All Queenstown Tours &amp; Excursions in 2026

Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

13 hoursFree Cancellation

Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Ride in Queenstown

25 minutesFree Cancellation

Enjoy mountain and lake views from a different angle when you cruise from Queenstown aboard the vintage “TSS Earnslaw” steamship or the modern “Spirit of Queenstown” catamaran across Lake Wakatipu to the Walter Peak High Country Farm. Refuel with a gourmet barbecue lunch featuring Central Otago specialties, salads, desserts, and local cheeses at the Colonel’s Homestead. Learn about local rural life during sheep-shearing and sheepdog demonstrations at the farm.

Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Mt Cook Full-Day Small Group Tour from Queenstown

12 hoursFree Cancellation

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.

Small-Group Zipline Adventure in Queenstown

2 hoursFree Cancellation

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.

Milford Sound Coach and Cruise tour from Queenstown

12 hoursFree Cancellation

Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour from Queenstown

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.

Milford Sound Flight and Cruise Tour from Queenstown

Take a break and escape into nature on this tour of Milford Sound in the World Heritage Fiordland National Park. Relax as you visit one of New Zealand’s notable Fjords, taking in the waterfalls at Mirror Lake and the fresh glacier water at Monkey Walk. Then, take to the water itself with a boat cruise on Milford Sound. Perfect for travelers wanting to immerse themselves in the South Island’s landscape.

Milford Sound Day Tour with Scenic Cruise from Queenstown

13 hoursFree Cancellation

Glenorchy sits along a stunningly beautiful stretch of road from Queenstown to the (aptly named) rural settlement of Paradise. Instead of trying to negotiate these unfamiliar country roads on your own, get a driver who knows the region on a half-day trip. Spend time exploring Glenorchy’s shops and café, take advantage of some remarkable alpine photo ops, and see some of the locations where scenes from famous movies were filmed.

Glenorchy & Paradise Half-Day Scenic Tour from Queenstown

Watershed is a floating sauna experience on Lake Whakatipu, where guests cycle between hot Finnish saunas and cold lake plunges while surrounded by Queenstown’s alpine scenery. Designed around the classic rhythm of contrast therapy, guests move between sauna heat, cold water and moments of rest on the deck overlooking the mountains. Most people naturally fall into a pattern of sauna, plunge, rest, then repeat. Located just minutes from central Queenstown, Watershed offers a calm space on the water that feels surprisingly removed from the town centre. Guests often visit after a day hiking, skiing or exploring the region, or simply to slow down and reset. The experience suits couples, friends and anyone curious about contrast therapy, and is especially popular as a winter ritual after a day in the mountains.

Queenstown Floating Sauna & Cold Plunge on Lake Whakatipu

1 hour 15 minutesFree Cancellation

Fiordland is one of New Zealand’s most beautiful destinations, but self-driving through the landscape of snow-capped mountains, towering waterfalls, and emerald greenery can be challenging—and distracting. Eliminate the hassle when you travel with a small group by coach from Queenstown. Pass Lake Te Anau, the South Island’s largest lake, and enter the hand-carved Homer Tunnel on your way to Milford Sound, where you relax on a scenic nature cruise.

Milford Sound Premium Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

13 hoursFree Cancellation

Enjoy an active adventure from Queenstown without having to plan any of the logistics on this half-day canyoneering trip that’s even suitable for beginners. Walk through an ancient beech forest to a steep-walled canyon, where you descend by zipline, abseil (rappel) down waterfalls, plunge into natural pools, float down narrow passageways, and cascade down chutes. Expert guides ensure your safety and provide alternate routes depending on your skill level.

Queenstown Half Day Canyoning Adventure

4 hoursFree Cancellation

A unique water adventure awaits you on Queenstown's stunning lake with our semi-submersible shark ride. Feel the rush as you reach speeds of 80 kph on the surface and dive under the water at 40 kph, all while enjoying a personal ride with an experienced pilot. Experience exhilarating jumps as the shark leaps out of the water, sending splashes all around. With the first commercial Seabreacher X watercraft at your disposal, you can customize your ride to be as mild or wild as you want. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind thrill while in Queenstown.

Queenstown Hydro Attack Shark Ride Adventure

15 minutesFree Cancellation

Board the vintage TSS Earnslaw steamship or the modern Spirit of Queenstown for an evening cruise on Lake Wakatipu. Sail to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a buffet dinner featuring local meats, salads, vegetables, and desserts, then watch farm demonstrations or relax in the bar. The cruise returns to the same central Queenstown location. The TSS Earnslaw undergoes winter maintenance, when the Spirit of Queenstown is available instead.

Dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm and Cruise from Queenstown

4 hoursFree Cancellation

60 Minute Jet Boat Ride on the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers

1 hourFree Cancellation

See Arrowtown and Wanaka through the eyes of a local rather than a first-time visitor on a half-day tour from Queenstown that explores local history and landscapes. You’ll have time to stroll Arrowtown’s charming main street, built during Otago’s 19th-century gold rush, then enjoy an hour of free time to see Wanaka at your own pace for a balanced sightseeing experience. Return to Queenstown through the Crown Range, winding through towering peaks and high passes.

Arrowtown and Wanaka Highlights Tour from Queenstown

25-Minute Remarkables Helicopter Tour from Queenstown

25 minutesFree Cancellation

Likely to Sell Out

Enjoy breathtaking views of the Queenstown scenery

Skydive in Queenstown—New Zealand’s outdoor adventure capital—and jump from 9,000, 12,000, or 15,000 feet (2,700, 3,600, or 4,500 meters). After a safety briefing, board a small plane and tandem skydive with an experienced guide. Free-fall at speeds of up to 124 miles (200 kilometers) per hour, then relax as you float beneath your parachute high above Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables mountains.

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

NZONE Skydive Queenstown

4.7

(1,477)

from USD 220

Observe more than 20 native bird species—including New Zealand’s famous kiwi—with admission to Kiwi Birdlife Park in central Queenstown. See wildlife shows, nature exhibits, and daily keeper presentations, and catch a rare sight of the flightless kiwi in a darkened enclosure that mimics a nocturnal environment. Your admission ticket is valid for the entire day so you can explore the park at your own pace.

Kiwi Park Queenstown Admission

2 to 3 hoursFree Cancellation

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.

Queenstown Lake Cruise and Walter Peak Farm Adventure

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Queenstown: Lake Wakatipu Scenic Cruise, 90 Minutes

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

TSS Earnslaw Lake Wakatipu Steamship Cruise from Queenstown

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

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.

Milford Sound Flight & Cruise Day Trip from Queenstown

Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour from Queenstown

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Must-Dos in Queenstown

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What are people saying about Queenstown

JulieAnn_A, Oct 2026

Perfect day to enjoy Queenstown!

Our group of travelers enjoyed this 1/2 day trip to Glenorchy and all the stops in between w/ refreshments and fun times re-enacting scenes from LOTR. Dan our guide and safe driver made the whole trip fun and interesting with his anecdotes and insights into the filming locations. The beautiful weather made the whole experience the perfect day to enjoy Queenstown!

Dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm and Cruise from Queenstown

Jennafer_R, Oct 2026

The TSS Earnslaw and Walter Peak, NZ Jewels

Wow! From beginning to end a great way to end our time in Queenstown travelling through the country. The TSS Earnslaw is a jewel of the lake. What a beautiiful, well maintained ship. The ship itself is lovely to behold let alone the lake and views all around as we made our way to Walter Peak for a buffet dinner. We were greeted very warmly and they were well organized getting us to tables, drink orders then advising us when it was our turn to get some food. The food was really great, definitely not standard buffet fare, dessert delicious as well. We were able to browse their lovely gift shop before the farm show (recommend if you have time before). The farm show was very entertaining with a shearing demonstration. The herding demonstration with dogs was also absolutely fun and it was all informative. Back on the ship and back into town about 9 it was a great way to end our time and would 100% recommend this to anyone thinking about it.

Milford Sound Premium Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

Stephanie_C, Oct 2026

Great even in the rain

A great day made better by our guide Nev. It was raining so we were worried about how good the experience would be but Nev assured us the waterfalls would be lovely because of the rain. He was right! Also despite the rain, the boat ride had good views (probably better on a clear day though). Boxed lunch was surprisingly tasty and I appreciated the tour accommodating for gluten free. Periodic stops for coffee and scenic views broke up the day. Great experience overall!

Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise

Jennifer_N, Sept 2026

Scenic Cruise on Beautiful Historic Steam Ship with Sumptuous Gourmet BBQ Lunch!

The beautiful historic steam ship cruise on the Wakatipu Lake was scenic. You can walk around the ship upper and lower deck and learn how it is operated. Beverage and a snacks can be purchased on board. We stopped at Walter Peak for a sumptuous BBQ lunch. Not your typical BBQ but a good spread of food with appetisers, salads, main course and desserts! Wasn’t expecting all that delicious food! You get to wander around the farm after lunch and watch sheep being sheared. Everything was well organised and we enjoyed ourselves. I would recommend this activity while in Queenstown! Also worth mentioning the staff at RealNZ office in Queenstown was wonderful. I had double booked the activity and she was so helpful to arrange cancellation of the double booking and reminded me to follow up to ensure I get my refund. Thank you all for a great experience!

Milford Sound Flight and Cruise Tour from Queenstown

Laura_A, Sept 2026

Absolutely MIND-BLOWING! 🤯✨ This experience was worth every single dollar!

From start to finish, the entire process was completely seamless. Everything was so well organised and effortless, which meant we could just sit back and take it all in. The flight through the snow-covered glaciers was honestly one of the most incredible things we’ve ever experienced..the scenery was completely surreal. Towering mountains, endless glaciers and views that genuinely looked too beautiful to be real. And then arriving in Milford Sound and experiencing the cruise was something so incredibly special. The combination of flying through this spectacular landscape and then seeing Milford Sound from the water was just unforgettable. Without a doubt, one of the absolute highlights of our time in Queenstown. If you’re considering doing this, DO IT! Worth every cent and an experience we’ll be talking about for years to come. 🏔️❄️✈️🚢✨

Milford Sound Flight & Cruise Day Trip from Queenstown

Anastasia_P, Aug 2026

Absolutely stunning day

What a fantastic experience! I got to sit in the front (one of the benefits of being a solo traveller) and she asked if I wanted to hear all the transmissions from air traffic control/other aircraft, which was really cool! The scenery was SO stunning. The flights were definitely the highlight, although the cruise was incredibly cool as well (we saw dolphins and even a penguin!!) I also appreciated how proactive the company was, reaching out a couple days before and letting me know the weather wasn’t looking good, which gave me enough time to switch around my tours, and fortunately the day I’d switched to had good flying weather!

Milford Sound Coach and Cruise tour from Queenstown

Danielray_D, July 2026

Milford Sound - Do not miss out!!

I could not recommend this specific tour enough, but what made it even more amazing than the views and beautiful scenery was our incredible guide, Robin. She was so knowledgeable about New Zealand, its history, its culture, geography, anatomy, you name it. I’m so thankful we had her as our guide. I would recommend this over and over again to anyone visiting this beautiful country!

Premium Milford Sound Tour Including Cruise, Flight & Lunch

TIM_M, July 2026

Bus, Cruise, Fly... the BEST way to experience Milford Sound

Couldn't ask for a better day tour! Shu our tour driver was friendly, informative & gave us numerous photo stops along the way. The cruise in Milford Sound was spectacular - and we saw dolphins! Then flying back over the show capped mountains ended the day in a literal high!

Half-Day Milford Helicopter Flight and Cruise from Queenstown

Jonathan_L, Apr 2026

#1 Best Experience of NZ South Island

I’m surprised how so many visitors in Queenstown wanting to visit Milford Sound are not taking advantage of this opportunity and booking this excursion in advance. Are you willing to drive or ride a shuttle for +5 hours? Why not fly there instead and make a pit spot to touch some snow? Our pilot was Kurt and he was hands down very welcoming, professional, and engaged with ensuring that his passengers were safe and getting the best experience possible, weather permitting of course. The process of transitioning from helicopter to the cruise was very smooth and hassle free. We went to Milford Sound in the afternoon and we were very fortunate to have two close sightings of dolphins. It’s best to visit Milford Sound after heavy rainfall to see multiple active waterfalls. If NZ is in a dry spell, it’s still worth a visit especially with the Glacier Helicopters company. You won’t be disappointed!

NZONE Skydive Queenstown

Simbai_M, Apr 2026

12000 feet skydive

After all the health and safety checks have been completed the real action began. After being geared up the plane ride to the jump takes about 15 mins which was a good ride with views of the lake and mt remarkable ranges. The jump it self takes about 5 mins till you reach the ground. I had a good instructor who made me feel calm. The free fall is so quick it finished before I could take it all in and the landing was so smooth.

Milford Sound Day Tour with Scenic Cruise from Queenstown

Ruth_M, Mar 2026

Fantastic 10/10

Really great day out to Milford sound! Matt was a fantastic driver/tour guide, giving us great information throughout the journey. The boat around the fjord was great, some amazing views. Bus was comfy and well air conditioned - great music played too - thanks Matt! Defo worth the money!