How are the Queenstown Top 10 lists ranked?

Each list is ranked independently using real Google review ratings and review volume, sense-checked by people on the ground in the Wakatipu basin. We are not pay-to-rank — businesses can't buy a higher position. Lists are kept current for 2026.

What's the number one thing to do in Queenstown?

The Skyline Gondola to Bob's Peak is the iconic first stop for its panoramic Lake Wakatipu and Remarkables views, the luge and the Stratosfare buffet. For adventure, the original AJ Hackett Kawarau Bridge bungy and the Shotover Jet are the bucket-list classics.

How do I get around Queenstown without a rental car?

Use the $4 flat-fare Orbus network (tap on with a Bee Card), Super Shuttle for airport transfers from Queenstown Airport (ZQN), the Snowline ski buses in winter, lake water taxis, and rideshare apps. Queenstown's town centre is also very walkable.

What are the best free things to do in Queenstown?

The lakefront walk, Queenstown Gardens, the Queenstown Hill Time Walk, Bob's Cove, the Lake Hayes loop and the Arrowtown heritage trail are all free. You can also watch the bungy jumpers off Kawarau Bridge for nothing.

When is the best time to visit Queenstown?

Winter (June–October) is ski season for Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Cardrona. Summer (December–February) is best for hiking, biking, lake swimming and Central Otago wine. Autumn brings golden Arrowtown colours; spring is quieter and great value.

Can I advertise my Queenstown business on Best Queenstown?

Yes. Local businesses can take a featured placement at the top of their category, a sponsored slot on the homepage, or a network-wide campaign across all four NZ City Guides cities (Queenstown, Auckland, Wellington and Rotorua). Sponsorships are flexible and monthly, and everything is enquiry-based — send the form on our Advertise page and we'll share current availability for your category.

How do I get featured or listed higher in the rankings?

The editorial Top 10 rankings can't be bought — positions are earned on editorial judgement and on-the-ground checks. We publish no star ratings or review counts of our own. Advertising is kept separate and clearly labelled: featured and sponsored placements sit alongside the independent lists so readers always know what's paid. To enquire about a featured spot, visit our Advertise page.

Who is behind these Best Queenstown guides?

Best Queenstown is part of the independent NZ City Guides network, curated by Amit Sharma — an award-winning New Zealand marketer. The network is supported by genuine partners and Amit's free tools, which keeps the guides free and independent.

How are the Queenstown Top 10 lists ranked?

Each list is ranked independently using real Google review ratings and review volume, sense-checked by people on the ground in the Wakatipu basin. We are not pay-to-rank — businesses can't buy a higher position. Lists are kept current for 2026.

What's the number one thing to do in Queenstown?

The Skyline Gondola to Bob's Peak is the iconic first stop for its panoramic Lake Wakatipu and Remarkables views, the luge and the Stratosfare buffet. For adventure, the original AJ Hackett Kawarau Bridge bungy and the Shotover Jet are the bucket-list classics.

How do I get around Queenstown without a rental car?

Use the $4 flat-fare Orbus network (tap on with a Bee Card), Super Shuttle for airport transfers from Queenstown Airport (ZQN), the Snowline ski buses in winter, lake water taxis, and rideshare apps. Queenstown's town centre is also very walkable.

What are the best free things to do in Queenstown?

The lakefront walk, Queenstown Gardens, the Queenstown Hill Time Walk, Bob's Cove, the Lake Hayes loop and the Arrowtown heritage trail are all free. You can also watch the bungy jumpers off Kawarau Bridge for nothing.

When is the best time to visit Queenstown?

Winter (June–October) is ski season for Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Cardrona. Summer (December–February) is best for hiking, biking, lake swimming and Central Otago wine. Autumn brings golden Arrowtown colours; spring is quieter and great value.

Can I advertise my Queenstown business on Best Queenstown?

Yes. Local businesses can take a featured placement at the top of their category, a sponsored slot on the homepage, or a network-wide campaign across all four NZ City Guides cities (Queenstown, Auckland, Wellington and Rotorua). Sponsorships are flexible and monthly, and everything is enquiry-based — send the form on our Advertise page and we'll share current availability for your category.

How do I get featured or listed higher in the rankings?

The editorial Top 10 rankings can't be bought — positions are earned on editorial judgement and on-the-ground checks. We publish no star ratings or review counts of our own. Advertising is kept separate and clearly labelled: featured and sponsored placements sit alongside the independent lists so readers always know what's paid. To enquire about a featured spot, visit our Advertise page.

Who is behind these Best Queenstown guides?

Best Queenstown is part of the independent NZ City Guides network, curated by Amit Sharma — an award-winning New Zealand marketer. The network is supported by genuine partners and Amit's free tools, which keeps the guides free and independent.

BestQueenstownNZ City Guides

Adventure capital · Editorial Top 10s

The best of
Queenstown. Ranked.

Bungy, ski fields, fine dining, lake cruises and après — the adventure capital ranked Top 10 across every category by people on the ground.

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LIVEZQN#1 ADVENTURESkyline Gondola#1 BUNGYKawarau Bridge#1 RESTAURANTRata#1 BURGERFergburger#1 CAFEVudu#1 INDIANMantra#1 HOTELEichardt's#1 SKICoronet Peak#1 GYMCityFitness#1 DETAILERKawash#1 SOCIALAmit SharmaREFRESHDAILY · NZTLIVEZQN#1 ADVENTURESkyline Gondola#1 BUNGYKawarau Bridge#1 RESTAURANTRata#1 BURGERFergburger#1 CAFEVudu#1 INDIANMantra#1 HOTELEichardt's#1 SKICoronet Peak#1 GYMCityFitness#1 DETAILERKawash#1 SOCIALAmit SharmaREFRESHDAILY · NZT

413

places ranked across 39 categories

independent Top 10 lists

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Josh Emett's modern NZ fine-dining flagship in a courtyard off the mall — the most awarded restaurant in Queenstown and a national Cuisine Restaurant of the Year alumnus.

Why today: Ski season — book ahead and expect the town to be full.

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// Browse 39 categories

Pick a category to explore Queenstown

Best Breweries & Craft Beer in Queenstown

Lakeside taprooms, riverside breweries and Shotover Street beer bars.

~/guide/breweries Live · 20266 listed

Lakeside taprooms, riverside breweries and Shotover Street beer bars.

Altitude Brewing at the Queenstown marina is the brewery to visit if you only visit one — it pours its own beer with a lake and mountain outlook. Searchlight Brewery at 12 Industrial Place is the locals' choice with a constantly rotating tap list, and Canyon Brewing at Arthurs Point pairs a big indoor-outdoor site with the Shotover River below.

breweries Queenstown
craft beer Queenstown
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Top Pick

Altitude Brewing

Lakeside brewery and taproom by the Frankton marina with award-winning beers, rotating food trucks and stunning lake and mountain views.

Frankton Marina

$$Beer with a viewGroupsAn easy afternoon

Booking: Walk-in taproom at the Queenstown marina.
Season: Year-round. Frankton Track works mean a signposted detour along the Frankton Road footpath through 2026 if walking from town.

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Searchlight Brewery

Independent Queenstown taproom with rotating taps, handpull cask ales, a sunny beer garden, fire pit and regular live music nights.

Industrial Place, Queenstown

$$Beer rangeLocalsTrying something new

Booking: Walk-in. 12 Industrial Place — a deliberate trip, not a walk-past.
Season: Year-round, with 19 constantly rotating taps.

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Canyon Brewing

Microbrewery, taproom and restaurant at Arthurs Point pouring beers brewed onsite, with wood-fired pizza overlooking the Shotover River.

Arthurs Point

$$After the Shotover JetGroupsIndoor-outdoor space

Booking: Walk-in. Arthurs Point, above the Shotover River.
Season: Year-round; the outdoor terrace is the summer draw.

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Smiths Craft Beer House

Shotover Street institution with 21 rotating taps of NZ's finest brews and an impressive reserve bottle selection.

Shotover Street

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Atlas Beer Cafe

Queenstown's home of craft beer at Steamer Wharf — a friendly, unpretentious favourite for taps, tapas and famous steaks.

Steamer Wharf

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Cargo Brewery

Small-batch, award-winning brewery operating from shipping containers in the Gibbston Valley, with an open-air tasting space.

Gibbston

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Breweries in Queenstown — common questions

Altitude Brewing, on the water at the Queenstown marina — its taproom looks straight out at the lake and mountains. Note that Frankton Track infrastructure works mean a signposted detour via the Frankton Road footpath is in place through 2026 if you are walking there.

Searchlight Brewery at 12 Industrial Place runs 19 taps that rotate constantly, spanning West Coast IPAs, sours, lagers and hazies. It is the only brewery in that pocket of town and is a deliberate detour rather than a walk-past.

Altitude Brewing at the marina is the closest to town on foot via the Frankton Track, currently detoured onto the Frankton Road footpath. Searchlight and Canyon Brewing both need a short drive, taxi or rideshare.

Yes — Canyon Brewing is at Arthurs Point, above the Shotover River and close to the Shotover Jet base, with generous indoor and outdoor seating. The Cargo taproom is also at Arthurs Point, at Gantley’s.

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// Same list, other cities

Best breweries in Auckland & Wellington

Ranked to the same editorial standard as this page, by the same team.

Popular Queenstown suburbs

Best of Queenstown Central (127)Best of Frankton (87)Best of Arrowtown (16)Best of Gibbston (8)Best of Arthurs Point (4)

// Sponsored · Our partners

Proudly partnered with great Kiwi brands.

Paid placements. These brands sponsor the network and their support keeps the guides free — sponsorship buys visibility here, never a position in any Top 10.

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NZ's source for protein, pre-workout & performance supps.

Sponsored · NCP brands:Reolink Soundcore UGreen Konka Konic Amazfit Lockly Tymo

// Good to know

Queenstown — frequently asked questions

// NZ City Guides Network

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Editorial Top 10 rankings — written locally, ranked on merit. Four cities, one editorial standard. A ranking position is never for sale.

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Pick a category to explore Queenstown

Best Breweries & Craft Beer in Queenstown

Lakeside taprooms, riverside breweries and Shotover Street beer bars.

Altitude Brewing

Searchlight Brewery

Canyon Brewing

Smiths Craft Beer House

Atlas Beer Cafe

Cargo Brewery

Breweries in Queenstown — common questions

Which Queenstown brewery has the best view?

Which Queenstown brewery has the most beers on tap?

Can you walk to a brewery from central Queenstown?

Is there a brewery near the Shotover Jet?

Keep exploring Queenstown

Best breweries in Auckland & Wellington

Popular Queenstown suburbs

Proudly partnered with great Kiwi brands.

Queenstown — frequently asked questions

How are the Queenstown Top 10 lists ranked?

What's the number one thing to do in Queenstown?

How do I get around Queenstown without a rental car?

What are the best free things to do in Queenstown?

When is the best time to visit Queenstown?

Can I advertise my Queenstown business on Best Queenstown?

How do I get featured or listed higher in the rankings?

Who is behind these Best Queenstown guides?

One network. Every great Kiwi city.

Auckland

Wellington

Rotorua

Queenstown