All Queenstown Tours &amp; Excursions in 2026

Milford Sound Day Trip from Queenstown

10 to 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

Milford Sound is an unmissable destination in the South Island, but self-driving can be risky and the return road trip from Queenstown is long. Simplify your visit on this small-group tour from Queenstown. Travel there in a luxury bus with panoramic scenic windows, allowing unobstructed views. Take a relaxing cruise on Milford Sound, beautiful in all weather, then return to Queenstown by air, saving time and maximizing the views.

Milford Sound Small Group Tour from Queenstown with Scenic Flight

10 hoursFree 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

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

Go beyond admiring the Kawarau River from afar and get on the water with a whitewater rafting experience through its rapids. Enjoy a hassle-free day with coach transfers, a wetsuit, and all equipment included. Meet at the RealNZ Visitor Centre in Queenstown before your trip, which features an optional cliff jump for extra thrill. Note that participants must weigh between 40 and 120 kg to join.

Queenstown Kawarau River Whitewater Rafting

4 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Cyclists who enjoy spending time in nature will love this easy shuttle and rental option. After a transfer from Queenstown to Arrowtown, get kitted out with a mountain bike or e-bike and helmet. With bike rental included, you won’t worry about whether your bike is suitable for the trails. A detailed map is included, so you won’t get lost, and you’ll have the freedom to cycle at your own pace.

Arrowtown to Gibbston – Iconic Arrow River Bridges Bike Ride

4 hoursFree Cancellation

Queenstown Tandem Paragliding from Coronet Peak

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Queenstown Lord of the Rings 4WD Tour - half day

4 hoursFree Cancellation

Queenstown Sightseeing Tour: Highlights of Queenstown (3.5 hours)

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

New Zealand's highest peak deserves more than a drive-past. This full-day small-group tour from Queenstown travels north via Kawarau Gorge, before heading through the Mackenzie District to Lake Pukaki and Aoraki Mt Cook National Park. Your guide leads the day with local knowledge, te reo Māori place names, and stories of the land. At 3724 metres, Aoraki is New Zealand's highest peak and a sacred ancestor to Ngā Tahu iwi. You have two to two and a half hours at the national park: walk the Tasman Glacier Viewpoint Track through the moraines of Haupapa, New Zealand's longest glacier or Hooker Valley, or explore Mt Cook Village. Scenic flights available on the day. Heading home: the Ōmārama Clay Cliffs, the Cardrona Hotel (1863), and a Crown Range lookout over Queenstown from the highest main road in Aotearoa. Lunch, water and snacks included. WiFi and USB charging on board. Group capped at 16. Carbon neutral within the national park.

Mt Cook Day Tour from Queenstown via Wānaka and Pukaki

13 hoursFree Cancellation

Thunder Jet is the only jet boat provider who play music on their trips - your own personalised soundtrack! Also the only 30-minute jet boat ride on Lake Wakatipu, we guarantee an exhilarating jet boat ride along the stunning Kawarau River, where breathtaking landscapes meet thrilling speed. Reaching speeds of up to 95km/h while enjoying iconic 360º spins, you can choose between a 30-minute high-speed thrill or a 60-minute journey through New Zealand’s natural beauty, complete with expert local commentary. With plenty of opportunities for scenic photos and a blend of fun and professionalism from the skilled Thunder drivers, this is an essential Queenstown experience.

Queenstown 30-Minute Kawarau River Jet Boat Ride with music

30 minutesFree Cancellation

Follow gold rush trails, explore historic towns, and journey through breathtaking landscapes. This isn’t just a transfer, it’s an odyssey through the heart of Central Otago. Your day begins with a pickup in Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand. From there, travel in comfort and style aboard our luxurious Mercedes-Benz vehicles as you leave the alpine landscapes behind and venture into a region shaped by pioneers, gold fever, and timeless beauty. Wind through dramatic gorges, past crystal lakes, and into historic settlements frozen in time. Along the way, discover hidden gems like charming, historic Clyde, and the hauntingly beautiful Blue Lake of St Bathans. In the highlands of Pukerangi, step aboard the legendary Taieri Gorge Train for a spectacular rail journey. As the train snakes through deep ravines, crosses towering viaducts, and dives into hand-carved tunnels, you’ll be immersed in one of New Zealand’s most iconic experiences, before arriving in Dunedin

Queenstown to Dunedin with Taieri Gorge Train One-Way Tour

10 hoursFree Cancellation

Queenstown Shotover River White Water Rafting

4 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

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

Take to the skies on a 50-minute Queenstown helicopter flight that includes a snow landing on Jura Glacier. Soar above Lake Wakatipu’s northern shores and discover unparalleled views of New Zealand’s Southern Alps from an aerial perspective. After your pilot lands atop the glacier, snap photos of surrounding alpine peaks, such as Mt Aspiring, before the return helicopter ride over glacier-fed lakes and the Rees and Dart River valleys.

Queenstown: Southern Glacier 50 Minute Helicopter Flight

50 minutesFree Cancellation

Set out on a thrilling ATV adventure, just five minutes from downtown Queenstown. Begin with a short training session before riding through a private 650-acre adventure park with a guide, navigating rugged trails and hill climbs that lead to panoramic views over the Shotover River, Coronet Peak, Central Otago, and the Southern Alps. Tours are tailored to the group’s skill level, with small group sizes ensuring personalized guidance. All your gear is included for ease, and finish your experience with complimentary photos.

Queenstown: ATV Quad Bike Adventure Tour

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Saddle up for a horseback ride through the wild landscapes of the Cardrona Valley near Wānaka. Trace the path of the 19th-century gold rush, climb the mountains for a thrilling view over Lake Wānaka, and trot or gallop through the valley plains. Rides can be tailored for all levels, from complete beginners to experienced riders—state your experience level when booking so you are paired with an appropriate horse.

Gold Discovery Trail Horse Trek Cardrona - Most popular!

2 hoursFree Cancellation

Start your Queenstown journey stress-free with our private airport transfer service, designed for families, groups, and travelers with extra luggage. Whether your flight lands early in the morning or late at night, we provide a reliable, door-to-door transfer in spacious vehicles that accommodate up to 10 adults with plenty of boot space. Skip long taxi queues and enjoy the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle equipped with free Wi-Fi, phone chargers, and child seats on request. Our professional drivers are more than chauffeurs—they are local guide specialists who will greet you at the designated meeting point, assist with your luggage, and share insider tips to make the most of your Queenstown stay. Your booking is confirmed in advance with your mobile number and pickup location, ensuring a smooth experience from the moment you land. Pre-booking means you’ll know exactly who is meeting you, giving you peace of mind, safety, and comfort after your flight.

Queenstown Private Airport Transfer: Door to Door Service

30 minutes to 1 hourFree Cancellation

Price varies by group size

Combine a minivan tour to explore the dramatic landscapes of Milford Sound with the chance to see the region from a perspective most travelers miss on this full-day small-group tour. Set out from Queenstown, stopping for tea and scones in Te Anau before continuing on to Milford Sound. Board the waiting cruise vessel and relax with a gourmet meal and complimentary glass of wine as you take in the scenery.

Milford Sound Business Class from Queenstown & Gourmet Cruise

12 hoursFree Cancellation

Milford Sound Cruise with Round-Trip Flights from Queenstown

4 to 5 hoursFree Cancellation

There are many great places to enjoy the mountain views in Queenstown, but the best are undoubtedly from the air. Catch views of the Remarkables you can’t get any other way on a scenic helicopter flight. The pilot selects the route on the day. Hover close to peaks and land high above Lake Wakatipu, with unparalleled views of the Southern Alps. The package includes hotel transfers for your convenience.

Queenstown: Pilot's Choice Helicopter Flight with Alpine Landing

25 minutesFree Cancellation

Escape the crowds with a fully private, customizable 6-hour day trip from Queenstown to Wanaka — including scenic stops in Arrowtown, Cardrona, and Cromwell. Discover historic gold towns, alpine roads, peaceful lakesides, and hidden local gems. Whether it’s spring blooms, summer sunshine, autumn colours, or snowy winter scenes, this journey offers something special year-round — all tailored to you. - A 7-hour private tour shaped around your interests and pace - Visit charming Arrowtown, the Crown Range, Wanaka town, and Lake Dunstan - Stop for optional walks, famous photo spots, or local food & wine - Travel in comfort with modern, clean vehicles - Hosted by friendly local guides who share real stories and insider tips - Flexible itinerary — skip or add stops anytime along the way - Ideal for couples, families, small groups, or solo explorers Breathtaking views, rich history, and total flexibility — this is how Wanaka and its surrounds are best experienced.

Wanaka Private Day Trip from Queenstown: TravelnGo

7 hoursFree Cancellation

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.

Milford Sound Helicopter and Cruise Tour from Queenstown

5 hoursFree Cancellation

1 2 3 4

...

Must-Dos in Queenstown

1 / 2

What are people saying about Queenstown

Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour from 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!

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, Sep 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, Sep 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!

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

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!