Top Queenstown Day Trips

This is a beautiful drive through the NZ countryside. Our driver, Matt, was really great - witty, interested in our thoughts, sensitive to what would make the tour more enjoyable, enthusiastic, and very knowledgeable. I couldn’t hear much of the commentary on the cruise.

The bus ride and tour with multiple stops on the way to the Sound was very nice. I do recommend taking the plane ride back to Queenstown though, as the bus ride is about 3 hours each way. Plus, it gives the opportunity to see the landscape from land, sea and air. All of which are truly amazing.

Lovely cruise & a great way to see a different perspective of Queenstown & surrounds. Inside & outside seating, hot & cold drinks & small range of snacks are available to purchase (efficiently managed by Emily) & there's a toilet on board. Can be chilly, so bring suitable clothing. Very informative commentary from our captain, Tyson, who also gave suggestions of other activities do.

The property is lovely and right on the shore of the lake. The afternoon tea was lovely and the pastries and cakes were delicious. The tour was a nicely paced around the farm and we learned lots about all the animals. The flower garden were an added bonus. Restroom facilities are clean and in the main building. The ride on the steamboat was special. They spoke of the history of the steamboat and how they build it, disassembled, transported to the lake, and reassembled. It’s been running for over 100 years. Riding the boat is a must do. The farm is a nice option if you have some time and interest in a gentle afternoon strolling the farm and learning.

An absolutely unforgettable experience from start to finish. The journey from Queenstown to Milford Sound was just as breathtaking as the destination itself, with stunning scenery at every turn. The scenic cruise was incredible — peaceful, majestic, and truly humbling. A special mention to our bus driver, who was fantastic. He was caring, attentive, and made everyone feel safe and comfortable throughout the long day. His knowledge, kindness, and genuine care for passengers really stood out and made the experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Queenstown — a must-do experience in New Zealand.

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!

Great fun experience, great way to see most of the rivers, lots of donut turns, waves and big splashes. Be prepared to get wet,very wet!! This is no log flume experience. Totally soaked from head down ,too much really when you're spending the day in Queenstown, so only reason for losing 1 star. I'd recommend sitting in centre seats if you want to avoid a total soaking. Anton our driver was great though ,good on safety 👏

We did the half day tour & would recommend! Loved: - Both drivers (Kerry & George) - Mt Rosa (1 - small great vibe), Nockies Palette (2 - beautiful views & scenery), the Winery in Arrowtown (3 - so fun to dispense the wine ourselves and I think a really fun way to start), Gibson Valley (4 - could take or leave but I think it’d be better if we did a formal tour with them) - we fit in 4 stops! Felt like we made good use of our time. Tour ended approx 5-5:15pm. - drivers offered to call and make bookings for tasting when we got on the bus - bus very comfy, not super windy or bumpy Of Note: - you get a timetable & map immediately upon getting on the bus. You need to be a bit flexible with the wineries you go to since you don’t have access to it beforehand. There must be some reason they don’t give it out but 🤷🏼‍♀️ - the stops are approximately 50mins so it’s fast!! You would definitely need to spend two spots for lunch in order to have enough time to get your food & eat it. Since we were the halfway, we ate beforehand and had plenty of time to get a cheeseboard, bread, fries, etc during one stop Overall really fun & would do again!