The adventure capital, on a lake under the Remarkables. Everything with an engine on it costs money; the walks to the same views cost nothing at all.
Free things to do
Free
Ben Lomond summit hike
6–8 hours and 1,438m of up, though the gondola shortcuts the boring bit.
Free
Explore Arrowtown
A gold-rush main street of miners' cottages twenty minutes out, best under the April colour.
Free
Queenstown Gardens & the lakefront
A peninsula of big trees and the best free view of the Remarkables, twenty minutes round.
Where to stay
from $45
The Flaming Kiwi Backpackers
Dorm bed · per night · Welcome to the Flaming Kiwi.
from $50
Absoloot Hostel Queenstown
Dorm bed · per night · Christmas Restriction - No Check ins or check outs on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
from $124
Southern Laughter Backpackers
Private room · per night
from $190
Adventure Queenstown Hostel
Private room · per night · Welcome to Adventure Queenstown Hostel, part of the Adventure Hostels family.
Trips that take it in
Australia & NZ · 13 days · 5 nights in Queenstown
The South Island Run
Christchurch → Wanaka → Queenstown
$746
plus flights · Dec 2026 dates