Things to do and see in and around Queenstown, Arrowtown & Glenorchy in New Zealand.

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Walks / Hikes

Lake Hayes Circuit

Ben Lomond Track

Full day hike that is a bit treacherous past “The Saddle,” but the views are worth it, and there are typically kea hanging out up there. 100% recommend taking the Gondola to Bob’s Peak and then continuing on from there. * https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/otago/places/queenstown-area/things-to-do/ben-lomond-track/ * https://www.newzealand.com/int/feature/ben-lomond/ * https://goo.gl/maps/aHwGRgC2vGN2

Milford Track

Routeburn Track

Welch Kern / Queenstown Gardens

A quick walk from downtown Queenstown puts you on a peninsula with gardens and a bit of forest. There is a path that leads around the edge of the peninsula, and it also has a disc golf course nearby. * Lookout / View: https://goo.gl/maps/1n8N8jmq4hA2 * Gardens: https://goo.gl/maps/bxbe9h5nEpB2

Frankton Arm Walk

Very calm, chill walk along the Frankton Arm and away from the traffic. I recommend parking at The Boatshed Cafe and picking up the trail there to walk for a bit towards Queenstown. There are multiple other entry points, as well. * https://www.switchbacktravel.com/maps/frankton-arm-walkway-queenstown * https://goo.gl/maps/7bzvrPXupRn

Bob’s Cove

Food / Drink

Fergburger

Pretty good burgers in downtown Queenstown but always packed. From what I’ve seen, early morning or around 2:45pm are good times to go. * https://fergburger.com/menu.html * https://goo.gl/maps/rSYzkVzdJhy * https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/Restaurant_Review-g255122-d1102295-Reviews-Fergburger-Queenstown_Otago_Region_South_Island.html

Botswana Butchery

Fancy, delicious & expensive. * https://www.botswanabutchery.co.nz/queenstown/ * https://goo.gl/maps/Qu1LSsvAWDP2

The Fork and Tap

Good place to eat/drink/warm up in Arrowtown. * http://theforkandtap.co.nz * https://goo.gl/maps/GZqr2hXBTtw

The Postmasters Residence

The Stables Restaurant & Wine Bar

Unique Arrowtown restaurant in a stone building. * https://goo.gl/maps/S5j27b4SSu22

The Blue Door

Arrowtown haunt with a hearth and situated in an alleyway. * https://goo.gl/maps/VY99AQE8NTm

The Chop Shop

Glenorchy Lodge

Good breakfasts in Glenorchy. * https://goo.gl/maps/X365Q39pK9J2

The Boatshed Cafe

Cute, hidden place on the Frankton Arm Walk between Queenstown and Frankton. * https://goo.gl/maps/1BvrVoboEu42

Atlas Beer Cafe

Quieter pub just past the Steamship at the Queenstown wharf. * https://goo.gl/maps/Q4pvU7ZHg1C2

Pub on Wharf

Mac’s Brewbar pub that always has some sports on. Nice outdoor seating, too. * https://goo.gl/maps/o3Z1WD7n9612

Activities / Things To See

Bob’s Peak

Where to begin? Apart from being the starting point for the Ben Lomond track, it also sports a bunjy jump, luging, a cafe, bar, gift store and great views. You can take a gondola ride to the top (or walk, if you prefer), and even take mountain bikes with you if you want to ride them down. * https://www.newzealand.com/us/article/bobs-peak-a-destination-of-its-own-within-queenstown/ * Skyline Gondola: https://www.skyline.co.nz/en/queenstown * https://goo.gl/maps/LRYJ7ws2Kmv

TSS Earnslaw Steamship Lake Cruise

Shotover Jet

This is a fun (yet cold!) experience on a jet boat that can run in 3cm of water (no outboard motor). * https://www.shotoverjet.com/ * https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/Attraction_Review-g255122-d653947-Reviews-Shotover_Jet-Queenstown_Otago_Region_South_Island.html * https://goo.gl/maps/YdrjAY63dkt

Glenorchy

Milford Sound

While technically in Fiordland, this one is a big day trip from Queenstown (or Te Anau, if you can stay there, instead, or in Milford Sound itself) that is a gorgeous drive, albeit a long one. If you can’t drive the whole way there, there are small plane rides to / from there that are stunning. * https://www.newzealand.com/us/milford-sound/ * https://www.milford-sound.co.nz * https://www.airmilford.co.nz

Paradise

Search around to see if you can find how to get there. It’s a decent drive along an unsealed road that is gorgeous, and you have to ford the River Jordan to get there (4-wheel drive recommended, though you can walk through it with ease). It’s a beautiful area, but don’t expect to see much in the way of humans. You’ll know you’re there when you see the sign that says “Paradise.”