Queenstown has always been a favourite of mine. Being born and bred in New Zealand we used to travel to Queenstown as a family. I have happy memories of time spent here doing all the fun activities on offer. Named ‘The Adventure Capital of the World’, Queenstown has plenty of adrenalin-filled activities to experience however there’s also loads of other things to do in Queenstown with kids.
Can you believe the main tourist attractions remain the same as when I was a child? It was awesome to experience these again during our recent trips to Queenstown, but this time through the eyes of my boys.
One of our main reasons for visiting Queenstown, was to hit the slopes as a family for the first time. It was amazing to watch our boys learn to ski in just a few days. We’ve since been back another three times during Winter to ski and hope for many more return trips to come. Meanwhile, we’re sharing our favourite things to do in Queenstown with kids.
1. Experience the Skyline Gondola Ride and Luge
Taking a ride on the steepest cable car in the Southern Hemisphere is a must-do in Queenstown with kids. My boys were super excited to step inside a gondola for the first time ever. There’s time for a quick photo before the doors automatically shut and you’re whisked away on a journey you’ll never forget.
Once you’ve travelled the 450 metres to the top of Bob’s Peak you’ll find yummy cafe and restaurant eats, the fun Jellybean Store and the cool luge ride! Our boys had a fantastic time getting a chairlift even further up the hill before zig-zagging their way back down on a luge.
Right next door is the viewing platform where you’ll get spectacular panoramic views across the snow-capped mountains, beautiful Lake Wakatipu and of course Queenstown itself.
Tip: To get the best views make sure you visit on a clear sunny day.
2. Take a day-trip to Milford Sound
Did you know the famous Milford Sound is accessible from Queenstown? We did this day trip from Queenstown many years back and the beauty of the fiord is still etched in my memory. I’d love to go back with my boys and Pure Milford is a great option from Queenstown. They have coach-cruise-coach options, a shorter fly-cruise-fly tour or a cruise option alone for more independent travellers choosing to drive themselves. It’s a full day trip on the coach from Queenstown but well worth taking the opportunity to see one of New Zealand’s most magical breathtaking gems. For all the information you need and to book a Pure Milford cruise click here.
3. Soak up the serenity at Queenstown Gardens
These lush gardens are located in prime position just a short walk from the town centre on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. At the entrance you’ll find a new adventure playground with a fun rope swing over a small creek and a very fast slide! Walk the lake path, soak up the serenity and be sure to take your camera as the views across the lake are spectacular. If you have extra time available take a frisbee and play free frisbee golf along the way. You’ll also come across the Queenstown Ice Arena where you can watch local live ice hockey games, take a spin on the ice bumper cars and enjoy all-day ice skating.
4. Experience stunning Lake Wakatipu by day and night
Renowned for its scenic beauty, being surrounded by snow-capped mountains, it’s well worth taking a walk along the shores of Lake Wakatipu. By day, skip pebbles along the water, feed the ducks, listen and watch the unique street buskers and check out the local markets.
This is also a popular venue for adventure boats and water activities. Our boys enjoyed standing near the jetty watching ‘shark boats’ that zig-zag along the water, jet boats, para-sailing and the majestic steamboat named the Earnslaw, come and go. At night, grab a bite to eat from the many street vendors and watch the magical sunset over Lake Wakatipu.
5. Visit the home of Bungy Jumping
Just a short 10 minute drive from Queenstown takes you to Kawarau Bridge, home of the very first commercial bungee which is still operating today. No one in our family has bungy jumped however we all enjoy watching from the viewing platform.
Our boys love the excitement of seeing whether the person’s head will touch the water after they’ve jumped. They also find it fun to watch the speed boat go out to disconnect the bungy ropes and take the person back to shore. The scenery and bright blue water is worth the visit alone. You never know you might get the courage to bungy jump while you’re here?!
6. Hit the town
There’s much more to Queenstown’s town centre than shops and cafes. First up we found Beach Street which is home to a few pieces of street-art on the ‘road’. This street is for pedestrians only so its perfectly safe to have a close look. Don’t miss the new ‘Rainbow Crossing’ and the ‘Zebra Crossing’ which is actually zebras painted on the ground instead of white stripes. Our boys thought this was pretty clever and loved walking over it.
Next we headed towards the lake on Earl Street and found a colourful street mural named ‘The Rainbow Trout’ by talented local artist Tess Sheerin. This is one of many mural’s going up around New Zealand, as part of a pollution awareness campaign. A few metres down the road is Queenstown’s tiny oldest house, now the home of a gorgeous design boutique (which I would recommend to the parents but it’s not so kid-friendly inside).
Across the other side of town you will find Odyssey Sensory Maze and Thrillzone Virtual Reality which our kids enjoyed one rainy day. Other activities for kids located centrally in the town include a small movie cinema, iFLY indoor skydiving, Kingpin ten pin bowling and across from Kingpin you will find a mini golf course which is well maintained and not over priced.
7. Try your luck at finding gold in historical Arrowtown
Originally a small gold mining town, picturesque Arrowtown is just a short 15 minute drive from Queenstown. You can get a public bus here if you don’t have a car. There’s loads of gorgeous cafes and quaint little shops to explore in the main street. Some of these are the original buildings from the gold mining era which have been carefully preserved. Don’t miss my boys’ favourite the Remarkable Sweet Shop. Parents be warned there are baskets at the door for children to collect and then fill to the brim if left unsupervised for just one second.
Make sure you take the short walk from the main street down to the Arrow River. Here you can discover what life was like for thousands of Chinese miners. The original miners village is still tucked into the riverbank and we love that you can visit this for free. Our boys enjoyed going inside the old miners huts and there’s plenty of information boards dotted around for those that are interested. If the water isn’t too icy hire a gold mining pan at the Arrowtown Museum and try your luck finding gold in the Arrow River. On the way back to Queenstown keep a look out for gorgeous Lake Hayes.
8. Ski the slopes
If you’re visiting Queenstown with kids during Winter you must spend a day or two on the slopes. We spent a few days at The Remarkables ski field which is 45 minutes drive from Queenstown. Our boys had a blast learning to ski at the Kea Club, which we would highly recommend. Coronet Peak ski-field is just a 20 minute drive away. Both ski-fields have great base facilities, learn to ski lessons and buses to get up and down the mountain if you choose not to drive. We also made sure there was plenty of time for snowball fights, building snowmen and sliding down snowy hills. Head to our blog with tips for first time skiers for more advice.
9. Chill out at The Below Zero Ice Bar
A unique opportunity for the whole family to literally chill out! We didn’t make it here this time however the friends we were staying with headed along to ‘The Below Zero Ice Bar’ and loved it. The walls, bar and furniture are all created from ice. Wear your warmest clothes and if you’re still cold, super warm jackets, gloves and boots are provided. Kids will love the ice-hockey (air-hockey) table, kid-friendly cocktails served in glasses made of ice and the fun ice-sculpture chair you can actually sit on.
10. Experience the thrilling iconic Shotover Jet
The only way to wind your way through the narrow canyon walls of the Shotover River is to jump on the Shotover Jet. They’ve been running since 1965 and I still remember the ride I had when I was a kid. Recently my boys, my neice and nephew aged from four to 14 years took a ride with their Dad’s while I watched on from the pebbly shores of the Shotover River. Except for the youngest they all loved it and my boys are still wearing the free t-shirt they got after the ride. We got the shuttle from Queenstown which was easy to organise from the Shotover Jet office in the centre of the town.
We have more Queenstown gems to share with you including delicious Queenstown eats and skiing tips. You’ll find these blogs in our Travel category. Feel free to leave a comment below and please ask any questions as we like feeling helpful!
These recommendations are based on our own experiences and we only share what we believe will be genuinely helpful. This blog contains a link where I earn a small commission if readers purchase experiences through my website. This contributes a little to the running costs of maintaining this website.
Lou Bielby
Great post!! Queenstown is a fantastic place for families. I really wish we had spent longer there but it’s something to plan for the future. Definitely adding mini golf to the list for next time. Lou x
Belinda
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog post Lou! Hope you can make it back to Queenstown one day. There’s much more to see and do in the area. The mini golf was awesome! Thanks again. Belinda x