Spending some time on the South Island of New Zealand and looking for an epic Adventure Travel Bucket List Guide to Queenstown!? Well, look no further, because I’ve got you covered!
Queenstown is by far one of the most popular tourist destinations in New Zealand, and this is for very good reason! As the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown offers so many activities for you to experience. From skydiving over massive snow-capped mountains, to charging the twisting downhill racetrack on the Skyline Luge, to zip-lining through dense forests, and so much more. You simply can’t visit Queenstown without taking part in at least one of the many adrenaline-inducing activities available.
Additionally, the town is surrounded by mountains, making it the perfect picturesque location for epic photo opps and in the winter months, hitting the slopes for some skiing and snowboarding.
Queenstown will always hold a special place in my heart, so I am truly stoked to be sharing this itinerary with you guys. From the thriving nightlife to the scenic picnics by the lake; Queenstown is a place where memories are made and good times are compulsory. I hope that you have just as good a time as I had in Queenstown, New Zealand and I hope you enjoy using my adventure travel bucket list guide to Queenstown.
Here’s Your Adventure Travel Bucket List Guide to Queenstown, New Zealand!!
Ride on the Skyline Gondola
If you really want to get an amazing view of Queenstown and all it has to offer then I would recommend this being the first thing on your travel bucket list!
The top of the Skyline Gondola is like a mini hub to a variety of different activities you can do- you could literally spend a whole day up here! This includes seeing a performance of the traditional Kiwi Haka, a star gazing experience, thrill riding on the luge and zip-lining through the forest! If you have the time I would suggest taking part in as many as you can.
Enjoy a Kiwi Haka & Stargazing Experience
We love cultural experiences when visiting other countries and this traditional ceremonial dance is amazing! As you can guess they perform the traditional Haka which is a ceremonial dance in Māori culture. They even teach you how to perform the Haka and you can even join in the dance!
Later in the evening if you stick around you can go up to Bob’s Peak which is above the complex and embark on an amazing educational tour of our galaxy! Anything related to space excites me, I absolutely love learning about things in space like the stars, nebulae and planets that make up our solar system and beyond. And yes you do get to see the planets up close with their powerful telescopes!
Take a thrill ride on the Luge
This is something fun to do for ALL ages and a truly adventurous activity that should be on the top of your travel bucket list in Queenstown! There is really incredible views as you speed down the twisting race track on your go-kart and there are 2 different routes you can choose from. There’s a chair lift to the get to top of the hill which also boasts amazing views of Queenstown below.
Zipline with Ziptrek Eco Tours
Another optional activity to do while up on the Skyline Gondola base is Zip-lining! I was being serious when I said you need to try everything up here! It’s super fun and super safe and boasts amazing photo opportunities of snow-capped mountains in the distance. They even challenge you with a trick to try at each line. I managed to get myself upside down on one of them and was so proud of myself!
Eat at one of the top 10 Best Burger joints in the world!
If you love your burgers then Fergburger is really the one you want to be having! You really can’t miss it. There is usually a long line of people waiting outside, it’s always busy and it’s considered to be one of the top 10 Best Burgers in the World!
With a decent menu of options, you will have plenty of time deciding which one to order as you queue outside. However, a local tip I heard was that you can ring the shop in advance to order your burger, avoiding the queue!
Pee your pants at Fear Factory
The Fear Factory’s Haunted Hotel in Queenstown is not for the faint hearted! You can actually hear the screams (and laughter) from out in the street. Look at me cowering behind my husband, Peter- haha! But on the plus side I got to spend half an hour clinging to him closely to me so I didn’t mind too much.
Pass a rainy day at Mini Putt Putt
Caddyshack City Mini Golf offers you a fun boredom buster on those wet weather days. I love playing mini putt putt golf and this place was so cool with each hole being a different theme.
Skydive over Queenstown
Ok so technically it was Pete that skydived over Queenstown because I have a major fear of heights but still his experience was really awesome. He booked his tour with N-Zone and they were really pretty incredible. We got transferred to and from the site (I even got to tag along to spectate) and I watched on as they went through a very detailed safety briefing. Peter highly recommends doing this at least once in your life! And what better place to do this than Queenstown!
Hit the Slopes!
There’s no visit to Queenstown without actually playing in the snow! There are actually three different ski resorts all operating within an hour from Queenstown, so you definitely won’t be stuck for places to try out!
The three resorts include:
- Coronet Peak – “Only 20 minutes from central Queenstown. New Zealand’s first commercial ski field, celebrating good times since 1947.”
- Cardrona – “With wide open trails, challenging chutes, world-class beginner facilities & the Southern Hemisphere’s most extensive terrain park facilities, there’s something for every snow enthusiast skiing & snowboarding at Cardrona! “
- The Remarkable’s – “Experience big mountain terrain just 45 minutes from central Queenstown.”
All three are very popular spots for beginners and professionals alike, and are guaranteed to be some of the best snowboarding/ skiing you’ll ever experience! Fair warning though, they’re always quite busy during the winter season, so if you’re around at the right time, don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn some new skills!
Take a Day Trip to Milford Sound
The drive from Queenstown to Te Anau and onto the Milford Sound Highway is stunning. Make sure to stop at Te Anau village for refreshments and at Mirror Lakes on the way to Milford Sound. The Mirror Lakes are world famous for their beauty and the way they reflect their surrounding scenery.
When you reach Milford Sound you will board a boat that will take you on an unforgettable journey. Your Skipper will get you right up to spectacular waterfalls that cascade off the walls of the Fiord and you may even get to see pods of dolphins dancing in the wake of the boat and seals lounging on the rocks only metres away!
The highlight of MY adventure travel bucket list to Queenstown?
What was the highlight of my trip to Queenstown you ask? Well I suppose I would have to say it was when Pete surprised me and dropped to one knee in proposal during our cruise in Milford Sound! How romantic!
How many things did you tick off your adventure travel bucket list guide to Queenstown?
I hope you enjoyed this travel bucket list to Queenstown as much as I did!
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[…] To start off – 1 day isn’t enough to explore Queenstown and all the glory it has to offer. But this is a great place to set as your base and if you do have a few extra days to spare then I have some fantastic tips for you on my Queenstown travel guide: Your Adventure Guide to Queenstown […]
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