Tāhuna
Where dramatic mountains frame a lakeside town alive with adventure, flavour and possibility.
Deep in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island, Queenstown curves around the shores of Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by dramatic alpine ranges. Snow-capped peaks and glacially shaped landscapes provide a spectacular backdrop to a lively town with something for every kind of traveller. Adrenaline-filled adventures sit alongside sightseeing, spa treatments, boutique shopping, and an excellent food and wine scene. Energetic yet effortlessly inviting, Queenstown can be as thrilling or as relaxed as you choose.
Queenstown’s dramatic setting was carved by a vast glacier, which formed the deep basin of Lake Wakatipu and the steep mountain landscape surrounding it. In Māori tradition, the lake’s unusual rise and fall is linked to the heartbeat of the sleeping giant Matau. Long before the town took shape, Kāi Tahu, the principal Māori tribe of the South Island, travelled through the region in search of food and prized pounamu (greenstone).
Gold discovered in the Arrow River in 1862 transformed the remote district, drawing miners, traders and entrepreneurs into the mountains. When the rush faded, Queenstown reinvented itself as a visitor destination, with its pioneering spirit later inspiring skiing, jet boating and the world’s first commercial bungy operation at Kawarau Bridge.
Today, Queenstown offers far more than adrenaline. Its compact lakeside centre brings together restaurants, boutiques, galleries and spas, while nearby valleys are known for vineyards and Central Otago pinot noir. Adventure, scenic beauty and relaxed indulgence unfold against the same extraordinary alpine backdrop.
Some of New Zealand's most treasured experiences, all part of your time in Queenstown.
Experience Queenstown’s remarkable natural setting, where Lake Wakatipu lies beneath rugged mountains and dramatic alpine ranges. The lake and surrounding peaks create an impressive panorama around the town, with The Remarkables mountain range forming one of its defining landmarks. Together, the water, mountains and compact alpine town give Queenstown its unmistakable sense of place.
Lake Wakatipu’s waters rise and fall by about 12 centimetres in a mysterious rhythmic pulse, linked in Māori legend to the beating heart of the sleeping giant Matau.
Discover Queenstown’s diverse dining scene, with everything from contemporary New Zealand cuisine featuring fresh local produce to international flavours, casual bites and refined dining experiences. Choose a relaxed bistro, welcoming gastropub or restaurant serving shared plates and local wines. With options for different tastes and dietary needs, Queenstown offers plenty of ways to enjoy a memorable meal.
Queenstown has more than 150 bars and restaurants, with over 25 cuisines from around the world represented across its dining scene
Enjoy unstructured time to experience Queenstown at your own pace. Follow whatever interests you most, whether that means exploring the compact town centre, browsing local shops and galleries, slowing down with a spa treatment or choosing an optional sightseeing or adventure experience. With no fixed plans to follow, the time is yours to make as active, indulgent or leisurely as you wish.
Queenstown’s compact centre brings shopping, dining and many leisure options together within a relatively small area, making it easy to explore independently.
These optional experiences are available at an extra cost to passengers joining selected Pure Discoveries® tours.
Booked a Pure Discoveries® tour and interested in adding optional experiences? Get in touch with our team to discuss your options.
Explore optional experiences across all Pure Discoveries® tour destinations
Venture deep into Queenstown’s rugged backcountry aboard a fully equipped 4WD, following the famous Skippers Road, described as one of the world’s most adventurous roads, as it clings to sheer cliffs high above the Shotover River. In the expert hands of your driver-guide, take in sweeping views across the canyon and discover the legends, pioneering characters and historic mining operations that shaped this remote landscape. Enjoy light refreshments and try gold panning in the river before returning to Queenstown.
Skippers Road was cut by hand into the cliffside, while the Shotover River below was once known as the world’s richest river during the gold-rush era.
Rediscover the magic of Middle-earth on a half-day 4WD adventure through the spectacular landscapes surrounding Queenstown. Visit filming locations from The Lord of the Rings trilogy, including the Misty Mountains and the Pillars of the Kings, while your driver-guide brings the scenery to life with little-known facts and memorable behind-the-scenes stories. Follow a historic gold-mining road, cross the Arrow River and try gold panning before enjoying morning or afternoon tea.
The landscapes visited are genuine filming locations rather than constructed sets, allowing guests to experience the real mountain and river scenery that became Middle-earth on screen.
Immerse yourself in Central Otago’s food and wine with tastings at four premium locations, a guided visit through New Zealand’s largest underground wine cave and a five-dish gourmet lunch cooked in retired oak barrels, matched with five wines. Your experienced wine guide shares the landscapes, history and winemaking stories of the region, with an opportunity to visit historic Arrowtown if time allows. Travel through the contrasting Gibbston, Cromwell and Bannockburn wine subregions on a premium small-group tour aboard a luxury Mercedes-Benz minivan.
Central Otago is the world’s southernmost commercial wine-growing region, with six distinct subregions shaped by different soils, climates and landscapes.
Discover Central Otago’s boutique wine scene with fully hosted tastings at four premium vineyards, each showcasing a different side of the region’s winemaking character. Enjoy a platter-style lunch of locally sourced produce at Carrick Winery, accompanied by four estate wines and panoramic views across Lake Dunstan, with a visit to Old Cromwell Town if time allows. Travel through the contrasting Gibbston, Cromwell and Bannockburn wine subregions on a premium small-group tour aboard a luxury Mercedes-Benz minivan.
Central Otago lies farther from the sea than anywhere else in New Zealand, giving it a climate unlike the country’s coastal wine regions
See Queenstown from a breathtaking new perspective on a scenic helicopter flight above the Whakatipu Basin. Take in panoramic views across Queenstown, Lake Whakatipu and towards Glenorchy before touching down in a serene, remote alpine setting. Step outside to admire the surrounding mountaintops, glacier-carved shores and sweeping high-country grasslands, with informative commentary from your pilot throughout the experience.
Lake Whakatipu has a lightning-bolt shape, which becomes especially clear when viewed from above.
Journey from Queenstown to Glenorchy before boarding a jet boat for an exhilarating two-hour adventure along the braided, glacier-fed Dart River. Travel deep into Mount Aspiring National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Area, where towering peaks, ancient forest and an ever-changing river landscape surround you. Along the way, knowledgeable guides bring the wilderness to life with Māori legends, stories of the Greenstone Trail and insights into the region’s natural environment.
The Dart River changes from day to day and season to season, with shifts in its channels, water colour and clarity making every journey slightly different.
Race into the spectacular Shotover River Canyons on a high-speed jet-boat ride available exclusively with Shotover Jet. Reach speeds of up to 90 kilometres per hour as your experienced driver powers through narrow canyon passages, skims close to rocky walls and performs exhilarating 360-degree spins. Purpose-built boats, pristine river scenery and continuous twists and turns combine in approximately 25 minutes of pure excitement.
Shotover Jet has operated continuously in the canyons since 1965 and is the only company permitted to take jet boats into this section of the Shotover River.
Cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm, where you can choose a gourmet long lunch or dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant. Enjoy a buffet of local and homegrown produce cooked over a wood-fired barbecue, surrounded by lakeside gardens and alpine views. After your meal, watch a sheep-herding and farm dog demonstration, wander through the gardens, then cruise back to Queenstown.
The TSS Earnslaw has been part of Lake Wakatipu’s history since 1912 and still carries passengers across the lake to Walter Peak, which was settled by Europeans in the 1860s.
Perfectly positioned just minutes from the heart of Queenstown, Scenic Suites offers one of the town's most sought-after stays. Its elevated setting delivers sweeping views of the Southern Alps and Lake Wakatipu. Rooms feature modern, contemporary design with full facilities, while the on-site restaurant and bar serve flavoursome dishes inspired by global cuisine.
See how this destination features on our small-group tours.
Arrive in Queenstown to spectacular alpine and lakeside scenery, with rugged mountain peaks rising above the crystal-clear waters of Lake Wakatipu. During your stay, enjoy dining in Queenstown at leisure, choosing from the town’s vibrant restaurants and cafés.
Selected tours stay for two nights and include a full day of Queenstown at leisure, while others depart the following morning. For passengers joining selected Pure Discoveries® tours, a wide range of optional experiences are also available at an extra cost, including wine tours, adrenaline adventures and scenic experiences.
These Pure Discoveries® tours include Queenstown in their itinerary.
A 23-day guided journey across both islands, designed as the full New Zealand experience. A seamless adventure for travellers who want the complete story.
A 20-day guided journey across both islands, designed for travellers who want New Zealand's coastal beauty at the heart of the trip, alongside classic New Zealand highlights.
A 20-day guided journey across both islands, designed for travellers who want the classic two-island experience with a deeper South Island ending.
A 17-day guided journey across both islands, designed as a shorter two-island adventure that still delivers New Zealand's big bucket list moments.
A 14-day guided journey through the South Island, designed for travellers who want the complete South Island story in one beautifully paced experience.
A 12-day guided journey across both islands, perfect for those wanting the cultural and geothermal highlights of the North before a fuller South Island adventure.
A 10-day guided journey through the South Island, designed for travellers who want a compact adventure that still delivers the big scenic moments.
Your Guide to a Leisurely Day in Queenstown Queenstown, New Zealand, is renowned for its stunning landscapes and adventurous spirit. While it’s famous for adrenaline-pumping activities, it also offers a plethora of leisurely pursuits that cater…
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