Town centre
Bars, hostels and activitiesCompact streets running down to the lakefront.
New Zealand city guide
Queenstown Travel Guide
Queenstown is New Zealand's adventure capital: the world's first commercial bungee, skydives over a glacial lake, jet boats, ski fields in winter and some of the best day hikes in the country. It's busy and expensive, and it's still one of the most spectacular places to be a backpacker.
15
Hostels in the city
8.5
Average, from 18,391 reviews
1988
World's first commercial bungee
From NZ$37
Dorm beds on Hostelworld
Jun–Sep
Ski season
Queenstown at a glance
Queenstown sits on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, a long, glacial lake in the south of the South Island, ringed by the Remarkables and other mountains. It's small, about 15,000 people, but it receives millions of visitors a year.
The town centre is compact and walkable, a grid of streets of bars, restaurants, adventure booking offices and hostels running down to the lakefront and the marina. Most hostels are within a few minutes' walk of the centre.
Adventure is the industry here. AJ Hackett opened the world's first commercial bungee at the Kawarau Bridge in 1988, and Queenstown now offers bungee, canyon swings, skydiving, jet boating, paragliding, white-water rafting and mountain biking. In winter, from about June to September, the Remarkables and Coronet Peak ski fields open.
It's also the base for some of New Zealand's most famous scenery: Milford Sound, Glenorchy and the Routeburn Track, and the gold-rush town of Arrowtown.
Queenstown is expensive, especially in peak summer and ski season, when beds book up. Many travellers work here for a season.
Four or five days covers the town, an activity or two and a trip to Milford Sound.
Where to stay in Queenstown
Stay in the town centre, where nearly all the hostels are, for walkable bars and activities. Frankton is cheaper and near the airport; Arrowtown is quieter.
Fernhill
Lake viewsHillside suburb just west of the centre.
Frankton
Cheaper and near the airportSuburb by the airport, with supermarkets and buses.
Arrowtown
Quiet villageGold-rush village about 20 minutes away.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Bungee, gondolas and Milford Sound
The Skyline Gondola climbs Bob's Peak from town for a view over the lake and the Remarkables, and you can ride the luge down. Hike up the Tiki Trail instead to save the fare.
The Kawarau Bridge bungee, the world's first commercial bungee, is the classic, and the Nevis Bungee is the highest in New Zealand. A bungee costs NZ$200 to NZ$280, and skydiving NZ$300 to NZ$450, so pick one or two adventures rather than all of them.
Jet boats run on the Shotover and Kawarau rivers, and rafting, canyon swings and paragliding are all on offer.
The walking is superb. Queenstown Hill and Ben Lomond are big day hikes with views over the lake. The Queenstown Trail is a network of cycling and walking paths to Arrowtown and Gibbston.
Milford Sound, in Fiordland, is a long day trip by bus and boat, or a flight. A cruise costs NZ$80 to NZ$120.
Glenorchy, 45 minutes along the lake, is a gateway to the Routeburn Track and film locations.
Arrowtown is a gold-rush village with autumn colours and a historic Chinese settlement.
In winter, the Remarkables and Coronet Peak have skiing and snowboarding.
More on things to do in Queenstown
Free things
Queenstown for free (or nearly)
Walk the lakefront and the Queenstown Gardens on the peninsula.
Hike the Tiki Trail to the top of the gondola, or climb Queenstown Hill, both free.
Swim at the beach in town in summer, if you can handle the cold lake.
Watch the bungee jumpers at the Kawarau Bridge viewing platform.
Cycle or walk the Queenstown Trail.
Hostels run free events, and the lakefront at sunset is free.
Food and drink
Fergburger, bakeries and hostel kitchens
Fergburger is Queenstown's most famous food, a burger joint with a queue day and night. The bakery next door is a good breakfast stop.
The town has every type of food, from cheap Asian to fine dining, but prices are high. A pub dinner costs NZ$25 to NZ$40.
Supermarkets in town and Frankton are where most backpackers shop, and hostel kitchens get busy at dinner time.
Central Otago is a famous wine region, known for pinot noir, and Gibbston Valley is close by.
A beer is NZ$10 to NZ$14. Tap water is safe to drink.
Nightlife
Après, pub crawls and late bars
Queenstown has the liveliest nightlife in New Zealand outside the big cities, with dozens of bars in a few walkable streets and a young, international crowd of travellers and seasonal workers.
Pub crawls run most nights, and hostels have their own bars and events.
In winter, après-ski is a big part of the scene.
Bars stay open late. Walk with friends, watch your drinks, and be careful on icy streets in winter.
Getting around
Getting to and around Queenstown
Queenstown Airport, at Frankton, is about 8 km from the centre, with flights from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Australia. Orbus public buses run to town.
InterCity coaches and backpacker buses connect Queenstown with Wanaka, Te Anau, Christchurch, Dunedin and the West Coast.
Orbus local buses run around Queenstown, Frankton and Arrowtown, and are cheap with a Bee Card.
Most activities include pick-ups from town.
For Milford Sound, join a bus and boat tour, fly, or drive via Te Anau, about four hours each way.
In winter, chains may be needed on mountain roads.
Costs
What Queenstown costs
Queenstown is one of the most expensive places in New Zealand. Hostelworld lists dorm beds from about NZ$37 at Alpine Lodge and NZ$50 to NZ$55 at the big central hostels, rising sharply in summer and ski season.
A pub dinner is NZ$25 to NZ$40, and a Fergburger around NZ$20.
Adventures are the big cost: a bungee is NZ$200 to NZ$280, skydiving NZ$300 to NZ$450, and a Milford Sound cruise NZ$80 to NZ$120.
The lake, the walks and the gardens are free.
Allow around NZ$110 to NZ$160 a day, before activities.
Safety
Staying safe in Queenstown
Queenstown is safe, with low crime. Watch your belongings in busy bars and at hostels.
The mountains are the real risk. Weather changes fast, so check the forecast, carry layers and water, and tell someone your plans before a big hike.
Lake Wakatipu is cold all year. Swim close to shore.
Choose reputable adventure operators and check your insurance covers activities like skydiving and bungee.
In winter, roads can be icy, and snow chains may be needed.
The sun is strong in summer, so wear sunscreen.
Day trips from Queenstown
Queenstown is the base for Milford Sound, Glenorchy, Arrowtown and Wanaka.
Milford Sound
Fiordland's famous fiord, waterfalls and peaks.
Glenorchy
Lake and mountain views, the Routeburn trailhead and film locations.
Arrowtown
Gold-rush village and autumn colours.
Wanaka
Lake town with Roys Peak and a quieter feel.
What's on
What's on in Queenstown
Queenstown's calendar runs from summer adventures to the Winter Festival.
Staff pick
14 November
Queenstown Marathon
The NZ Sotheby's International Realty Queenstown Marathon is a celebrated running festival in Queenstown, New Zealand, drawing participants from around the globe. Runners can…
Staff pick
6–8 November
Queenstown Writers Festival
The Queenstown Writers Festival in Queenstown, New Zealand, is an annual celebration of literature that brings together acclaimed authors, poets, and illustrators for a…
30 Apr – 26 Oct
Jingo Night
Jingo offers a unique twist on the classic game of bingo by incorporating beloved tunes into the gameplay, creating a lively atmosphere filled with…
23–26 October
Magiconz Magic Convention
Magicians, balloon artists, and variety performers gather in Queenstown for a rare convention celebrating the craft in New Zealand. The event brings together the…
8 November
Shaun Kirk
Melbourne blues and soul artist Shaun Kirk brings a one-man show that has drawn praise from Grammy winner Fantastic Negrito and seen him share…
21 November
Urban Wine Walk
A self-guided wine crawl through Queenstown's coolest venues, this walk brings together over 300 wine lovers for an afternoon of tastings and good company.…
27–28 November
Sam Divine
Sam Divine, the Queen of Defected, brings 25 years of electronic music mastery to Queenstown for another Rush event. With countless awards and global…
23 May – 18 Nov
Saturday Arts Social
Saturday Arts Social is a vibrant gathering for the 60+ community, offering a diverse range of activities such as concerts, art workshops, dance classes,…
Hostels
Hostels in Queenstown
Queenstown has around 15 hostels on Hostelworld, almost all within a few minutes' walk of the lakefront.
Best rated
Alpine Lodge
Rated 9.8 from 125 reviews, a short walk from the centre, with dorms from about NZ$37.
Most reviewed
Adventure Queenstown Hostel
Rated 9.7 from 3,253 reviews, right in the centre, with dorms from about NZ$53.
Sociable
The Flaming Kiwi Backpackers
Rated 9.3 from 947 reviews, about 500 m from the centre, with dorms from about NZ$52.
Alpine Lodge
Dorms from NZD 36 a night
See dates and book
Adventure Queenstown Hostel
Dorms from NZD 52 a night
See dates and book
Adventure Q2 Hostel
Dorms from NZD 49 a night
See dates and book
The Flaming Kiwi Backpackers
Dorms from NZD 51 a night
See dates and book
Absoloot Hostel Queenstown
Dorms from NZD 54 a night
See dates and book
LyLo Queenstown
Dorms from NZD 61 a night
See dates and book
The Black Sheep Backpackers
Dorms from NZD 45 a night
See dates and book
Nomads Queenstown
Dorms from NZD 42 a night
See dates and book
Haka House Queenstown Lakefront
Dorms from NZD 20 a night
See dates and book
Haka House Queenstown
Dorms from NZD 50 a night
See dates and book
Hippo Lodge Backpackers
Dorms from NZD 41 a night
See dates and book
Pinewood Lodge
Dorms from NZD 55 a night
See dates and book
When to go to Queenstown
Queenstown has warm summers and cold, snowy winters, with highs from 6°C in June and July to 20°C in January and February. December to March is peak summer, June to September is ski season, and autumn colours peak in April.
Jan
Peak summer
Feb
Warm and settled
Mar
Late summer
Apr
Autumn colours
May
Quiet before ski season
Jun
Ski season begins; Winter Festival
Jul
Peak ski season
Aug
Ski season
Sep
Spring skiing
Oct
Spring
Nov
Warming up
Dec
Summer; holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average daily highs from weather2travel's Queenstown climate data. Crowd levels are our rough guide.
How much does Queenstown cost per day?
Pick a style and a number of nights for a rough total. Per day, for one person, in New Zealand dollars.
Estimates. Beds are based on Hostelworld prices in October 2026, converted from US dollars. Bungee, skydiving and Milford Sound sit outside these figures.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Queenstown FAQs
Prices and timetables change. Check before you travel.
Is Queenstown expensive?
Yes. Dorms start around NZ$37 and rise in peak season, and adventures cost hundreds. Allow NZ$110 to NZ$160 a day before activities.
Where is the original bungee in Queenstown?
At the Kawarau Bridge, where AJ Hackett opened the world's first commercial bungee in 1988.
How do I get to Milford Sound from Queenstown?
On a bus and boat tour, by flight, or by car via Te Anau, about four hours each way.
When is ski season in Queenstown?
About June to September, at the Remarkables and Coronet Peak.
How many days do you need in Queenstown?
Four to five days for the town, a couple of activities and Milford Sound.
What is the best free thing to do in Queenstown?
Hike the Tiki Trail or Queenstown Hill for views over Lake Wakatipu.
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