Queenstown has a way of making every member of the family feel like they’ve landed somewhere made specifically for them. Whether your kids are at the “I want to do everything” stage, or you’ve got a toddler who just wants to splash near the lake, this place delivers. From adrenaline to alpine walks to quiet afternoons by the water, here’s everything you need to know about things to do in Queenstown.
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Must-Do Queenstown Experiences
Some experiences in Queenstown cut across age groups, energy levels, and travel styles. These are the ones worth building your trip around.
Ride the Gondola to Bob’s Peak
The Skyline Gondola carries your family up to Bob’s Peak, sitting high above the town with Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables spread out below. It’s a fab way to get your bearings on arrival, and the view gives you a real sense of how the town sits within the landscape. The gondola is accessible for all ages, including young children, and the ride itself is smooth and short enough that even nervous kids will probably enjoy it.
Bob’s Peak is also the base for several of the adventure activities covered further down in this guide, including the luge, ziplining, and mountain bike uplift. Riding up once and spending a few hours exploring the complex is a solid half-day for families.
Visit Fergburger
Fergburger is not just a burger place. It’s a Queenstown institution, and if you’ve spent any time reading about the town before arriving, you’ve already heard the name. On our past visits, the line outside extended far down the street and was impossible to miss, even from a distance. That queue is part of the experience, not a reason to skip it.
The burgers are substantial, the menu is broad, and it’s one of those places where the reality matches the reputation. It’s worth factoring in some wait time, especially during peak season.
Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw
The TSS Earnslaw is a coal-fired steamship that has been running on Lake Wakatipu since 1912. That history is part of what makes it worth doing. You can watch the engine room in operation, which often holds the attention of kids who might otherwise lose interest on a standard boat trip. Sailings run regularly, and the cruise gives your family a different perspective on the lake and the surrounding mountains.
Book the official TSS Earnslaw cruise here.
Explore Queenstown Gardens
The Queenstown Gardens sit on a peninsula that juts into Lake Wakatipu, a short walk from the town center. It’s a relaxed, open space with rose gardens, a frisbee golf course, and plenty of room for kids to run around. The gardens work well as a wind-down option after a busier day or as a morning walk before the town gets moving. Overall, they’re one of the best free places to visit in Queenstown.
Queenstown Outdoor Adventure Activities
Queenstown’s reputation for outdoor adventure is well-earned, and the range on offer covers everything from gentle family rides to full-commitment adrenaline experiences. Here’s a breakdown of what’s available and who each activity suits.
Skyline: Queenstown Luge, Ziplining, Vortex Slide, and Mountain Bike Uplift
Once you’re up at Bob’s Peak via the gondola, the Skyline complex gives your family several ways to spend the time. The luge is a strong option for families with younger children, as they can tandem ride from age 2. Kids can ride solo from age 6 and 110cm, and ride the chairlift alone from age 7 and 120cm. The track has both a scenic route and a faster, more advanced track, so there’s room to build confidence before picking up speed. It’s the kind of activity where most kids immediately want to go again.
Other exciting experiences at Skyline:
- Ziptrek Ecotours offers ziplining adventures through the trees for kids aged 6 and older and adults keen for an eco-friendly adventure.
- The Vortex Slide is a spiral tube slide for ages 6 and older (kids must also be 110cm tall), reaching speeds of up to 35 km/hr!
- Mountain Bike Uplift uses the gondola to carry riders (aged 6+) and bikes to the top, with trails descending back down through the hill.
Bungy Jumping and Canyon Swings
These activities are firmly in the teens-and-adults category, but they’re worth covering because Queenstown is one of the best bungy jumping locations in the world.
Colin and I have both been bungy jumping in Queenstown before we even met each other! I did the Ledge Bungy at night, which adds a different dimension to the experience. Colin did a triple bungy package covering the Ledge, the Kawarau Bridge jump, and the Nevis. The Kawarau Bridge jump is where commercial bungy jumping began, giving it particular significance beyond the jump itself.
Canyon swings are a related but distinct experience, involving a free-fall drop followed by a long pendulum swing through a canyon. They suit a similar audience to bungy jumping. You can do a swing at Kawarau or Nevis, and Nevis even has a catapult!
Book your Nevis Thrillogy here! (Bungy, swing, and catapult!)
Skydiving and Paragliding
Tandem skydiving over Queenstown puts the lake, the mountains, and the surrounding valleys directly below you during freefall, which makes the setting different from a coastal or flat-land jump. Age and weight requirements apply, so check with operators before booking.
Tandem paragliding suits a wider age range than skydiving. The flight is slower and longer, giving your family time to take in the landscape rather than just the rush of descent. Both activities are weather-dependent, so some flexibility in your schedule helps.
Skiing and Snowboarding
Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s main ski destinations, with several ski fields accessible from the town during the winter season. The fields cater to all ability levels, and on-site ski and snowboard lessons make this a workable option even for families with kids who are complete beginners.
Season dates and snow conditions vary year to year, so check ahead before planning a winter trip around the slopes. Queenstown in winter has its own atmosphere, and the town stays lively even on non-ski days.
Family-Friendly Mountain Biking Trails
Queenstown has an extensive trail network that ranges from flat, easy rides along the lake to technical descents suited to experienced riders. For families with younger or less confident riders, the trails around the lake edge and through the town’s surrounding parks offer a manageable introduction. The Queenstown Trail is a well-established multi-day trail that can be ridden in sections, making it flexible for families.
The Skyline bike park at Bob’s Peak, already mentioned above, is better suited to older kids and adults who are comfortable on a mountain bike. Local bike hire shops can advise on which trails suit your family’s ability level.
Scenic Flights and Flightseeing
A scenic flight over the Queenstown region covers terrain that’s simply not accessible any other way. Fixed-wing and helicopter options are both available, and the choice of aircraft affects the altitude and the type of experience rather than the quality of the scenery.
Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Park are within range of Queenstown-based operators, and a flight over either gives your family a perspective on the scale of the landscape that ground-level travel can’t replicate. This suits all ages, including young children.
Skipper’s Canyon 4WD Tour
Skipper’s Canyon Road is a narrow, unsealed historic road carved into the canyon walls above the Shotover River. Standard rental car insurance typically excludes this road, so a guided 4WD tour is the practical way to experience it.
The canyon has a gold-mining history dating back to the 1860s, and a good guide brings that context to life along the route. This suits families with older children who are comfortable with a half-day or full-day tour on rough terrain. It’s a different pace from Queenstown’s adventure activities, but the scenery and history make it worth the time.
Queenstown Watersport Adventures
The rivers and lakes around Queenstown offer a range of water-based activities that run from calm and accessible to demanding. There’s something here for most ages, though the more intense options are better suited to older children and adults.
Jet Boating on the Shotover River
The Shotover River jet boat experience takes your family through narrow canyon sections at speed, with the boat spinning and turning in spaces that look far too tight for the maneuver to work. It does work, and that’s part of what makes it memorable. The canyon walls are close enough to feel the scale of them, and the ride is loud, fast, and wet.
Minimum height requirements apply, so check with operators before booking. For families with children who meet those requirements, it’s one of the more visceral experiences Queenstown offers without requiring any physical fitness or prior experience.
Whitewater Rafting
Both the Shotover and Kawarau rivers offer rafting, and the two rivers have different characters. The Shotover includes canyon sections and a tunnel, while the Kawarau usually suits those looking for a slightly gentler introduction to rafting. Different sections of each river are graded differently, so the experience can range from manageable to challenging.
Standard tours only cater to ages 13 and up. However, this family-friendly adventure is available to ages 3 and older! It includes a drive into the famous Skipper Canyon, followed by an exciting whitewater rafting experience on the Shotover River (grade 1 and 2 rapids).
Riverboarding
Riverboarding involves navigating rapids on a bodyboard while wearing fins and a wetsuit, working with the current rather than against it. It’s a physically active experience that puts you directly in the water rather than on top of it, which makes it more demanding than rafting for most participants.
Riverboarding suits older children, teens, and adults who are comfortable in moving water. Check operator requirements before booking.
Kayaking and Paddleboarding
Lake Wakatipu and Moke Lake both offer excellent opportunities for kayaking and paddleboarding. Guided tours are available for those who want some structure and local knowledge, while rental options suit families who prefer to go at their own pace. The lake views from the water are unlike anything you get on land, and the relaxed pace offers a totally different experience to Queenstown’s whitewater excursions.
This 3.5-hour small-group tour on Moke Lake is available to participants aged 8 and older. Choose from kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding and explore at your own pace. The trip includes transport from Queenstown, a light picnic, and all equipment.
Family-Friendly Hikes and Walks Near Queenstown
Queenstown’s walking options range from flat lakeside paths that work for prams to full alpine hikes that take most of a day. The variety means your family can find something that fits regardless of age or fitness level.
Queenstown Waterfront Walk
The waterfront walk runs along the lake edge through the center of town and is fully paved and flat. It’s accessible for prams, young children, and anyone who wants a gentle introduction to the area. It’s a good first walk for families arriving in Queenstown, giving a clear sense of the town’s layout and the scale of the lake before you start planning bigger days out.
Bob’s Cove Track
Bob’s Cove Track is a short, easy walk about 14km west of Queenstown. It leads to a sheltered cove on Lake Wakatipu. The walk is 1.5km each way, with the option to add a short climb to Picnic Point. Along the way are the remains of a historic lime kiln, which adds a small point of interest to the walk beyond the stunning scenery. The walk suits families with younger children and doesn’t require any particular fitness level.
Moke Lake Loop Track
Moke Lake sits a short drive from Queenstown, and the 6km loop track around it covers more varied terrain than the waterfront walk. The ground is uneven in places, so it suits families with children who are comfortable walking on rougher surfaces for a bit longer (The Department of Conservation recommends allowing 2-3 hours to complete the loop). The lake is quiet, and the surrounding hills give the walk a more remote feel than you’d expect given how close it is to town.
Queenstown Hill Walkway
The Queenstown Hill Walkway is a sustained uphill walk that climbs above the town, offering views over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. It’s more demanding than the other walks mentioned so far, and it suits families with older children who are comfortable with a steady climb. The views from the top are a genuine payoff, and the walk is well-marked throughout.
Lake Hayes Walkway
Lake Hayes is a short drive from Queenstown, and the relatively flat loop around it is well-suited to families. Those with young children may only want to complete part of the walk, but if your family is up for it, the full loop is 8km. The lake is known for the way it reflects the surrounding hills, particularly in calm morning light.
Hike to Ben Lomond Saddle
The full Ben Lomond Track to the summit is a long, demanding alpine route, but the saddle is a rewarding turnaround point that gives a strong sense of the alpine environment without committing to the full climb. For active families with older children, hiking to the saddle and back is a solid full-morning or half-day option (or potentially longer). The terrain above the treeline is open and exposed, so weather-appropriate layers are worth packing. Summer is the ideal time to tackle this one.
The Gondola base station is the start and finish point for the hike. Or, you can start from the top of the Gondola access road, cutting out the Tiki Trail. The full hike from the base station to the saddle and back takes many people 3-4 hours, but allow longer if you’re hiking with kids.
Walk from The Divide up to Key Summit (Part of the Routeburn Track)
I completed the full Routeburn Track before having children, and it rained for all three days. I still recommend it! The walk from The Divide up to Key Summit is a day-walk option (3.4km each way) that gives you a taste of the Routeburn Track without requiring a multi-day commitment or hut bookings.
The Divide is about a 3-hour drive from Queenstown, so factor that into your planning. Weather in this part of Fiordland can change quickly and without much warning, so check conditions before you go and pack for rain regardless of the forecast. The views from Key Summit on a clear day are worth every step.
Indoor Activities for Kids in Queenstown
Queenstown’s weather can shift quickly, and having a list of indoor options ready means a wet afternoon doesn’t derail the whole day. These kids’ activities in Queenstown work well as backup plans or when your kids just want to play!
iFLY Indoor Skydiving
iFLY uses a vertical wind tunnel to replicate the sensation of freefall without the altitude. It’s suitable for ages 5 and older, and is a good option for families who want something active and memorable when outdoor plans fall through. Although we haven’t been to the one in Queenstown, Ayla went indoor skydiving in Rotorua over the summer and loved it!
Thrillzone Queenstown | Virtual Reality, Escape Rooms, Mini Golf
Thrillzone covers several activities under one roof. The virtual reality experiences and escape rooms are good for older children and teens, while mini golf is accessible for most ages and works well as a family activity. It’s a flexible option for families where kids have different interests or energy levels.
Chipmunks Indoor Playground Queenstown
Chipmunks is an indoor soft-play playground for children, particularly toddlers and primary-school-age kids. It’s a straightforward option for families with little ones who need to burn off energy on a rainy day, requiring little parental coordination beyond keeping an eye on them.
SITE Trampoline
SITE Trampoline is an indoor trampoline park. It’s a high-energy option that can be popular with kids who’ve already done a full day of outdoor activity and somehow still have energy left.
Queenstown Ice Arena | Ice Skating and Bumper Cars
The Queenstown Ice Arena offers both ice skating and bumper cars, giving it broader appeal than a single-activity venue. Skates are included, and skating aids are available to hire. Session times vary, so check ahead before heading over.
Culture, Nature, and Relaxation
Not every day in Queenstown needs to be high-energy. These experiences offer a slower pace without feeling like you’re missing out.
Kiwi Park Queenstown
Kiwi Park Queenstown gives your family the chance to see kiwi and other native New Zealand birds in a dedicated wildlife setting. Kiwi viewing takes place in a darkened house that replicates the nocturnal conditions the birds need, which makes it a different kind of wildlife encounter. It’s a good entry point for children to learn about New Zealand’s native species, and the park covers conservation work alongside the animal encounters.
Queenstown Saturday Market
The Saturday market is a regular fixture in Queenstown and a good place to browse local produce, crafts, and food. It’s a relaxed way to spend a morning, and it gives your family a sense of the town beyond its reputation for adventure. Hours and stall availability can vary, so check ahead before making it the centerpiece of your day.
Onsen Hot Pools & Day Spa
The Onsen Hot Pools offer private outdoor pools overlooking the Shotover River, which makes them a restorative option after a few days of active touring. Private pool bookings are the standard format, and advance booking is advisable, particularly during busy periods. The pools are closed to children after 5 pm, but kids aged 5 and older are welcome during the day.
Patagonia Chocolates
Patagonia Chocolates has become a well-known stop for visitors to Queenstown, and for good reason. The chocolate and ice cream are made with care, and the shop has a warmth that makes it feel like more than just a quick sugar stop. It’s the kind of place your family will probably end up visiting more than once over the course of a trip.
Stargazing in Queenstown
The Queenstown area has relatively low light pollution compared to larger cities, and the surrounding landscape provides good conditions for stargazing on clear nights. Guided stargazing experiences are available at Bob’s Peak or at a campground-style location just out of town for families who want some context alongside the view. If your trip includes a stop at Lake Tekapo, which sits within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, the two experiences complement each other well.
Lord of the Rings Tour
The Queenstown and Glenorchy area was used extensively as a filming location for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, and guided tours visit key sites across the region. For families with children who know the films, the connection between the landscape and the screen is a genuine draw. Glenorchy, covered in the day trips section below, is one of the main areas featured on these tours.
Day Trips from Queenstown
Queenstown’s location puts several incredible destinations within easy reach. These are worth adding to your trip if you have the time, particularly if you’re staying in the area longer. Alternatively, if you’re on a road trip, you could tag these onto your itinerary before or after Queenstown.
Arrowtown
Arrowtown is a short drive from Queenstown and has a well-preserved main street that gives a real sense of its gold-rush origins. The Chinese Settlement site on the edge of town documents the history of Chinese miners who came to the region during the gold rush and is a thoughtful, low-key point of historical interest for families. It suits children of all ages and pairs well with a walk along the Arrow River.
Glenorchy
Glenorchy sits at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu, reached by a road that follows the lake shore through some of the most dramatic scenery in the region. The town itself is small and quiet, but the surrounding landscape has been used as a filming location for several major productions, including the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Families looking for a quieter, more remote feel than Queenstown will find it here.
Kingston
Kingston sits at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu and is home to the Kingston Flyer, a historic steam train with heritage significance in New Zealand’s railway history. Operational status and schedules can vary, so check ahead before making the drive specifically to see it. The lakeside setting makes Kingston worth a visit regardless.
Wanaka
Wanaka is roughly an hour from Queenstown and sits on its own lake with a noticeably more relaxed pace than its better-known neighbor. It has its own range of outdoor activities and a town center that’s easy to walk around. For families who want a change of scenery mid-trip, it makes a natural day trip or an easy overnight stop.
Cromwell
Cromwell is known for its fruit-growing region and for the Old Cromwell Town precinct, a collection of historic stone buildings that were partially submerged when Lake Dunstan was created following the construction of the Clyde Dam. The preserved heritage precinct sits at the water’s edge and is an interesting stop for families, particularly for older children who can engage with the history of what was lost when the lake was formed.
Overnight or Longer Trips from Queenstown
Some of the most memorable experiences within reach of Queenstown require more than a day. These destinations reward the extra planning and are worth considering if your family has the time.
Milford Sound
Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) is located within Fiordland National Park and is accessible by road from Queenstown. The drive is long and takes most of a day each way. Cruises are the main way to experience it, and the combination of sheer cliff faces, waterfalls, and open water is unlike anything else in New Zealand.
Accommodation options in the area are limited, and advance booking is strongly advisable. Weather in Fiordland is highly variable, and rain is common, but it doesn’t diminish the experience.
Doubtful Sound
Doubtful Sound is more remote than Milford Sound and requires a boat crossing of Lake Manapouri followed by a bus transfer before you reach the sound itself. That journey is part of what makes it feel genuinely wild. Overnight cruises are the standard way to experience Doubtful Sound properly, and they suit families with older children who are comfortable with a more involved itinerary and a night on the water.
Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo sits in the Mackenzie Basin and is known for its distinctive turquoise colour, which comes from glacial flour suspended in the water. The area falls within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, making it one of the better places in New Zealand for stargazing. The Church of the Good Shepherd on the lake shore is a well-known landmark worth seeing. It’s a different landscape from Queenstown’s alpine setting and makes a strong overnight stop for families who want to see more of the South Island.
Planning Your Queenstown Visit
A little planning goes a long way in Queenstown, especially for families with a mix of ages and interests. Here’s what’s worth thinking through before you arrive.
Best Time to Visit Queenstown
Summer and winter in Queenstown are very different experiences rather than variations on the same trip. Summer, roughly December through February, suits outdoor activities, hiking, watersports, and long evenings by the lake. Winter, June through August, is ski and snowboard season, and the town takes on a different energy with the slopes open and the mountains covered in snow.
Shoulder seasons, particularly autumn, offer a quieter experience with fewer crowds and some of the year’s most striking scenery as the leaves change. New Zealand and Australian school holiday periods tend to bring more families to the town, so if you’re flexible on timing, avoiding those windows can make a noticeable difference.
Getting Around Queenstown
The town center is compact and walkable, and most of the waterfront attractions and the main street are easy to reach on foot from central accommodation. A rental car becomes useful as soon as you want to explore beyond the town, whether that’s reaching the ski fields, doing day trips to Arrowtown or Glenorchy, or accessing trailheads for the longer walks.
Local transport options exist within the town, but a car gives your family the most flexibility, particularly if you’re planning to cover multiple destinations during your stay.
Where to Stay in Queenstown for Families
Self-contained holiday apartments and units are a strong choice for families, offering kitchen facilities and more space than a standard hotel room. They make early mornings and late nights with kids considerably easier to manage.
Family-friendly hotels in the town center put your family within walking distance of the waterfront and the main attractions. Holiday parks are another option, particularly for families who prefer more outdoor space or are traveling with a campervan. Properties farther from the center tend to offer more space and quieter surroundings, with the trade-off of requiring a car to reach the town.
The Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa is a top pick for families. It boasts a stunning waterfront location, with two-bedroom apartments or connecting family rooms available.
Queenstown Itinerary Ideas
The right itinerary depends on your kids’ ages and how much ground you want to cover.
For a long weekend with younger children, a workable framework might look like this:
- Day one: Gondola to Bob’s Peak, luge, waterfront walk, Fergburger
- Day two: TSS Earnslaw cruise, Queenstown Gardens, Kiwi Birdlife Park
- Day three: Arrowtown day trip, Arrow River walk, and a stop at Lake Hayes on the way back
For five days with older kids or teens, you have room to add:
- A jet boat on the Shotover River
- A half-day hike to Ben Lomond Saddle
- A day trip to Glenorchy with a Lord of the Rings tour
For a full week, consider building in an overnight trip to Milford Sound or Lake Tekapo, which gives your family a broader sense of the South Island beyond Queenstown itself.
Final Thoughts
Queenstown rewards families who come with a loose plan and a willingness to follow what works. The range of things to do in Queenstown with kids is wide enough that you’re unlikely to run out of options, but the town is compact enough that it never feels overwhelming. Book the high-demand activities, particularly bungy experiences, jet boating, and the Onsen Hot Pools, in advance. Leave some space in the schedule for the unexpected. And if the line outside Fergburger looks long when you arrive, join it anyway.
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