Top Queenstown Sightseeing Tours

Take a scenic lunch cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a unique perspective of New Zealand high country. Travel round-trip by either vintage steamship or a more modern catamaran and dig into a gourmet barbecue lunch at the Colonel’s Homestead. Enjoy chef-prepared Central Otago specialties accompanied by salads, desserts, and local cheeses. Don’t miss the sheep shearing demonstration or showmanship by the farm’s sheepdogs.

Round-trip flights between Queenstown and Milford Sound save you hours of road-travel time in Fiordland National Park. Following a scenic flight with views of snow-covered peaks, remote valleys, and waterfalls, touch down for a cruise on Milford Sound. Traveling by both air and water takes you to dramatic places you'd miss by sticking to the road. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for selected central Queenstown accommodations.

Fans of the Lord of the Rings movies won’t want to miss this fun half-day tour to various filming locations in the Southern Alps. You’ll enjoy exclusive access to private Arcadia Station and will also visit the beautiful Mt. Aspiring National Park. Be amazed by the natural beauty while reliving your favorite movie scenes. Don an LOTR costume and sword too, if you like.

As well as its stunning countryside, Central Otago in New Zealand is known for its world-class wine and adventure tourism. This ‘hop on, hop off’ bus tour lets you experience some of the best wineries and attractions at your own pace without the hassle of driving. Come away knowing a bit more about this slice of paradise, with commentary along the way to educate and entertain you.

Avoid the risk of driving to Milford Sound yourself and being distracted by the views. This group tour from Queenstown makes it easy—and safe—to visit the must-see natural attraction for a day. After a handy hotel pickup, embark on a dramatic journey through mountains, gorges, and the incredible Homer Tunnel. Make scenic stops along the way. Cruise Milford Sound in a catamaran, looking out for wildlife along the way.

Take in the vast scale of Milford Sound from the air and water with a half-day trip that includes round-trip flights and a catamaran cruise. You’ll board a small plane that accommodates up to 13 passengers, lift off above the ridges and lakes of Fiordland National Park, then cruise Milford Sound all the way to the Tasman Sea. Watch for fur seals and penguins, and pass through the mists of Stirling Falls before meeting the pilot for the return trip to Queenstown.

Explore Lake Wakatipu by boat on a 1.5-hour cruise from Queenstown. As you travel to the end of the lake, you can see stunning lakeside homes, a variety of bird life, Kawarau Dam, and the magnificent scenery that surrounds Queenstown. Get unobstructed views from the sundeck or stay warm in the heated cabin, and have the option to purchase drinks from the onboard bar.

Take a window seat for a scenic round-trip flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound, and see the splendor of Fiordland National Park from the air and sea on this small-group excursion. Board a cruise and pass dramatic waterfalls and Mitre Peak as you travel to the Tasman Sea. Then soar over the Southern Alps on your return.

While the Southern Alps are a sight to behold from the ground, they're even more spectacular from above. Take to the skies on this helicopter tour from Queenstown and enjoy dramatic mountain views from a unique vantage point. Journey above Skippers Canyon and the Wakatipu Basin for unparalleled photo ops, and take a break during an alpine landing (weather dependent). Listen to the pilot’s commentary through personal headsets.

Be amazed by Fiordland’s dramatic landscapes on this full-day, small-group tour by coach, boat, and air. This combo tour makes it easy to see a lot in one day. After a Queenstown hotel pickup, admire the dramatic scenery without having to drive yourself. Hop aboard a cruise on Milford Sound, then return to Queenstown by air, flying over Fiordland National Park and seeing views you couldn’t experience any other way.

See the sheer cliffs of Milford Sound from the air and water on this half-day tour from Queenstown by sightseeing plane and catamaran. Fly over Fiordland National Park, part of a UNESCO-listed landscape, then touch down at Milford Sound for a nature cruise. This tour is perfect for photography and wildlife watching, and hotel pickup and drop-off from centrally located Queenstown hotels is included.

Travel to the Tasman Sea on a Milford Sound cruise from Queenstown or Te Anau. Travel in a comfortable luxury coach with a glass roof for premium views of the towering mountains. At Milford Sound, cruise past by the world-renowned Mitre Peak and drift alongside rushing waterfalls as you search for wildlife, including New Zealand fur seals, dolphins, and Fiordland crested penguins. An onboard nature specialist provides expert commentary.

Travel from Queenstown to the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Milford Sound on an easy day trip. Enjoy live commentary along the way, and many scenic photo stops. At Milford Sound, don’t worry about waiting in lines as tickets are included. Admire views of waterfalls and Mitre Peak from your cruise. Refuel with a tasty picnic lunch in a scenic location. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off from listed locations for added convenience.

New Zealand’s fantasy landscapes have long enchanted photographers and filmmakers, and now’s your chance to capture your very own postcard-worthy shots. Accompanied by a professional photographer, this private full-day tour from Queenstown offers spectacular views of natural wonders like Skippers Canyon, Lake Wakatipu, and the Remarkables Range, as well as "The Lord of the Rings" filming locations, historic gold mines, and heritage sites.

Soar above the clouds and majestic mountain peaks of Mt. Aspiring and Fiordland national parks for a truly bird’s-eye perspective of New Zealand’s celebrated alpine scenery. On this compact scenic flight from Queenstown, enjoy views of at least five major glaciers, each lesser-known than the heavily visited Fox and Franz Josef glaciers further north. This flight also showcases the deep, densely forested fiords of Milford Sound.

Milford Sound lies in a remote corner of New Zealand’s South Island and, although remarkably scenic, the route from Queenstown is long. On this tour, reach Milford Sound by premium low-emission coach and spot native wildlife and gushing waterfalls during a nature cruise with specialist commentary. When it’s time to return home, take to the skies and return effortlessly to Queenstown—with unrivaled views over the wilderness landscapes from the air.

Instead of rushing to keep up with a group, this self-guided e-bike adventure is a peaceful way to explore the cycle paths between Arrowtown and Queenstown at your own pace. Begin with a pickup at a time that suits your schedule—with e-bike rental included—then, get taken to the start point in Arrowtown. After that, independently explore the local area’s bridges, mountains, and stunning trails with breaks whenever you like.

Enjoy an off-road adventure in the wild of New Zealand while visiting filming locations from the Lord of the Rings trilogy on this half-day excursion from Queenstown. Take in beautiful scenery while you see visit key spots used as the Misty Mountains, Minas Tirith, and the Pillars of the Kings, and stop to pan for gold on the Arrow River.

Go one step further taking our Milford Sound / Piopiotahi return scenic Helicopter flights and a wonderous 2 hour Milford Sound Cruise with our partners at Mitre Peak Cruises, to experience the Fiordland National Park from the sky, land and water. A remote alpine landing tops off this up close exploration of a UNESCO World Heritage wilderness. Spot wildlife such as seals, dolphins and the Fiordland Crested penguins roaming around Milford Sound. This is an experience you will never forget in the unofficial 8th wonder of the world.

Cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm aboard the TSS Earnslaw, a vintage steamship (or a replacement vessel when the steamship is undergoing maintenance). Stroll the lakeside gardens, watch a farm show, and see sheepdogs in action. Take a guided tour and enjoy free time to stroll. Savor a delicious afternoon tea with scones before heading back to Queenstown the same way you came.

Soar through the forest on the world’s steepest tree-to-tree zipline, 1,500 feet (450 meters) above Queenstown. Choose from three different courses, one with a thrilling 68-foot (21-meter) drop. Or, tone down the adrenaline a notch on a longer course, perfect for families with kids. Expert guides supervise your launch so all you have to do is take in the panoramic mountain and lake views.

Cruise Lake Wakatipu on a vintage Edwardian steamship with tickets for a cruise aboard TSS Earnslaw from Queenstown. Watch the stokers feed the TSS Earnslaw’s coal fires and enjoy views of the mountains and the lake. This scenic cruise departs from a central location in Queenstown, with multiple sailings throughout the day.

Fans of “The Lord of the Rings” won’t want to miss this fun half-day tour to several filming locations around Queenstown. Admire the views of Skippers Canyon, Arrowtown, Lake Hayes and more as you listen to your guide’s stories and see where scenes from the movies were made. You’ll also get to dress up in and hold authentic movie props while posing for fun photos.