Top Queenstown Outdoor Activities

The evening tour starts on the wharf at Queenstown at exactly 5pm so arrive by about 4:30 so as not to be at the end of the line. Its a line-up of passengers to board the steamer. Make sure to have your ticket with you (printed or phone). You can ride on the upper or lower deck ... the stairs are very awkward so I recommend the upper deck unless already full. We rode on the lower deck on the out-journey and the upper deck back .. iif you ride the upper deck beware the fumes from the coal fired engine are a bit overwhelming.. The steamer runs to exact times. On board there are drinks and snacks available to purchase, and free water for everyone. Its a lovely environment on-board and the views of the lake are wonderful. It takes about 45 minutes to reach the Walter Peak venue which is a working sheep station & a huge modern public restaurant where a delicious bbq dinner is available from about 7 to 8pm. Drinks are extra cost. Following the dinner there is a short , educational and interesting display given by a sheep sheerer and his border collie .. well worth the half hour it takes. Following the display the steamer returns to Queenstown with an onboard piano entertainer where everyone can join in. The steamer arrives back at the wharf at about 9pm.

We did the 2 zip lines with the jump off a deck at the end. Sydney & Shazz were our guides. Our own personal “Team Canada!”🇨🇦 They were professional, knowledgeable, and experienced. They were also friendly and funny! They made the experience so much fun. This was my first time zip lining and I am afraid of heights. I wanted to push myself. Without Sydney there is no way I would have made the 60ft drop after the two zip lines. I was scared to death and she encouraged me and walked me through it. I was successful. Overcoming my fears and positive support made it happen. Thanks, Sydney!

This was a very well organised company. From meeting at the dock, to getting safety gear sorted, to the skilled driver taking us into the canyon. Clear and concise instructions throughout the rafting. SIA was our guide, she was amazing, made everyone in the boat feel comfortable. Her knowledge as we paddled down the river was excellent, telling us all about the water and the canyon. I took my 21 year old son, first time for both of us, we both absolutely loved this! Encourage anyone who can swim to give it a go!

We had a wonderful experience on this excursion. Thomas greeted us with a cheerful welcome. He created a welcoming environment for all the travelers to get to know each other with a fun individual introduction exercise. He shared cultural stories. He shared geographical knowledge of the region. He shared plant and animal details. He hosted a charming tea with yummy grilled cheese sandwiches with fresh slices of kiwi fruit. We experienced the rock, the water, the trees, the sky, the wind. It was majestic and he helped create this experience seemlessly. He was an excellent driver and made us feel safe on a windy and sometimes gravelly road. Everything was special. No complaints. Thank you!

I was hesitant to sign up as I’m not a “wine” connoisseur. But, it was one of the best half day tours I’ve gone on. Our guide, Ben was knowledgeable and entertaining. The wineries were each unique. The third winery, with the cheese board snack, was great! I went by myself and by the end of the day we were all friends!

This tour was so much better than we expected. Steam ship is beautiful and you can really explore all of it. The animals at the farm are gorgeous and friendly. The food provided for afternoon tea was amazing and there was free time to walk around the gardens and the beach. Fab tour.

Absolutely amazing experience with Jeff, our tour guide for the day. There were plenty of bathroom stops and snack stops along the way. The mini bus with 16 passengers is definitely the way to do it. It’s pricier, but the experience and comfort is worth it. During our initial stop at Hooker Valley, where Mt Cook is viewable, there were clouds covering the summit (still gorgeous). We proceeded with the tour, but before we left that area, Jeff changed plans so we could all see the summit without obstructions! Would highly recommend this tour, and if you get Jeff as your guide, I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed a single bit.

We had a beautiful day for our cruise and it was truly a great outing. The ship itself is amazing and provided entertainment watching how it works. We found the people that worked on the ship to be very friendly. It was nice that we only did the cruise because the majority of the people got off at the farm and we only had probably about 30 people on the whole boat on our return trip. Made it great to get pictures.