Queenstown has so much to explore and if you’ve only got the weekend to spend, you’ll find there’s plenty to do. Here are our recommendations to make the most of your time.
Day One: Destination Adventure
Queenstown has worked hard to earn its place as the “Adrenaline Capital” of New Zealand and one of the “Adventure Capitals” of the world, so if you’re ready for the wildest day of your life you’ve come to the right place. There are numerous options for all-in-one passes to the major activities here – there’s bungy jumping, a canyon swing, the jet boat, gondola, luge, rafting, helicopter rides, skydiving and more – choose your favourite thrills and spend the day jumping, swooping and having the time of your life.
Queenstown has every imaginable adventure experience on offer and more are constantly being added – they also have a number of combinations that you simply can’t find anywhere else. They were one of the first places to do bungy jumping and they have really perfected the art, with more than a dozen spectacular launch spots you can take the leap from. They also offer experiences like heli-rafting, where a helicopter takes you on a breathtaking scenic flight way up into the mountains into the backcountry of the Shotover River, and then you can raft back into town – some portions of the river are peaceful and scenic but there are white water rapids aplenty too.
For families, there’s ziplines, Quad bike tours, Paraflights, horse trekking and lots of other adventures to suit every age and athleticism – it’s sure to be an unforgettable day for the entire family.
Day two: Rest and relaxation
After all that you’re going to want to slow things down a bit on day two, thankfully Queenstown is the perfect place to do this, too.
Queenstown has many excellent day spas for all your pampering needs. One we recommend are the Onsen Hot pools – they have private rooms where you can relax without the hustle and bustle of the tourist crowds, and each cedar-lined room has a retractable roof where you can enjoy the stunning views at your leisure. They’re open through to the evenings as well if you want to take in a sunset.
Queenstown’s city centre is full of fun shops and boutiques to explore and there’s a market on every weekend – there are also galleries and museums to explore, and more than a 150 restaurants catering to every conceivable cuisine preference. There’s a lively bar and nightclub scene as well if you want to get your dancing shoes on.
To end your trip why not enjoy dinner at the Stratosfare Restaurant – ride the Skyline Gondola, the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere and you’ll discover fine dining at the end of your ride. Guides are there to take you to an exclusive viewing platform where you can see the night sky as never before – the perfect end to a weekend filled trip in beautiful Queenstown.