Top South Island Stand Up Paddleboarding

Experience heart-racing fun on an exhilarating Queenstown jet-boat ride. The expert captain races across Lake Wakatipu, navigates tricky turns on the Kawarau River, and speeds through the shallow waters of the Shotover River. Grab hold of your seat as the jet boat makes 360-degree spins and fishtails on a rollercoaster ride over the water.

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.

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.

Tour the western end of Queen Charlotte Sound on a half-day paddling adventure from Picton. Settle into your sea kayak and follow an expert guide from the waterfront to sheltered coves and remote beaches. Search the waters for eagle rays, cormorants, little blue penguins, New Zealand fur seals, and dolphins while you learn about the natural history of the Marlborough Sounds.

A Segway tour of Queenstown covers a lot of ground, providing you with an overview of the town even if you're short on time. Choose from a 1- or 2-hour tour depending on your needs, and pass by sights including Lake Wakatipu. Stop at several scenic lookouts along the way. Unlike car tours, you won't be stuck in traffic, and you see more than you would on foot.

Leave bustling Queenstown behind for the scenic beauty of Skippers Canyon on a small-group half-day 4WD tour of the gorge. An experienced guide traverses the rugged roads through the canyon, which you might feel nervous navigating alone. Stop for outstanding views over the Wakatipu Basin and Shotover River. Stop at Skippers School for morning or tea with homemade cheese and refreshments.

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.

Take a window seat for a scenic round-trip flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound, and see the splendor of Fiordland National Park from the air and sea on this small-group excursion. Board a cruise and pass dramatic waterfalls and Mitre Peak as you travel to the Tasman Sea. Then soar over the Southern Alps on your return.

Enjoy a wet-and-wild adventure in Skippers Canyon on this family-friendly rafting adventure from Queenstown. Take a scenic drive into Skippers Canyon and learn about the region’s rich gold-mining heritage. On arrival at the base, strap into your safety kit and paddle onto the Shotover River’s class I and II rapids. Paddle and splash as you enjoy the views over the mountain landscape, led safely by a guide.