All Queenstown Tours &amp; Excursions in 2026

25-Minute Remarkables Helicopter Tour from Queenstown

Remarkables flight during Winter (snow landing)

25 minutesFree Cancellation

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

Get off the beaten path and enjoy sweeping views over Queenstown that would be otherwise difficult to find on this ATV adventure. Head to Queenstown Hill for a half-day tour on a fully automatic ATV and follow your guide over off-road trails (safety gear and all-weather clothing are provided). Enjoy informative commentary and sweeping views over Queenstown. Hotel pickup and drop-off, along with refreshments, are included in this small-group tour.

Queenstown Quad Bike Adventure Tour - Half Day

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Queenstown is famous for its adrenaline-inducing adventure sports, but if you want a more relaxed adventure, combine a Lake Wakatipu cruise with a horseback-riding adventure. Cruise from Queenstown to Walter Peak High Country Farm, then fuel up with morning or afternoon tea at the Colonel’s Homestead. Numbers are limited for a small-group experience on the horse trek for a personalized experience. Admire great views of the Remarkables mountains.

Half Day Walter Peak Horse Trek and Cruise from Queenstown

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Take a shuttle from Queenstown to Arrowtown for a self-guided bike tour on the Queenstown Trail. The bike rental staff provides tips for your ride and directions for the basic route, which covers about 22 miles (36 kilometers) of varied terrain and hills. Mountain bike (or e-bike), helmet, and detailed trail map are provided, along with options for additional stops. Suitable for active people who enjoy a challenging bike ride.

Arrowtown to Queenstown Full-Day Bike Adventure

5 to 7 hoursFree Cancellation

Enjoy a thrilling jet boat ride on the Dart River, taking you to places you couldn’t reach any other way. During the half-day tour, venture into the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Mt Aspiring National Park from Glenorchy, a short drive from Queenstown. Surrounded by awe-inspiring peaks and hidden valleys, twist and turn down the glacier-fed Dart River. Listen to your guide’s stories about the area’s natural and cultural history en route.

Dart River Jet Boat and Wilderness Experience

4 hoursFree Cancellation

This full-day adventure includes a “funyak” (inflatable canoe) and jet boat ride on the Dart River, within Mt. Aspiring National Park. Take the complimentary return coach from Queenstown or make your own way to Glenorchy. From there, speed upriver on a thrilling jet boat before climbing aboard an easy-to-handle funyak. No previous experience is necessary and you paddle in a flotilla behind your guide.

Dart River Canoe and Jet Boat Experience from Queenstown

8 hours 15 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

(1,476)

from US$219

Fans of “The Lord of the Rings” won’t want to miss this fun half-day tour to several filming locations around Queenstown. Admire views of Skippers Canyon, Arrowtown, Lake Hayes, and elsewhere as you listen to your guide’s stories and see where scenes were filmed. Also get the chance to dress up in authentic costumes and hold movie props while posing for photos—an experience you wouldn’t get going alone.

Half Day Arrowtown and Gibbston Lord of the Rings Film Locations

Half Day Arrowtown and Gibbston Lord of the Rings Film Locations

4 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Take a trip to the picturesque village of Glenorchy without having to drive yourself on this easy group tour from Queenstown. Focus on the beautiful mountain and lake views on the way, rather than the road. Your guide will keep you entertained and informed on the drive to Glenorchy, and you’ll have about two hours to explore the village independently. Take a short walk along the lake or enjoy a relaxed coffee or beer.

Glenorchy Kiwi Special Tour

4 hours 10 minutesFree Cancellation

Located in the heart of Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound forms part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site. Explore the stunning fiord in a way few tourists will—by air and water during a half-day excursion. The exhilarating, round-trip helicopter flight from Queenstown includes a glacier or alpine landing. Perhaps spot dolphins, seals, and penguins during an unforgettable cruise.

Half-Day Milford Helicopter Flight and Cruise from Queenstown

4 hoursFree Cancellation

Sample Central Otago’s famous wine and food on a half-day tasting tour from Queenstown. Enjoy a lunch of traditional New Zealand food and delicious wine in a local restaurant. Travel through the scenic Kawarau Gorge to three boutique wineries and explore the biggest underground wine cellar in New Zealand at Gibbston Valley. Sample premium wines and gain insight into the different grape varietals that flourish in the region’s fertile soils.

Queenstown Wine & Food Tour: Scenery, Tastings & Delicious Lunch!

5 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Pair the fine wines of Central Otago with a gourmet lunch platter on this small-group wine-tasting tour of Gibbston, Bannockburn, and Cromwell from Queenstown. Drive through valleys and vine-clad foothills rich in gold mining history, and stop at four boutique wineries for tastings along the way. Numbers are limited to ensure an intimate experience with other wine lovers and personalized attention from your guide.

Queenstown 6 hour Boutique Wine Tour 4 Wineries and Lunch

6 hoursFree Cancellation

Queenstown Tandem Paragliding from Coronet Peak

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Join a Doubtful Sound cruise from Queenstown and discover this isolated gem deep within the UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park. Travel by coach to Manapouri, take a ferry across Lake Manapouri and cross over Wilmot Pass, then down to Doubtful Sound to board your catamaran. Look out for dolphins, fur seals, and penguins amid a dramatic landscape of soaring forest-covered peaks and crystal-clear waters.

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Queenstown

12 hoursFree Cancellation

Take your South Island adventure to new heights during a 50-minute helicopter flight with a glacier landing. Soar above the spectacular scenery of Mt. Aspiring National Park, gliding above turquoise ice formations, hidden alpine lakes, and towering mountains, before landing atop an alpine glacier for photos. Scenic highlights include the Earnslaw Burn valley, which is usually only accessible on foot.

50-Minute Glacier Explorer & Earnslaw Burn Flight, Queenstown

50 minutesFree Cancellation

60 Minute Jet Boat Ride on the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers

1 hourFree Cancellation

Milford Sound Premium Coach & Cruise from Queenstown with Lunch

12 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

The deep waters, soaring cliffs, and thundering waterfalls of Milford Sound are spectacular from all angles, and this half-day tour by air and boat takes in all the highlights. Enjoy thrilling aerial views of the Fiordland National Park on a round-trip flight from Queenstown, and marvel at Mitre Peak, Bowen Falls, and Mount Pembroke on a scenic Milford Sound cruise. Hotel pickup and drop-off, and lunch are included for a truly seamless experience.

Milford Sound Flight and Cruise ex Queenstown (incl Lunch)

5 hoursFree Cancellation

Thrill-seekers in New Zealand’s ‘adventure capital’ will love free-falling over the river on the Shotover Canyon Swing. A jump instructor prepares both first-timers and seasoned daredevils to swing solo or tandem along a special rope and cable system suspended between two cliffs. You’ll swing safely in a secure harness and hear encouragement throughout your pendulum ride above the Shotover River.

2 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Shotover Canyon Swing

Shoot the rapids on the Shotover River on this half-day tour from Queenstown, a great choice for thrill seekers. Under guide supervision, you'll brave six wild rapids including Aftershock, Squeeze, Toilet, and Pinball, raft through the Oxenbridge Tunnel, and drop into Cascade Rapid. Instruction and all necessary equipment (wetsuit, life jacket, spray jacket, booties, helmet) are included. This trip requires confident swimming, moderate fitness, and participants must weigh between 40 and 120 kg due to safety restrictions.

Shotover River Rafting Trip from Queenstown

5 hoursFree Cancellation

With waterfalls cascading down mighty cliffs and some of New Zealand’s most impressive natural scenery, Milford Sound is one the South Island’s must-see destinations—but its remote location makes it hard to reach alone. On this tour, spin through the New Zealand countryside in comfort from central Queenstown with your guide. Admire panoramic views from your glass-roof, low-emissions coach, and cruise the calm waters.

Milford Sound Coach & Cruise from Queenstown: Panoramic Views

12 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Combining two of Queenstown's most iconic activities, this trip is second to none! Starting on the Queenstown Jet Boat, you'll get to experience those famous 360 degree spins and speed. Discover the Kawarau River and its pristine wilderness as we race you down the river to your next mode of transport. Then jump straight into a raft to complete the last section of river, where the Jet Boats fear to go. Spend your morning or afternoon paddling through the historic Kawarau gorge, famous for its gold mining, wineries and it’s stint in The Lord of the Rings franchise. Paddle and swim your way through grade 2-3 whitewater rapids with a brand new cliff jumping section added for the adventure junkies (optional). Complete your journey by tackling the famous 400m Dog Leg rapid – the longest commercially rafted rapid in New Zealand. Then head back to Rafting Base for a hot shower.

Queenstown Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat

4 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

xperience Queenstown differently with Thunder Jet – the only Queenstown jet boat with music on board, combining high-speed adventure with our very own soundtrack, 360° spins, spectacular scenery and personalised local commentary. Choose a 30-minute jet boat ride or go further on our 60-minute adventure, travelling a 47km round trip and venturing deep into the Kawarau River’s untouched wilderness and historic gold-mining areas. Thunder Jet’s 60-minute trip travels further down the Kawarau River than any other Queenstown jet boat experience. Reach exhilarating speeds of up to 95km/h as you skim across the water and experience the landscapes surrounding Queenstown from a completely different perspective. Perfect for families, couples, groups and adventure seekers of all ages, Thunder Jet delivers a uniquely Queenstown experience with more river, more adventure and music all the way.

1-Hour Jet Boat Adventure Queenstown with Music

1 hourFree Cancellation

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Must-Dos in Queenstown

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What are people saying about Queenstown

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!

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. 🏔️❄️✈️🚢✨

Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise

D_T, Sept 2026

Walter's Peak. Wow!

From start to finish, this was a fabulous experience! The ship, and it's history made it unique. The dinner experience, especially the grilled meats, was the best that we've had in NZ so far. The sheep farming and shearing explanation was very informative and then came Mia and her remarkable demonstration of sheep herding, which was really something to see. We highly recommend this experience when visiting Queenstown!

Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour from Queenstown

Priscilla_S, Sept 2026

Highly Recommended!

Though the tour was just half a day, we visited a lot of locations where the movie was shot. The van we travelled in was comfortable and the guide was very informative with lots of LOTR stories. The van could hold only 15 people and though full, it didn't feel crowded. Due to a smaller vehicle, it felt like we went to a couple of locations that the larger tours busses wouldn't have been able to access. Overall I would definitely recommend this tour!

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, Jul 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, Jul 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

Jennifer_B, Mar 2026

Once in a lifetime opportunity ...... I now understand what this means :)

Was not expecting the amazing views on journey with glazed roof of coach which enhanced the journey made the time go quickly. Loved the engaging coach guide, they were amazing, so knowledgeable, entertaining and related everything to what was around at that the time ... no time to doze off. Definitely an opportunity not to miss ....