Best of Queenstown 2026 — Top 10 Things to Do, Restaurants, Hotels & Free Activities
The best of Queenstown, ranked by locals: editorially ranked Top 10 lists for things to do, cafes, restaurants, hotels, free activities and more across the Wakatipu basin — refreshed regularly.
- Skyline Queenstown Gondola & Luge — The view that defines Queenstown — a steep gondola climb to Bob's Peak with panoramic Lake Wakatipu and Remarkables vistas, plus the iconic luge tracks and S…
- AJ Hackett Kawarau Bridge Bungy — The world's first commercial bungy jump — a 43m leap into the Kawarau Gorge that started it all in 1988. The original, and still the most photographed jump i…
- Shotover Jet — Queenstown's signature jet boat — 360° spins through the narrow Shotover Canyon at 85 km/h, just centimetres from sheer rock walls. The only operator allowed…
- TSS Earnslaw Lake Cruise — Step aboard the 1912 coal-fired steamship — the "Lady of the Lake" — for a serene cruise to Walter Peak high country farm. A century-old icon still running d…
- Ben Lomond Track — Queenstown's most rewarding day hike — 11km return from the gondola top to a 1748m summit with 360° alpine views. Allow 6–8 hours and respect the weather.
- Onsen Hot Pools — Private cedar-lined hot pools with a retracting wall framing the Shotover Gorge — one of the most photographed wellness experiences in NZ. Book ahead, especi…
- Coronet Peak Ski Area — Queenstown's closest ski field — 25 minutes from town with night skiing, the longest groomed runs in the region and the famous Coronet sunset over the Wakati…
- Nevis Bungy & Swing — Push past the Kawarau and you'll find the Nevis — NZ's highest bungy at 134m and the world's biggest swing. A serious step up for thrill seekers.
- Queenstown Gardens — A free peninsula of mature trees, a frisbee golf course, ice rink and lakeside walking loop right in the centre of town. The locals' favourite picnic spot.
- Ziptrek Ecotours — Zipline through native forest off the Skyline Gondola top — including the steepest tree-to-tree zipline in the world — with eco-guides and huge Lake Wakatipu…
- 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 Frank…
- 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 beh…
- 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, rig…
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Arro…
- 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 absorb…
- 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.
- 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.
- Bespoke Kitchen — Ten years on Isle Street and a former New Zealand Cafe of the Year — a bright, high-ceilinged room doing vegetarian-leaning brunch, strong coffee and the bes…
- Yonder — All-day eatery on Church Street with a strong vegetarian and gluten-free menu, cocktails after dark and a fire-warmed room in winter — the one cafe here that…
- Bestie Bagels — NY-style hand-rolled bagels on Shotover Street — pastrami on rye, smoked salmon schmears, and the best takeaway breakfast in town if you are catching an earl…
- Joe's Garage — A Queenstown fixture since 2003 — relaxed brunch, Allpress coffee and the big breakfast that powers a lot of ski mornings.
- Fergbaker — Fergburger's bakery sibling at 40 Shotover Street — pies, pastries and sweet things from 6am to 11pm, which makes it the default late-night food stop in Quee…
- Patagonia Chocolates — Handmade chocolate, bonbons and gelato on the lakefront — a chocolatier and ice creamery rather than a coffee-and-brunch cafe, and the obvious stop after a l…
- Sherwood Cafe — The eco-hotel kitchen up Frankton Road, cooking seasonal menus around its own garden produce with the lake below — worth the trip out of the centre.
- Tanoshi Teppan & Espresso — A tiny Japanese-style espresso bar on Beach Street by day that turns into a teppan-grill izakaya at night. Good coffee, almost no seats.
- Vudu Cafe & Larder — The long-running Queenstown brunch name, and the one entry on this list we could not confirm for 2026 — its former web domain now redirects to Bespoke Kitche…
- Rata — 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…
- The Bunker — A speakeasy-style upstairs dining room hidden above Cow Lane — leather banquettes, an open fire and a menu built around game and aged steak.
- Botswana Butchery — Queenstown's grand-occasion lakefront steakhouse — Marlborough sounds oysters, dry-aged beef and one of NZ's most serious cellars in a heritage Marine Parade…
- Fergburger — The world-famous queue is real — and the burgers genuinely live up to the hype. Open until 5am and quite possibly Queenstown's most famous brand.
- Amisfield Bistro — Trust-the-chef tasting menu in a stone-walled winery 15 minutes from town — twice named NZ's Restaurant of the Year. A bucket-list lunch.
- No5 Church Lane — Buzzy modern bistro with a wood-fired grill, a great wine-by-the-glass list and the most welcoming dining room in town.
- Public Kitchen & Bar — Sharing-plate steakhouse on the Steamer Wharf with possibly the best lakefront sunset view of any restaurant in Queenstown.
- Sasso — Italian fine dining in one of the oldest stone buildings in town — handmade pasta, an excellent Italian wine list and warm, professional service.
- Pier Restaurant & Bar — Built right out over the lake on Steamer Wharf — fresh fish, local Akaroa salmon and one of the most photographed dining rooms in NZ.
- Blue Kanu — Pacific-rim "Polynasian" food — fun, full-flavoured, sharing-style. The locals' birthday-dinner pick on Beach Street.
- Mantra Restaurant Arrowtown — The district's benchmark Indian kitchen, in a heritage room on Arrowtown's Buckingham Street — a mix of traditional North Indian and more contemporary plates…
- Bombay Palace Frankton — The dependable local — a full North Indian menu on Frankton Road, closer to the airport and the Frankton accommodation belt than to the CBD. Does a brisk tak…
- The Taj Queenstown — The town-centre option, on Beach Street looking out over Lake Wakatipu — a more polished, restaurant-style Indian menu rather than a curry-house one. The loc…
- Shanghai2Taipei — Central Queenstown's most complete Chinese restaurant — Shanghai and Taipei cooking, dumplings folded fresh rather than bought in, and a seafood and tofu hot…
- Mandarin Seafood Restaurant — Over forty years in Queenstown, which in a town with this much hospitality churn is a recommendation in itself. Cantonese cooking, pan-fried dumplings and ge…
- King Made Noodles — The local secret — hand-pulled noodles and dumplings on Athol Street, away from the waterfront pricing. It is a small, unshowy room; you come for the noodles…
- Cody's Restaurant — A Sichuan-leaning seafood restaurant on Beach Street, locally owned and cooking for people who actually want the chilli. The most genuinely spiced Chinese me…
- White + Wong's Queenstown — The polished, modern pan-Asian option — a national group rather than a family restaurant, but a safe, well-run choice when you want a big menu, cocktails and…
- Eichardt's Private Hotel — Five-star heritage suites directly on the Marine Parade lakefront — a genuinely small hotel in the middle of town, and the benchmark for luxury in Queenstown.
- Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa — French luxury one block from the lake on Duke Street, with its own L'Occitane spa and a hammam — the most complete five-star inside the town centre.
- Hotel St Moritz Queenstown — MGallery — MGallery boutique on the Brunswick Street hill where the whole design is built around the outlook — balconies and lake views from the rooms, with Lombardi do…
- QT Queenstown — Design-led art hotel above Sunshine Bay with the Bazaar marketplace breakfast and a heated rooftop hot tub — about five minutes from the town centre.
- Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa — Lakeside resort at Kawarau Village, Kelvin Heights, with a full eforea spa and a water taxi across the lake into town — the quiet, spread-out alternative to…
- The Rees Hotel, Luxury Apartments and Lakeside Residences — Lakefront apartments and suites on Frankton Road with the True South Dining Room, about five minutes from town and running a free shuttle into the centre.
- Crowne Plaza Queenstown — Big-brand reliability in the single most central position on this list — Beach Street, on the waterfront, with the town on your doorstep.
- Novotel Queenstown Lakeside — Four-star directly on the Earnslaw Park lakefront at Marine Parade — the best location-to-price ratio in central Queenstown, with a pool and a family-friendl…
- Sherwood Queenstown — Design eco-hotel up Frankton Road built from a recycled fit-out, with an organic kitchen, its own gardens and a regular live-music programme.
- Kamana Lakehouse — Hilltop hotel on Fernhill with the widest panorama of any hotel in Queenstown, and a hot tub positioned squarely for sunset over the lake.
- RealNZ — The home of the TSS Earnslaw, Milford and Doubtful Sound cruises and the Walter Peak farm experience — the biggest Queenstown experience operator.
- Southern Discoveries — Award-winning Milford Sound cruise and overnight options plus the underwater observatory — second-generation Fiordland operator.
- GO Orange — Day trips, jet boats, rafting, e-bike tours and ski transfers — the value-pick activity desk on Shotover Street.
- Info & Snow — The walk-in info centre on the corner — great for last-minute ski lift tickets, transfers and Milford day-trip bookings.
- Queenstown Combos (AJ Hackett) — The official AJ Hackett booking desk for bungy-swing-jet combos at the lowest price — staff who actually do the jumps.
- House of Travel Queenstown — The biggest Kiwi travel chain — long-haul holidays, cruise specialists and corporate travel from a Beach Street office.
- Flight Centre Queenstown — Walk-in flight, ski and Pacific holiday specialists in the heart of the CBD — handy for last-minute international changes.
- Milford Sound Tourism — The bookings desk for the day cruise + scenic flight and the Routeburn-Milford guided walks.
- Adventure Queenstown — A locally-owned activity-booking specialist that builds custom multi-day Queenstown / Wanaka / Fiordland itineraries.
- Indo Kiwi Travel — Kiwi-Indian travel specialists for South Island itineraries, group tours and India-NZ travel.
- Gibbston Valley Winery — The region's pioneering winery and the most complete day out on the trail — New Zealand's largest wine cave, a tasting room, bistro, on-site cheesery and a l…
- Kinross Cellar Door — The single most efficient stop on the trail: one cellar door pouring six boutique Central Otago labels you would otherwise drive all day to find, with a bist…
- Amisfield — Lake Hayes specialist in Pinot Noir and aromatic whites. The cellar door reopened after a refit and now runs à la carte, while the separate evening restauran…
- Chard Farm — Family-run pioneer at the entrance to the valley, reached by a narrow gravel road along a terrace high above the Kawarau River. The drive in is half the reas…
- Peregrine Wines — The architectural landmark of Gibbston — a vast falcon-wing roof over the winery — pouring Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Riesling in the middle of the valley.
- Brennan Wines — Small Gibbston producer on the Back Road, built for lingering: a self-guided or hosted tasting, a platter, and a game of petanque in the garden.
- Mt Rosa Wines — Family-owned single-vineyard tasting room on the Gibbston Back Road, with an open fire in winter and a courtyard in summer — one of the few that is genuinely…
- Mora Wines & Artisan Kitchen — The Arrowtown–Lake Hayes Road site that most guidebooks still call Akarua. It reopened under new management as Mora — a boutique cellar door and all-day kitc…
- Waitiri Creek @ The Gibbston Fine Beverage Co. — One of Gibbston's founding labels, back after roughly seven years away — now pouring from the historic Waitiri Creek woolshed on the Back Road rather than th…
- Wharf Bar — A buzzy waterfront bar on Steamer Wharf with sweeping Lake Wakatipu views, sunset drinks, wood-fired pizza and a lively after-dark vibe.
- Perky's Floating Bar — Queenstown's only floating bar on Lake Wakatipu, serving house cocktails and homegrown wines and beers with unbeatable mountain views.
- The Lodge Bar by Rodd & Gunn — Sophisticated lakeside bar with a Michelin-starred chef's menu and a sommelier-curated wine list, ideal for date nights and sunset drinks.
- Little Blackwood — Steamer Wharf cocktail favourite with daily happy hour, creative drinks, live music and artisan platters right by the lake.
- Atlas Beer Cafe — A locals' favourite tucked at the back of Steamer Wharf, famous for rotating craft taps, big breakfasts, tapas and great-value steaks.
- Yonder — A bright all-day eatery on Church Street that turns into a lively spot for drinks, live music and late-night dancing next to World Bar.
- Pub on Wharf — A laid-back Kiwi pub at Steamer Wharf with live gigs every night, sports on the screens and lakefront views over Queenstown Bay.
- Nest Kitchen + Bar — Stylish second-floor kitchen and bar at Kamana Lakehouse with panoramic views over Lake Wakatipu and the mountains.
- The Sundeck — Queenstown's favourite rooftop bar with lake views, a retractable roof, winter fires and live DJs — a go-to for après-ski drinks and golden-hour sessions.
- Smiths Craft Beer House — Shotover Street craft beer free-house with 21 rotating taps, a strong reserve bottle list and elevated views of the Remarkables.
- Altitude Brewing — Lakeside brewery and taproom by the Frankton marina with award-winning beers, rotating food trucks and stunning lake and mountain views.
- Searchlight Brewery — Independent Queenstown taproom with rotating taps, handpull cask ales, a sunny beer garden, fire pit and regular live music nights.
- Canyon Brewing — Microbrewery, taproom and restaurant at Arthurs Point pouring beers brewed onsite, with wood-fired pizza overlooking the Shotover River.
- Smiths Craft Beer House — Shotover Street institution with 21 rotating taps of NZ's finest brews and an impressive reserve bottle selection.
- Atlas Beer Cafe — Queenstown's home of craft beer at Steamer Wharf — a friendly, unpretentious favourite for taps, tapas and famous steaks.
- Cargo Brewery — Small-batch, award-winning brewery operating from shipping containers in the Gibbston Valley, with an open-air tasting space.
- Snowbiz — The most convenient hire in town — in the Station Building on Duke Street, right beside the NZSki bus stop, with 3D foot-scan boot fitting, lift-pass add-ons…
- Browns Ski Shop — Queenstown's original ski shop, family-run since 1980 — the boot-fitting benchmark in town, with a year-round retail store on Shotover Street and a separate…
- The Remarkables Snow Centre — NZSki's own rental operation, and the only one that lets you skip town entirely — collect at 25 Shotover Street from 3pm the day before, or at the rentals de…
- Outside Sports — The big central outdoor store on Shotover Street — a wide rental fleet across all levels, an in-house workshop that tunes every set after it comes back, and…
- Snow Rental — Town-centre rental specialist on Camp Street with online booking and multi-day free-day deals — and, unusually for central Queenstown, its own parking behind…
- Onsen Hot Pools & Day Spa — Queenstown's signature soak — private cedar-lined hot pools above the Shotover River with a wall that retracts onto the gorge, plus a boutique day spa and a…
- Bathe by Aluume — Purpose-built urban hot pools on upper Brecon Street — six architecturally designed magnesium pools, five private and one communal, within walking distance o…
- The Bathhouse Spa Queenstown — A self-guided contrast-therapy circuit at 35 Brecon Street — hot pool, ambient pool, cold plunge, Finnish and infrared saunas and a scented steam room, all u…
- Body Sanctum Day Spa — The central day spa for actual treatments rather than bathing — massage, facials, body work and packages, on Athol Street, and named New Zealand's best day s…
- Sofitel Spa with L'Occitane — The in-hotel spa at Sofitel on Duke Street, and the most central of the luxury hotel spas — massages, body treatments, a traditional hammam and a cedar Jacuz…
- The Spa at Millbrook — The largest resort spa in the district — ten treatment rooms of facials, massage and body rituals inside Millbrook Resort at Arrowtown, with the resort's fit…
- Nomad Weddings — Full-service Queenstown elopement and heli-wedding specialists handling planning, ceremony, officiant, photo and video with one local team.
- The Lovers Elopement Co — Internationally known elopement company by wedding artists Dawn and Gypsy, offering all-inclusive heli weddings and South Island venues.
- Stoneridge Estate — Luxury lakeside lodge, wedding venue and boutique vineyard on Lake Hayes, with a stone Chapel by the Lake and on-site accommodation.
- Panda Bay Films — Multidisciplinary Queenstown studio for pre-wedding, elopement and wedding photography, videography, plus makeup and hair.
- Felix Image — Queenstown and Wanaka one-stop studio for hassle-free elopement, wedding, pre-wedding and engagement photography and videography.
- 222 Photographic Studios — Award-winning, NZIPP-accredited Queenstown heli-elopement and wedding photography team capturing love stories across the region's landscapes.
- Long White Cloud Elopements — Husband-and-wife team specialising in intimate Queenstown elopement photography, video and heli-wedding planning.
- Dawn Collective — Queenstown wedding and elopement photographers and videographers travelling across New Zealand to document love stories.
- Kate Roberge Photography — Editorial, joyful and artistic Queenstown wedding and elopement photographer who also brings wedding-planning expertise.
- Emmaline Photography — Queenstown wedding and elopement photographer with 15+ years’ experience capturing real, honest moments from surprise proposals to intimate celebrations.
- The Cow — Operating from the same stone stable since 1977, The Cow is Queenstown's oldest continuously operating restaurant and hasn't touched its pizza menu since ope…
- Winnies Gourmet Pizza Bar — Upstairs on The Mall: family-friendly gourmet pizza early, then a retractable roof, a DJ and a late crowd. Two completely different venues depending on what…
- Fat Badgers Pizza Bar — Hand-stretched New York-style pizza in 12 and 20-inch sizes on Camp Street, with an outdoor deck and the longest opening hours of any real pizzeria in the ce…
- The London Underground Pizza Bar — A steel-and-brick basement on Shotover Street doing scratch-made pizza — including a three-foot Big Ben — before it turns into one of the loudest late rooms…
- Canyon Brewing — Sourdough pizza from an Italian oven, house-brewed beer alongside it, and a deck hanging over the Shotover River. About seven minutes from town, and the view…
- Rakau Woodfire Pizzas — A small garden pizza bar at Arthurs Point with its own vegetable patch, bean bags on the lawn and Gibbston Valley cheese — locally sourced and about as unhur…
- Sal's Authentic New York Pizza — Frankton — Proper foldable New York slices sold by the giant slice, in the Queenstown Central precinct at Frankton, with Remarkables views from the window seats.
- Casetta Italian Kitchen — Traditional Neapolitan pizza on properly blistered hand-stretched bases inside the Eatspace food hall, with fresh pasta alongside and stools at the open kitc…
- Bella Cucina — A Brecon Street fixture since 2008 near the gondola end of town, changing its menu daily around what is fresh and turning out wood-fired pizza and handmade p…
- Little Aosta — Ben Bayly's relaxed Arrowtown spin-off from Aosta next door — woodfired pizza from a clay oven, fresh pasta and a spritz bar in the historic Buckingham Stree…
- Tatsumi — Tucked away on Beach Street, chef-owner Koichi's cosy dining room runs an all-day tapas menu alongside an eight-course degustation, with an in-house tank for…
- Kappa — Up a steep flight of stairs at The Mall since the late '90s, chef-owner Naoya Higuchi still fillets his own fish for sashimi and keeps a menu of quiet classi…
- Minami Jujisei — Queenstown's original Japanese restaurant, running for over two decades on Beach Street with a sushi bar up front and semi-private dining behind it, having q…
- Tanoshi Cow Lane — An Osaka back-alley dropped into a Queenstown laneway: teppan-grilled tapas, donburi and an outsized sake and whiskey list from chef Koji Kiminami. Loud, lat…
- Kobe Cuisine — Zen dining room overlooking Lake Hayes and the Wakatipu Basin, where chef Yuki Ariya sends out seasonal sharing plates, tableside teppanyaki and sushi tacos…
- Hikari Sushi Bar — The Beach Street original of the Hikari name, running a deep sushi and ramen menu with chefs trained on fish delivered fresh each morning. A dependable, unfu…
- Goku — Queenstown's original shabu shabu and sukiyaki house, built around premium hot-pot ingredients from Japan and NZ — think A5 wagyu, king salmon nigiri and loc…
- Yakitori Daruma — A tiny, memorabilia-packed sake bar on Shotover Street that's been pouring sake bombs and grilling yakitori and kushiyaki for years. Sashimi, donburi and tab…
- Ramen Ramen by Tanoshi — The build-your-own ramen offshoot of the Tanoshi group, wedged between Searle Lane and Church Street for fast, no-fuss bowls — pick your broth, noodles and t…
- Sōki Sushi Train — New Zealand's first conveyor-belt-meets-bullet-train sushi concept, opened in 2022 — grab plates straight off the belt or order via tablet and watch a toy tr…
- Fergbaker — The bakery arm of the Fergburger operation, next door at 40 Shotover Street, and the reason Queenstown has a queue for pastry at 10pm. Pies, pastries and swe…
- The Bakery Queenstown — The old-school Kiwi counter a few doors from Fergbaker at 37 Shotover Street — potato-top pies, cheese scones, sausage rolls, breads and slices, all baked fr…
- Ma Boulangerie — Genuine boulangerie territory, French-owned since December 2016 — a baguette range that rotates daily, plus pastry and pies. It is out in Remarkables Park at…
- Bread by European Bakery — A wholesale artisan bakery on McBride Street with a retail front, working a sourdough culture nearly two decades old and supplying much of the region's hospi…
- Arrowtown Bakery & Cafe — The pie counter on Arrowtown's historic main street, with a following that justifies the 20-minute drive — and a full breakfast menu for the early crowd.
- The Boat Shed Bakery — A small marina bakery in the sheds at Queenstown Marina doing premium grab-and-go — croissants, choux, tarts, in-house breads and Wolf Coffee roasted up the…
- Bakers Lane — Family-run since April 2023 by a Great Kiwi Bake Off alum — cinnamon scrolls, Portuguese tarts, focaccia sandwiches and cream-filled doughnuts, with gluten-f…
More Queenstown Top 10 guides
- Top Transport in Queenstown — Orbus Queenstown, SuperShuttle Queenstown, NZSki Ski Bus
- Top Convenience in Queenstown — Night 'n Day Queenstown, BP Connect Frankton, Mobil Queenstown
- Top Real Estate in Queenstown — New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty, Bayleys Queenstown, Harcourts Queenstown
- Top Shopfitters in Queenstown — Shopfits, Otago Joinery, Wakatipu Construction
- Top Solar Installers in Queenstown — Lightforce Solar, SolarCraft Queenstown, Powersmart Queenstown
- Top Lawyers in Queenstown — Macalister Todd Phillips, Anderson Lloyd Queenstown, Aspiring Law
- Top Accountants in Queenstown — Beany, Findex Queenstown, Crowe Queenstown
- Top Social Media in Queenstown — Amit Sharma — Social Media Marketing, Wishart Group, Snowscene Media
- Top Web Design in Queenstown — Amit Sharma — Web Design, Wishart Design, Onfire Design
- Top Gyms in Queenstown — CityFitness Queenstown, Queenstown CrossFit, F45 Queenstown
- Top Massage in Queenstown — Hush Spa Queenstown, MyBlend Spa at Sofitel, Eforea Spa at Hilton
- Top Supplements in Queenstown — Nutrition Warehouse, Hardy's Health Queenstown, GoVita Queenstown
- Top Car Detailers in Queenstown — Kawash Queenstown, Frankton Car Wash, Alpine Detailing Co
- Top Dentists in Queenstown — Frankton Dental (Lumino The Dentists), Queenstown Dentist, Lakeside Dental Practice
- Top Hairdressers & Barbers in Queenstown — Crew Stylists, Gents Barber Shop, Queenstown Hair
- Top Nail Salons & Beauty in Queenstown — Body Sanctum Day Spa, The Beauty Lounge, Tāhuna Beauty Spa
- Top Veterinary Clinics in Queenstown — Remarkable Vets, Petfirst Veterinary Queenstown, Farmfirst Veterinary Queenstown
- Top Plumbers in Queenstown — Remarkable Plumbing, JJ Plumbing & Gas, GoFox Plumbing Queenstown
- Top Electricians in Queenstown — Aotea Electric Queenstown, Laser Electrical Queenstown, Liddington Electrical Southern
- Top House Cleaning Services in Queenstown — Partners in Grime, Rise and Shine Property Services, SqueakyKleen
- Top Removalists & Movers in Queenstown — Central Lakes Removals, Best Removals & Storage (BRS), Making Moves Co.
- Top Wedding Photographers in Queenstown — James Hirata Photography (Nomad Weddings), 222 Photographic Studios, Rich Bayley Photography
- Gibbston Valley Wineries & Cellar Doors: A Queenstown Wine Guide — The best wineries and cellar doors near Queenstown — from the Gibbston Valley wine trail to Lake Hayes estates pouring Central Otago Pinot Noir. Tastings, tours and long lunches 20-25 minutes from to…
- The Best Bars in Queenstown: Nightlife, Rooftops & Lake Views — A local guide to the best bars and nightlife in Queenstown — floating lake bars, rooftop sundecks, craft cocktail spots and late-night dance lounges on Beach St, the waterfront and Searle Lane.
- Queenstown Breweries & Craft Beer: The Best Taprooms & Beer Bars — A guide to the best breweries and craft beer in Queenstown — lakeside taprooms, riverside brewpubs, Gibbston container breweries and Shotover Street beer bars pouring fresh local brews.
- Ski & Snowboard Hire in Queenstown: Where to Rent Your Gear — Where to hire skis and snowboards in Queenstown for Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and beyond. The best rental shops on Shotover Street, near the ski bus, and on the mountain — plus tips on booking an…
- Queenstown Day Spas & Hot Pools: Where to Soak and Unwind — The best day spas and hot pools in Queenstown — from the iconic cedar-lined Onsen tubs above the Shotover River to urban hot pools, contrast-therapy bathhouses and luxury hotel and resort spas.
- Queenstown Weddings & Elopements: Photographers, Planners & Venues — Your guide to getting married in Queenstown — New Zealand's wedding and elopement capital. Meet the heli-wedding specialists, photographers, videographers and lakeside venues who make a Central Otago…
Queenstown — frequently asked questions
- 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.
About these rankings
Best of Queenstown is curated by locals on the ground in the Wakatipu basin. Our Top 10 lists are built from lived experience, verified local reviews and editorial picks — not pay-to-play placement — and are refreshed regularly. Ranking positions are not for sale. This site carries advertising: sponsor banners, partner cards and any advertiser appearing in a list are clearly labelled "Sponsored" or "Advertisement" and sit outside the ranking method.
Last updated: 2026-08-04. Part of the NZ City Guides network alongside Auckland, Wellington and Rotorua.