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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413
places ranked across 39 categories
39
independent Top 10 lists
25
editor's picks
2026
editorially reviewed & kept current
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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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Top 10 Free Things to Do in Queenstown
Queenstown on a budget — the very best experiences that don't cost a cent.
Queenstown on a budget — the very best experiences that don't cost a cent.
The lakefront promenade is the free thing everyone actually does, and it runs straight into the Frankton Track along the water. For a view worth the effort, the Queenstown Hill Time Walk climbs to the Basket of Dreams sculpture in about 1.5 to 2 hours return, starting from town. The best free spectator sport in the district is standing on the viewing deck at Kawarau Bridge watching people throw themselves off it — that costs nothing, and AJ Hackett's bus out there is free for spectators too.
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Queenstown Lakefront Walk
The flat waterfront promenade through the town centre, from the Queenstown Gardens peninsula past Steamer Wharf — and the town-centre end of the longer Frankton Track. The single most-used free thing in Queenstown.
- Booking
- Nothing to book. Publicly accessible, no fee.
- Season
- Year-round.
Queenstown Hill Time Walk
The town's accessible summit walk — a moderate climb from Belfast Terrace to the Basket of Dreams sculpture, with the lake and the Remarkables opening up behind you.
- Booking
- No booking. Roughly 1.5 to 2 hours return from town.
- Season
- Year-round, but it is exposed — check the forecast and take a layer.
Queenstown Market (Saturdays)
Earnslaw Park fills with local makers, food and music every Saturday of the year. Formerly the Creative Queenstown Arts & Crafts Market — free to wander, right on the lakefront.
- Booking
- Just turn up. Note it is Saturday, not Sunday — the Sunday one is the Arrowtown Farmers Market.
- Season
- Every Saturday year-round: 9am–4pm in summer, 9.30am–3.30pm in winter.
Queenstown Gardens Disc Golf
An 18-hole disc golf course threaded through the gardens, established in 1995 and rated among the best in New Zealand. Bring your own discs.
- Booking
- No booking and no on-site hire — bring discs with you, or borrow.
- Season
- Year-round, daylight hours.
The Glenorchy Road Drive
The lake's western shore from Queenstown to Glenorchy, about 45km of public road with pull-offs the whole way. Bennetts Bluff is the lookout everyone stops at.
- Booking
- Nothing to book, but you need a vehicle. Allow far longer than the driving time — the stops are the point.
- Season
- Year-round. Check conditions in winter; there is no fuel between the two towns.
Bob's Cove
A short, easy walk off the Glenorchy road to a clear green cove and the remains of historic lime kilns — one of the most photographed corners of Lake Wakatipu.
- Booking
- No booking. Parking is limited at the roadside trailhead, so it is worth going early.
- Season
- Best in summer, when the water is swimmable.
Arrowtown's Historic Walks
The gold-mining village 20 minutes from Queenstown, walked on foot: the Millennium Walk, Bush Creek Track and Sawpit Gully link the 1860s buildings, the Arrow River and the restored Chinese Settlement.
- Booking
- Self-guided and free to walk. The Lakes District Museum on Buckingham Street is a separate paid attraction.
- Season
- Spectacular in autumn, roughly March to May, when the avenues turn.
Watch the Bungy at Kawarau Bridge
The world's first commercial bungy site, with a viewing deck built for spectators. Watching people talk themselves off the edge is free, and genuinely absorbing for an hour.
- Booking
- Spectating is free for all ages. AJ Hackett's Bungy Bus from The Station in town is also free for spectators, but seats must be booked.
- Season
- Open daily year-round; closed Christmas Day.
Lake Hayes Loop
An 8km graded loop around the mirror lake between Queenstown and Arrowtown — about an hour on a bike or two to three hours walking, and flat the whole way.
- Booking
- Free, part of the Queenstown Trails network. Grade 3.
- Season
- Year-round. The southern side floods occasionally — skip that section if it is under water.
Frankton Track
The 8.5km lakefront path linking the town centre to Frankton, flat and sealed with the water beside you almost the whole way.
- Booking
- Free. Roughly 1.5 to 2 hours one way on foot; catch the bus back.
- Season
- IMPORTANT for 2026: infrastructure works mean a signposted detour along the Frankton Road (SH6A) footpath is in place throughout the year. Follow the signs and watch for traffic.
Free in Queenstown — common questions
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