Travel Articles

Queenstown has become the premier destination for both thrilling mountain biking tracks and gentler scenic biking routes. Our top 5 biking trails in Queenstown list includes a couple of rides from the Queenstown Trail but also a few that are fairly close by but equally beautiful.

Exploring the Best Bike Trails in Wanaka

With its stunning landscapes, diverse trail options for all skill levels, and a thriving cycling community, Wanaka is a paradise for cycling enthusiasts. Whether you're a mountain biking veteran or a beginner, there's something for everyone in Wanaka's bike trails.

Visiting The Iconic Wanaka Tree

Located on the southern shores of Lake Wanaka, the Wanaka Tree has become a symbol of New Zealand's natural beauty, capturing the hearts of photographers, tourists, and locals alike.

The Drive from Cromwell to Queenstown

As you travel along the winding roads from Cromwell to Queenstown, you’ll see dramatic mountain ranges, crystal-clear lakes, and historic towns that offer a glimpse into the region’s fascinating past. These are the highlights along the way:

Tobogganing in Queenstown

Family Fun Sports

The unique landscapes of Queenstown, with its steep mountains and snowy terrain, have helped to create a tobogganing culture that reflects the town's adventurous spirit. Today, the ski resorts of Queenstown offer the opportunity to enjoy tobogganing for the whole family, especially the kids.

Queenstown Town Centre Upgrades

Currently, Queenstown is undergoing significant upheaval with the 'design masterplan' set to transform the Queenstown Town Centre into a more inviting, family friendly and accessible space for locals and visitors to enjoy.

Top 5 Queenstown Walks

Adventure Inspiration Sports

Get beyond the town centre and you’ll soon discover why it’s called the Queenstown Lakes region. All this adds up to is a landscape built for walking. So, we’ve picked out our top 5 walks that can mostly be done in a few hours.

Queenstown to Jack's Point Bike Trail

Our guide to the incrediblly scenic ride from Queenstown to Jack's Point Golf Course. This bike ride covers two sections of the 130km Queenstown Trail , the Frankton Track/Kelvin Peninsula and the Jack’s Point sections.

Renting A Car In Queenstown

Adventure Hot List Inspiration Mini Break Sports

Many visitors to Queenstown will either be arriving or departing Queenstown in a car rental. So, we've created our tips and need to know information to finding the right car and exploring the best nearby regions to visit.

Top 4 Otago Bike Trails

Otago offers a series of thrilling biking trails in New Zealand. The 'Big 4' bike trails offer the chance over multiple days to discover eye-catching landscapes and learn of the region's gold mining and Maori history.

The Lake Dunstan Trail

Adventure Inspiration Sports

The Lake Dunstan Trail connects the towns Cromwell and Clyde and takes between 4 to 6 hours to complete by bike. It’s less than an hour’s drive from Queenstown if you’re starting at Cromwell.

The Best Apres Ski In Queenstown

Queenstown has its fair share of food and drink establishments to unwind after a day on the slopes. Our quick 'Apres Ski' guide highlights some of the best place to continue the fun long into the night along with a few foodie options.

Finding The Best Queenstown Breakfast

A good breakfast is the perfect solution to getting over the night before, or preparing for an action packed day of activities. As a 4 season resort town packed full of dining options, Queenstown has some great options for enjoying the ‘most important meal of the day.

Queenstown Stargazing

With its iconic alpine setting in the South Island, Queenstown is well known for being the 'adventure capital of New Zealand'. The four season resort has been built on its huge range of thrilling activities combinded with breathtaking scenery.

Helicopter Flight Options In Queenstown

Adventure Inspiration Mini Break Sports

One of the most popular and breath-taking activities in Queenstown is a scenic helicopter flight. It’s a fantastic way to appreciate the stunning alpine scenery of Queenstown and further afield, with unrivalled views from above.

Our 4 Day Walk On The Clutha Gold Trail

The Clutha Gold Trail is a joy to walk. We’re by no means experienced hikers. In fact this was our first walk over 6 hours. But the relatively gentle terrain alongside the sparkling turquoise waters of the Clutha River meant we could actually enjoy rather than endure the walk.

An epic ride on the Twin Rivers Trail

Adventure Inspiration Sports

What a ride. What a day. Hiring a bike and riding on The Queenstown Trail is a truly enjoyable way to explore Queenstown and appreciate the beauty of the region. We hired a couple of e-bikes from the team at ‘Going Blue’ (highly Recommended) and took on the Twin Rivers Trail and part of the Arrow Bridges Trail that leads into historic Arrowtown and its gold mining history.

Walking the 4 Barrels Wine Trail

Food & Drink Inspiration

The '4 Barrels Wine’ trail is a pleasant way to spend a few hours soaking up the Central Otago landscape along with premium wines on foot. Situated in Cromwell, the eight-kilometre loop trail, winds its way alongside Lake Dunstan and pretty orchards while winding past four wineries - Aurum Wines, Misha’s Vineyard, Scott Base and Wooing Tree Vineyard.

EBike Hire In Queenstown

Adventure Family Fun Inspiration

We like to cycle, not for exercise but as a fun and relaxing way to explore an area. Although burning off some calories is a welcome bonus. With no parking to worry about, or time pressure concerns, the fun of touring an area on 2 wheels is always appealing.

COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

Press Releases

The New Zealand Government has announced significant travel restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19 in New Zealand. We've outlined the current travel restictions for travellers coming to New Zealand.

Searching For Lord Of The Rings In Queenstown

Adventure Arts & Culture Inspiration

A trip to Queenstown takes you to the heart of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies. For both fans of the films and those who want to explore spectacular scenery, there are a number of guided tour options and different ways to visit the Lord of The Rings and Hobbit film locations. We’ve picked out a number to choose from.

Top 10 Unusual Activities In Queenstown

Hot List Inspiration Top 10

Queenstown is an all year round resort with a well-earned reputation for adrenaline activities and winter sports. But what about those activities that offer something a little more unusual. We’ve created our top 10 unusual activities list for those looking for something a little bit different.

Queenstown Visual Stories

Press Releases

Have you heard about 'visual stories' in Google and how it can impact a website? Well, we did and we already added it to our My Guide Queenstown website and all our sites in the My Guide Network! Apparently, this feature is the biggest SEO opportunity in 2020!

Top 7 Romantic Things To Do In Queenstown

Hot List Inspiration

Beyond the skiing and huge variety of adventure activites, it might come as surprise that there are a number of romantic activities in Queenstown for couples.

Mount Iron Walk, Wanaka

Hot List Inspiration Top 10

If you’re visiting Wanaka from Queenstown for a day trip or, staying in Wanaka, a great short walk close to the town centre to tackle is the Mount Iron Walk.

Top 10 Queenstown Sightseeing Spots

We've come up with our top 10 spots that offer a great representation of the region's beauty.

The Best Queenstown Day Trips

Hot List Inspiration

A trip to Queenstown should include time to expore beyond the surrounding region with many of New Zealand's most beautiful sights within a relatviely short driving distance. To help you see more of the region, we've put together our guide to the top 5 day trip destinations to visit.

Top 7 Queenstown Winter Activities

There's no short supply of winter activities to experience in Queenstown. Given the mind boggling choice of activities to experience, we've picked our 'top 7 winter activities in Queenstown' to try.

Top 7 Adrenaline Activities in Queenstown

Adventure Editorial Family Fun Inspiration

For adrenaline seekers, it takes a certain type of activity to get the blood racing. For that reason, we've picked out our favourite seven high-octane experiences to tackle in Queenstown.

The Road To Glenorchy

Inspiration

The 46 kilometre drive from the centre of Queenstown to Glenorchy is one of the world’s great drives. The New Zealand you imagined from watching the Lord or The Rings and Hobbit films, can be found here.

Arrowtown Bike Trail

The Arrow River Ride starts from Arrowtown and finishes in the wine region of Gibbston. Along with leading cyclists through some of the most captivating scenery, the trail is a great way to take in the region’s wine, food and historic landmarks

The Best Queenstown Boat Tours

Adventure Family Fun Inspiration

One of the most popular and best ways to appreciate the incredible setting and awesome scenery of Queenstown, is to take a Boat Tour on Lake Wakatipu.

Our Cycling Journey On The Otago Rail Trail

Adventure Editorial Inspiration Sports

Cycling the 152km Otago Rail Trail has been on my ‘New Zealand Bucket List’ since I arrived in New Zealand, 8 years ago. Well, I finally got around to it and set off on a 3 day trip across the historic railway line in December 2018.

Our Top 5 Queenstown Cafes

Queenstown has its fair share of cafes to enjoy so it's often a subjective view as to which are the best cafes to head to. So, I'm not going to claim these are the best cafes but will claim that they are my favourite cafes that I've enjoyed over the years.

Top 5 Queenstown Cocktail Bars You need To Visit

Hot List Inspiration Top 10

When nighttime descends on this jewel of South Island, Queenstown offers fantastic cocktail bars and jazz joints. Here's our guide to the top 5 Queenstown cocktail bars...

Top 10 Views of Queenstown

Our guide to the top 10 views that show why Queenstown needs to be on your 'bucket list'.

Top 7 Instagram Places In Queenstown

Editorial Hot List Inspiration

Given that most visitors don't have the time we do to seek out the best spots to take in the amazing Queenstown scenery, we'd like to share,the best places to enjoy those

Doubtful Sound Cruise

Adventure Inspiration Retreats & Relaxation

If you’ve dreamed of seeing one of the world’s forgotten treasures, where breathtaking cliffs meet expansive wilderness and far-reaching mountains, a Doubtful Sound c

Best shorts walks in Wanaka

Inspiration

There is no better way to explore some of the magnificent vistas Wanaka has to offer than on foot with some of the local walks....

Milford Sound Cruises

Adventure Inspiration Retreats & Relaxation

Milford Sound marks the moment where the cobalt-blue rollers of the Pacific Ocean mingle with the soaring peaks of the Fiordland National Park. It's estimated that just s

A Taste of Queenstown Wine

Editorial Food & Drink

Our guide to Queenstown Wineries. Queenstown loudly and proudly flies its 'adventure capital' banner high but there is another, somewhat more laid-back, world-class

Queenstown For Kids

Away from the adrenaline, what does Queenstown offer for young families? It's equally as accessible for families with children of all ages. Read our guide to the 'best activities for kids in Queenstown' for inspiration.

Wanaka In The Wet

So you’ve made it to Wanaka, but the weather hasn’t got the memo, and it isn’t as sunny as you might like. Don’t despair - while Wanaka is renowned for its scener

Exploring Milford Sound by Bus, Boat & Plane

Inspiration Retreats & Relaxation

I’ve travelled overseas many times but somehow never got around to visiting Fiordland - particularly Milford Sound - despite repeatedly hearing rave reviews about its s

Relaxing In The Best Queenstown Spas

No holiday is complete without some deep relaxation at a luxurious day spa. Whether you crave a buff and polish, a rejuvenating massage, nourishing facial or a quick wax,

Paragliding high in Queenstown

A guide to paragliding and hang gliding in the adventure capital of New Zealand. Queenstown has also established itself as a veritable mecca for one of the most rewa

White Water Rafting In Queenstown

White water rafting, an activity which makes repeated appearances on bucket-lists the world over, isn't just possible in Queenstown but a must do experience for any visit here.

7 Cheap (and Not So Cheap) Places To Eat in Queenstown

Queenstown is blessed with so many cafes and restaurants you could quite happily eat at a different place every day of the week for a month and still not scrape the surfa...

The Best Craft Beer In Queenstown

Craft beer in Queenstown, New Zealand is everywhere, you just have to know where to look. Here’s your guide to the best local drops and the coolest pubs to find them

Skydiving in Queenstown

Adventure Editorial Seasonal Celebrations Sports

Skydiving in the bona fide Adventure Capital of the World is a bucket-list topper if there ever was one. Just imagine it: The serrated peaks of the mighty Remarkable

Winter Games NZ Comes To Queenstown

The Winter Games NZ is one of the top 5 winter sports events in the world. If you’re thinking of heading to Queenstown in late August, our guide will help you make the most of the action on and off the slopes.

Queenstown's Festival Of Chills And Thrills

Editorial Family Fun Seasonal Celebrations

A Guide To The Queenstown Winter Festival. Now attracting over 45,000 attendees, the 10 day festival is considered Southern Hemisphere’s biggest winter celebration.

Top 5 Wanaka Activities

A guide to the top five things to do in Wanaka, New Zealand's thrilling adventure playground. With the world-class ski fields of Treble Cone and the stunning Lake Wanaka that the town overlooks, it’s easy to see why Wanaka continues to figure as one of New Zealand’s premier outdoor destinations

Top 7 Bungy Jumps in New Zealand

Adventure Hot List

Conquering the bungy in the land where it all began. We’ve put together a selection of tNew Zealand's seven best bungy spots, ranging from definitive descents thro

Family Fun At The Queenstown Gondola

Family Fun

Dramatic views, bikes, hikes and cultural shows high above Queenstown. For nearly 50 years the iconic Queenstown Gondola has soared more than 400 metres above Queens

Queenstown Air Activities

Free as a bird adventures in Queenstown, New Zealand. Whatever your intention, as long as it involves getting airborne, Queenstown can deliver in spades.

The Queenstown Bike Festival

Queenstown is one of the world’s prime biking destinations, mentioned in the same breath as France’s Alpine Morzine and Canada’s dramatic Whistler resort, home to l

Adventure Activities in Queenstown

Marko and Alex spend their first week in New Zealand falling from planes, hanging from ropes, zipping through gorges and soaking up the scenery

Quirky Queenstown

Arts & Culture

A guide to the quirker side of things to do in Queenstown. Scratch beneath the surface, however, and you will find subcultures, arts, quirky cafes and creative residents

Snowboarding In Queenstown