around.
Getting Around Queenstown
My hotel, the Hilton Resort and Spa Queenstown was located 15 kilometers from the Queenstown City Centre. Although driving is an option, the easiest way to get from the hotel to the city centre is to take the water taxi.
Hotel guests receive a special rate of NZ$5 (one way) from the hotel to the Queenstown City Centre. The water taxi leaves every 30 minutes from the conveniently located dock just in front of the hotel’s entrance. During my visit, the water taxis hours were from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm.
The water taxi makes multiple stops before arriving at Queenstown Harbour. For more information, you can visit the Queenstown Water Taxis’ website by clicking HERE.
Skyline Queenstown
One of my favorite attractions in Queenstown was Skyline Queenstown. Easily walkable from the City Centre, Skyline Queenstown provides a gondola ride up into the mountains. Once at the top, there are a variety of activities, including hiking, mountain biking, luge, bungee jumping, paragliding, and stargazing. There are also plenty of gift shops and places to eat.
The cost of a roundtrip (return) gondola ride is NZ$52 for an adult and NZ$36 for a child. There are plenty of add-ons that can be purchased, including the luge, meals, and stargazing. I have included a picture of the prices below.
The gondola ride takes about two minutes to reach the top. There is a sign that states the minimum number of occupants to a gondola car is four. However, there was a very short line, and I was able to have a gondola car all to myself. Upon arriving at the top, the first attraction is a 180-plus degree observation platform. The platform provides a panoramic view of Queenstown, the surrounding mountains, Lake Wakatipu, and the Franklin Arm.
After walking around the observation area, I hiked up to a higher viewing area near the luge track. The luge track is for street luge, which means the sled runs down pavement instead of snow. The higher vantage point provided even a better view than the viewing platform. Towards the top of the walkway, there is a random picture frame. I did my best to line my camera up with the frame. Unfortunately, I could not quite get the angle right.
I spent a little over an hour walking around and taking in the views. I had planned to go back for stargazing, but rainy weather moved in, and the stars were not visible. I do highly recommend that everyone visiting Queenstown takes the gondola to the top. The view is worth it!
Queenstown City Cetre
Queenstown is one of the most beautiful and manageable cities I have ever been to. The city centre is easily walkable, and there are plenty of restaurants and gift shops lining the city streets. One of the most important features is the super clean public restrooms located near the harbour.
While walking around, I made a few purchases including, a rugby jersey and a kiwi made out of jade. Jade has been important to New Zealanders since the times of the indigenous Maori people.
Flame Bar and Grill - My Favorite Restaurant
My favorite restaurant in Queenstown was Flame Bar and Grill. It was so exceptional I ate there twice. My first meal was lunch which consisted of a cheeseburger and fries. The server suggested I add a side of ribs for NZ$8. That was an excellent decision as these were some of the most delicious ribs I’ve ever eaten. I believe the cost of my lunch was around NZ$35 if I remember correctly.
The next night I came for dinner and began my meal with cheesy garlic bread. To my surprise, an entire loaf of bread arrived. The garlic bread was so filling it could have been my entire meal. My main course consisted of ribeye steak, fries, and once again, a side of ribs. This was the first time I’ve ever had a steak smothered in barbecue sauce. Still, the steak was delicious, and this was my favorite meal of my entire trip. The cost of my dinner was around NZ$60. I highly recommend visiting the Flame Bar and Grill.
Disappointment - Milford Sound and Fjordland
On my second day in Queenstown, I was scheduled for a 12-hour tour of Milford Sound and Fjordland. I believe my traveling caught up with me as I woke up in the middle of the night with a terrible stomach ache. The terms of my tour said that I had to cancel two hours before the departure time. With a departure time of 7 am, I decided it would be best to cancel. I attempted to call Great Sights Tours, but their phone center was closed until 6 am. At exactly 6 am, I called and canceled and was told that because I didn’t cancel two hours prior, I would not receive a refund. I had to file a dispute with my credit card company to get my NZ$240 back. I would have rebooked my tour with Great Sights, but due to their lack of customer service, I looked elsewhere.
The next day I tried to book a fly-in tour with Milford Sound Scenic Flights. The flight would depart from Queenstown, saving 4 hours each way on a bus. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate, and the flights were not flying due to an incoming storm. I was disappointed I did not get to tour Fjordland and the Milford Sound but still found many other fun things to do in Queenstown.
If interested in visiting Milford Sound and Fjordland, I highly recommend checking out Earthtrekkers.com experience. You can view their blog post by clicking HERE.
Queenstown Tours and Tours Departing from Queenstown
In the city limits itself, it is not necessary to take a tour. I know some tourists prefer to be guided by a local expert so I have inserted a few Queenstown City Tour options below. The majority of the tours linked in this section are to the areas outside of Queenstown including the Milford Sound, Skippers Canyon, and Mt. Cook.
I am an affiliate partner of Viator. If you book a tour using one of the links below I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider booking using one of my links.
Prices are accurate as of June 2023.
 Milford Sound Coach, Cruise and Flight Sightseeing Tour from Queenstown - $432.89 Experience the perfect combination of a scenic coach ride to Milford Sound, a two hour cruise on the spectacular fiord and then top the day off with a flight over an untouched mountain wilderness back to Queenstown. |
 Queenstown Zipline Tour - $70.77 Find out why Queenstown is New Zealand’s adrenaline capital with this zipline adventure! Launching from the Ziptrek Treehouse at the Skyline Gondola summit, you’ll zipline down the mountain and take in panoramic views of Lake Wakatipu and the snow-capped Remarkables mountain range. With three tours to choose from it's fun for everyone - whether you are looking for an introduction into Queenstown adventure, excited by the thrill of the world's steepest tree-to-tree zipline, or taking the plunge on our newest tour; the Kereru, which features a 21 metre drop! |
 Half-Day Queenstown Photography Tour - $243.68 Half day tour from Queenstown to Skippers Canyon with an experienced landscape photographer. |
 Lord of Rings Full-Day Tour around Queenstown Lakes by 4WD - $319.41 This tour brings you to the site of the signature scenes that were shot in the Queenstown Lakes region. This tour covers a lot of ground to show you the beautiful and varied sights of the area. For film enthusiasts, nature lovers, and adventurers alike, this really is the complete, exploring the rugged and beautiful Queenstown Lakes Region used by many filmmakers. For the morning, explore the beauty of the Head of Lake Wakatipu and the lush Paradise Forests. Bring the films to life with our authentic replica props, dress up for some photos, or simply enjoy the serenity. You will return to Queenstown for lunch at a local café before the afternoon tour begins. You will then set out to enjoy the sights around The Queenstown area. Explore more stunning filming locations, adventure off- road with river crossings in the Arrow, and venture down a historic and exciting mining road. You will see a spectacular panoramic view over the area before being returned to your hotel to end the day. |
 Helicopter Tour Including Glacier Landing from Queenstown - $678.40 Allow 1 hour Our Glacier Explorer excursion departs from Queenstown to take you high above the Wakatipu basin to show off all the surrounding beauty. You will then head on a scenic journey towards an ancient glacier which constantly moves under its own weight. On arrival, the helicopter will shut down on the landing to allow you to enjoy the peace and quiet. Hear the creaking of the glacier, feel the white ice crunch beneath your feet, peer into pure blue crevasses and absorb the stunning scenery of this magical place. Learn of the glacial recession and monitoring of this permanently frozen world. Your helicopter will then lift off to bring you back on a scenic flight covering more of the Queenstown area including the main surrounding mountain ranges, Queenstown township and the long thin Z -shaped glacial formed lake known as Lake Wakatipu. |
 Milford Sound Sightseeing Cruise with Scenic Round-Trip Flight from Queenstown - $347.57 Fly from Queenstown to Milford Sound and enjoy a spectacular view of the mountains, lakes and waterfalls of Fiordland National Park. Surrounded by some of the most magnificent scenery in the world, you’ll board your cruise and travel the length of the fiord out to Tasman Sea. Complete your journey with an unforgettable flight over the dramatic Southern Alps back to Queenstown. |
 Dart River 'Funyak' Canoe plus Jet Boat Tour from Queenstown - $259.87 Discover the untamed beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mount Aspiring National Park on this full-day Dart River 'funyak' (inflatable canoe) and jet boat tour from Queenstown! Travel by coach to Glenorchy, where your adventure begins, and then hop aboard a jet boat and ride up the picturesque Dart River. Speeding through a landscape of outstanding natural beauty, your tour passes the 'Middle-earth' countryside that featured in the popular 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy. In a secluded stretch of the river, swap the boat for your own easy-to-handle funyak and then paddle behind your attentive guide before stopping for a picnic lunch in the great outdoors! |
 Skippers Canyon 4WD Tour from Queenstown - $116.64 Discover the beauty of Skippers Canyon on this half-day 4WD tour from Queenstown. Leave behind the hustle and bustle of Queestown and travel 32 kilometers by 4WD to Skippers Canyon, enjoy short walks, stunning scenery and scrumptious homemade morning or afternoon tea. |
 Dirt Bike Tour - Queenstown - $262.92 Farm hackers and road riders, it’s time to learn the art of trail riding – if you’ve got clutch control and are competent on 2 wheels but want to progress and challenge yourself – this is for you. |
 Queenstown Highlights Tour - $77.27 Sit back, relax and soak up the scenic sights on this morning of guided sightseeing. Begin high above Queenstown taking in panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and beautiful Lake Wakatipu. |
 Middle-Earth Queenstown Helicopter Tour - $374.90 Dive into the history of our filming of the Lord of the Rings movie and subsequently The Hobbit. Some of our pilots were involved in the actual shoot. A must-do for fans of the books and movies. |
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