9 of the Best Museums in and Around Queenstown and How To Visit

Many travelers come to New Zealand hoping to spot the country’s famous national bird: the kiwi. While your chances of catching a glimpse of these endangered (and nocturnal) birds in the wild are slim, there are many wildlife centers where you can view them while learning more about native New Zealand flora and fauna. Queenstown’s Kiwi Park is one such place—plus, you can see a variety of other New Zealand birds here. Buy your ticket in advance to guarantee entry.

Don't miss: The Park's populations of native wildlife including kākā, kākāriki, kea parrots, ruru owls, New Zealand falcons, tuatara lizards, and more.

Visiting museums in Queenstown doesn’t get more immersive than this. The central Queenstown branch of Odysseum (there’s another in Auckland) is an ideal rainy-day destination for families or friends, or after a day on the slopes or trails as it’s open late in the evening. Described as a sensory maze, Odysseum includes lasers, illusions, puzzles, and other fun, sensory challenges suitable for all ages. Both single-use and 1-hour admission passes are available.

Don't miss: The photo ops—Odysseum is one of Queenstown's most unique and photogenic attractions.

Lake Wakatipu is a central feature of Queenstown; as well as kayaking on it or walking or biking around it, you can also venture beneath it. The Time Tripper Underwater Experience is an animated film telling the geological history and Māori mythology of Wakatipu, and is presented beneath the lake itself. The show runs for around 15 minutes, after which you can spend time at the underwater observatory, watching eels, trout, and ducks swim around the lake.

Don't miss: The Time Tripper Underwater Experience offers half-priced admission for children 14 and younger.

About 12 miles (20 kilometers) northeast of Queenstown is the small town of Arrowtown, which is one of the top Queenstown-area cultural attractions thanks to its rich 19th century history. Arrowtown was at the heart of the Otago Gold Rush of the 1860s, when gold was found in the Arrow River. The town also became home to many Chinese gold miners, who were invited to come and work here at a time when New Zealand’s population was overwhelmingly British and Māori. See more than 70 historical buildings throughout the town and learn more at the Lakes District Museum.

Don't miss: Renting a gold pan to try your luck at striking it rich on the Arrow River.

Entertaining locals and visitors alike since 1973, Puzzling World is a real Wānaka institution. With a 3D outdoor maze and interactive indoor illusion rooms that make you feel a bit like Alice venturing through Wonderland, Puzzling World is great fun for families and older visitors, too.

Pose alongside Romans going about their bathroom business, experience a room of faces following you, and ride a seat that appears to slide uphill (don’t try this one with a hangover). Buy admission in advance to make sure you don't miss out on this popular attraction.

Don't miss: The outdoor "Mega Maze," as long as you bring your sun protection—you may be out there for a while.

Declaring itself one of the largest private collections in the world, Wānaka’s National Transport and Toy Museum displays more than 600 classic cars and military vehicles, 20 aircraft, and 100,000 toys and other assorted items, including Barbies, LEGO®, Star Wars memorabilia, Sylvanian Families, and early 20th-century dolls and teddy bears. The attraction is just what you need if Wānaka’s hiking tracks are temporarily off-limits due to wet weather, or if the kids are looking for a cute Queenstown souvenir.

Don't miss: The museum's toy store, which is home to thousands of dolls, puzzles, wood toys, and more.

Visiting a winery or joining a wine-tasting tour is a must-do activity when staying in Queenstown, but it's not all about getting tipsy. Coxs’ Vineyard, in the Gibbston Valley about 18 miles (30 kilometers) east of Queenstown, also houses the Seifert Gallery, which displays and sells a selection of art. You can visit the tasting room and gallery by appointment only, so call ahead to book a time. You could even rent a bicycle for a day of riding between wineries.

Don't miss: A copperplate engraving dating back to the 18th century.

Strolling through the center of town, you’ll come across many small, independent Queenstown art museums and galleries selling the work of local and international artists. A great option for browsing (or buying) contemporary art is the Artbay Gallery, located in an attractive old stone house overlooking Queenstown Bay Beach and Lake Wakatipu. If you don’t have deep pockets for purchasing art, shop at the Saturday Queenstown Market at Earnslaw Park instead, which sells a wide range of arts and crafts.

Don't miss: Artbay's rotating exhibitions featuring works by local and international contemporary artists.

Queenstown and the Southern Alps are very photogenic, and while you’ll probably want to take lots of pictures during your stay—or even join a photography tour—some things are best done by professionals. Browse the magnificent large-scale landscape photography of award-winning Kiwi photographer Stephan Romer at Queenstown’s Romer Gallery. His photographs capture many local scenes as well as Fiordland, Mt. Aspiring, Aoraki/Mt. Cook, and Arthur’s Pass National Parks—ideal if you can’t physically make it to all these places during your grand South Island tour.

Don't miss: A photo of a hidden slot canyon and waterfall on the South Island's west side, called Wilson's Creek Chasm.