The Best Things to Do in Queenstown in One Day

A day is never long enough to fully experience a destination, but sometimes that’s all we have. Justin and I traveled to New Zealand for two weeks and loved every moment of it. With one day in Queenstown, this is where we started our epic road trip through this beautiful country.

Queenstown is an absolutely stunning introduction to New Zealand. We spent two nights in Queenstown, though our first half day was all about getting over our jetlag. After waking up refreshed, we experienced an incredible day here. We’re excited to share the best things to do in Queenstown, even if you only have a day.

Aside from our suggested things to do in Queenstown, there are more adventurous activities that have put this town on the map, like skydiving or bungee jumping. You won’t find either of those adventures in this travel guide because it’s a little too extreme for the two of us.

While we are really into outdoor adventures and activities, jumping from really high up isn’t for us. We’re a little more into “soft adventures” than extreme adventures. So, if that’s your jam, feel free to add those to your own personal itinerary while getting some ideas from our list, too!

Getting Around Queenstown

Queenstown is a small town that’s very walkable. When you’re in town, you won’t need to drive anywhere. Simply get around on your own two feet.

When it comes to taking day trips from Queenstown or venturing on your road trip, you will need a vehicle. We suggest renting a car or a campervan to explore New Zealand at your own pace.

We always use Discover Cars when we rent cars abroad. They allow you to compare various car rental agencies to find the best rates. Plus, they have excellent customer service. Find your rental car here.

Walk Around Lake Wakatipu

To start off this Queenstown itinerary, take a stroll around Lake Wakatipu. You can’t miss this giant lake right in the middle of town.

In the morning, Justin and I walked down to Lake Wakatipu and marveled at the beauty of New Zealand. This was the first moment where I truly relaxed and observed the astounding nature of this unbelievably gorgeous country for the first time. I remember thinking, “I’m finally here!” as it was always a dream of mine to visit New Zealand.

Start at Queenstown Beach at the edge of downtown and admire the deep blue waters. From there, walk through the archway of the World War I memorial and continue on the path.

We looped around the southeastern edge of the Queenstown Trail, walking towards local landmarks like the Queenstown Gardens. Sticking by the lake, Justin and I stopped on many occasions to take photos. It’s not so often that you see lush, green hills, stacked with homes, and snow-capped peaks in the distance.

There are several benches on the way where you can stop and take in the scenery. You can walk for as little or as long as you’d like. We spent a couple of hours walking along the lake in total, and it was one of our favorite free things to do in Queenstown.

Activities on Lake Wakatipu

If you’re an adrenaline seeker or looking for more Queenstown activities, there are several companies and tours that depart from offices near Lake Wakatipu. One of the most popular things to do in Queenstown is to take a thrilling jet boat ride on Lake Wakatipu and the Shotover River.

You’ll view the Remarkables mountain range from new perspectives and your expert driver will zip across the water with ease. If you’re looking to view the Remarkables from another fantastic perspective, take a helicopter ride over the lake and the mountains from Queenstown.

If you’re a fan of Lord of the Rings, you can take a half day LOTR tour from Queenstown. You’ll visit numerous locations and scenes from the trilogy, traveling in small groups for a memorable day trip.

Ride the Skyline Queenstown Gondola

Another one of the best things to do in Queenstown is travel to the top of Bob’s Peak for outstanding scenery of the town and surrounding mountains. Queenstown is such a walkable place. From Lake Wakatipu, you can easily walk all over town and up to the Skyline Queenstown building at the base of the hill.

Ride the Skyline Queenstown gondola to the top, admiring the views as you glide up the mountain. While the gondola ride is a lot of fun, the real reward is right at the top of Bob’s Peak. There are several vantage points where you can absorb sweeping views of Queenstown.

The platforms around the main building were a little bit crowded when we visited. I recommend that you walk outside of the building to the grassy hill near the top of the luge track. From there, it will feel like you have the spectacular scenery all to yourself!

If you’re seeking more of a thrill, it’s possible to go ziplining up here. There are multiple zipline tracks. Fly high above Queenstown with amazing mountain views. Book your ziplining experience here.

The Luge Track

There’s also a luge track at the top of Bob’s Peak. Zip around in little go karts through tunnels and around tight corners. It looks really fun for kids and adults alike.

Justin and I had recently gone for a ride around a similar luge track in Mont Tremblant. If we hadn’t done it so recently, we would have for sure participated in this activity.

Tiki Trail

There’s more than one way to reach the top of Bob’s Peak. Rather than taking the gondola, it’s also possible to hike up to the top for free.

Hiking up the Tiki Trail is one of the best free things to do in Queenstown. However, the trail itself is rather steep, so make sure you pack the proper equipment for a day hike.

Another option is to take the gondola to the top and hike the trail back down. It is pretty steep doing up or down, no matter how you look at it, so be prepared. The trails are a little muddy in the spring (when we visited), so we didn’t hike on them for too far as we weren’t fully prepared with the proper gear.

Enjoy Queenstown’s Cozy Cafes

If you’re looking for what to do in Queenstown, you might be surprised to see coffee on the list. Hey, if you know me, you know how much I love my coffee!

New Zealand has an active coffee culture scene featuring tons of independently owned cafes in Queenstown. No matter which one you choose, you’ll end up savoring a delicious brewed bevvie.

We stopped at Vudu Cafe & Larder for an almond milk latte. While I wasn’t hungry, I noticed that there were some vegan desserts in the display case, too. This cute little coffee shop provided the perfect pick-me-up in the middle of our day.

Dine at Queenstown’s Restaurants

Okay, I admit it: one of my favorite travel activities is eating. I’ve come up with a list of the 15 best restaurants in Queenstown that will give you plenty of choice. As I seek out the best plant-based meals wherever I go, I’ve also rounded up the top vegan meals in Queenstown, too. I’ll list a few of my favourites below.

Yonder

Yonder is a cozy spot right by the waterfront with a killer patio. Indoors, colorful murals are splashed across the walls. I suggest heading to Yonder for breakfast or brunch as the best way to start your day. We easily found both vegan and gluten-free options at Yonder.

Justin ordered the smashed avocado on toast (which comes on gluten-free bread) and I got the granola with passion fruit panna cotta & fresh fruit. The menu has the vegan and gluten-free options clearly marked. We really loved dining there and wouldn’t hesitate to return.

Bespoke Kitchen

Bespoke Kitchen is a popular spot in town. It’s easy to see why: their carefully crafted menu focuses on health, wellness, and taste. They use fresh ingredients that are as local as possible. The menu changes up from season to season.

I ordered the red velvet pancakes and Justin got the bean superbowl. Oh, and they also have a huge selection of raw and vegan desserts. I ate a homemade Twix bar that was delish!

Farelli’s Trattoria

For dinner, head over to Farelli’s Trattoria for a mouthwatering Italian meal. Choose from pasta, pizza, side dishes, soups, and more. There are many traditional and authentic options, including wine directly from the family’s winery in Italy.

When we visited, they had an entirely vegan menu. It looks like they’ve scaled back on the options to include just a few veggie and vegan offerings.

Where to Stay in Queenstown

Justin and I stayed at the spacious Copthorne Hotel & Apartments, just a short walk from downtown Queenstown. We enjoyed a restful night’s sleep here. This hotel is very quiet and we were never disturbed. 

The hotel comes with complimentary parking in their underground private lot. Our room also had its own little private courtyard with beautiful views of the lake and mountains. You can also book larger apartments and rooms on upper floors with balconies, though we were perfectly content with our room on the first level.

Day Trips From Queenstown

While we only spent one day in Queenstown, we visited several places within a short driving distance. We made our way to Wanaka, stopping at some of these places enroute.

Alternatively, you could base yourself in Queenstown and make day trips to these locations. We have a dedicated blog post to day trips from Queenstown that you should check out.

Lake Hayes isn’t too far from Queenstown. Consider taking a walk around this beautiful scenic lake. Then, make your way to Arrowtown, a historic gold mining village. We stopped at Lake Hayes and Arrowtown in the same day before heading to Wanaka. There are a couple of stunning lookout spots along the way, too.

We hope that you’ve found this Queenstown travel guide to be insightful and useful for your upcoming trip. Please feel free to ask us any questions in the comments section if you’re still looking for more top things to do in Queenstown!