Photography in Queenstown – a local’s guide to the best photography spots in Queenstown!
We moved to Queenstown in July 2018. I was lucky enough to transfer here with my job, we were previously living in the sunny Bay of Islands on the North Island, but alas a change was due and now we’re here among the snow-capped mountains of the South Island.
We are incredibly lucky to live in one of the most beautiful towns in the world. But as pretty as it is, Queenstown is not without its problems. As with all resort towns, long-term accommodation is a nightmare. We got lucky with a cute two-bedroom place just outside of town, but the process was stressful – we ended up living in a cheap hotel for two weeks while we waited for our apartment to become available. Anyway, the pros and cons of living in Queenstown is a story for another day.
12 of the Best Photography Spots in (and near) Queenstown
So, here we go, our guide to the best photography spots in Queenstown, including 27 of our prettiest pictures. You can bet it will convince you to visit. P.S. If you have more time, I urge you to explore this gorgeous region more on an epic South Island Road Trip.
- Bob’s Cove
- Glenorchy
- Skyline Gondola in Queenstown
- Fernhill
- Moke Lake
- Doubtful Sound
- Milford Sound
- Arthurs Point
- Sunshine Bay Walking Track
- Cromwell
- Helicopter flight to Milford Sound
- Cardrona Hotel
Read Next: If you plan on visiting Queenstown for a vacation only, then you HAVE to check out my guide to 24 hours in Queenstown
1. Bob’s Cove
A 15-minute drive from Queenstown on Glenorchy Road is Bob’s Cove. It’s one of my favorite spots in the Queenstown area. You can choose to go for a short and easy walk around the lake here, or if you’re feeling more active, hike up the steep hill to Picnic Point. Here, at Picnic Point is where the best views are.
2. Glenorchy
Approximately 40 minutes drive from Queenstown, Glenorchy is a cute and extremely photogenic town. The drive here in itself is a sight for sore eyes, with the drive consistently named as one of the most photogenic in the world by media outlets. Whilst in Glenorchy, be sure to take a photo outside the bright red boat shed. There are also a few cafes here to get your caffeine fix, if you want to try a yummy kiwi pie – then, Mrs Woolies General Store is your place.
This Lord of the Rings guided tour includes stops at many sights in Glenorchy and departs from Queenstown CBD.
Additional tip | If you have a 4WD vehicle, drive further afield into Paradise for truly stunning South Island scenery.
3. Skyline Gondola
From Queenstown, you can hop on the Skyline gondola for approximately $81 NZD, which includes some luge rides. Our top photography tip for the Skyline gondola is to walk up to the take-off point for Paragliding – just follow the signs for NZone paragliding. You can grab a coffee or some food from the restaurant on-site at Skyline, sit on the balcony for great views of Queenstown.
4. Fernhill
Fernhill is a neighborhood just outside the town of Queenstown. Put simply, it’s the very steep hill at the edge of the lake – about a 20 minute walk from town. The best views here can be seen on the walk from the Heritage Hotel into town via the walking track. The sunset is pretty spectacular from this spot, too.
5. Moke Lake
Moke Lake is a 20-minute drive from Queenstown on Glenorchy Road; just take the turn off called Moke Lake Road. The scenery here is very Lord of the Ring’s, in fact Moke Lake is a very popular filming location for many TV series and movies. You can walk around Moke Lake on the loop track, which takes approximately 90 minutes.
6. Doubtful Sound
Doubtful Sound is a full-day trip from Queenstown, it’s the less-visited sister of Milford Sound. But in my opinion, Doubtful Sound is even more spectacular; not only is it less crowded with just two boats on the water at any one time, but it is also much larger. You can book a day trip to Doubtful Sound through many of the tourist shops in Queenstown or online. If you do plan on self-driving to Doubtful Sound, we highly recommend spending the night in the nearby towns of Te Anau or Manapouri.
7. Milford Sound
Milford Sound is one of the most beautiful & dramatic places in the world. In fact, Rudyard Kipling re-named it the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’.
Would you believe it is New Zealand’s number one tourist attraction, attracting over 800,000 visitors a year? Which seems like nothing in comparison to tourist-heavy cities like Bangkok, London & New York. But Milford Sound is very remote and, as a result, quite difficult to get to. If you’ve visited, you will understand what a feat it is to get 800,000 visitors in and out of Milford Sound every year.
The absolute number one thing to do in Milford Sound is to go on a cruise,
One of the best tours you can book in Milford is this glass-bottomed luxury catamaran that will surely get you the best photos of this stunning natural wonder! But, the tour we did was this small boutique cruise experience. Operated by Cruise Milford, this boutique boat has a maximum capacity of 75 guests. Meaning you’re getting a less-crowded and more personalized experience. A win-win in the most-visited part of the country!
Related Read: Another really photogenic spot in Milford is the little-known Milford Sound Swing!
8. Arthurs Point
Arthurs Point is a suburb of Queenstown, about a 10-minute drive from town. The best views here can be seen from the famous Onsen Hot Pools (book in advance!) or the Nugget Point Hotel. FYI – all these photos below were taken from our balcony at Nugget Point Hotel.
9. Sunshine Bay to Queenstown Walk
You can start the Sunshine Bay walk from Queenstown at One-Mile Carpark, the return journey will take you approximately 2 hours in total. Alternatively, you can drive to Sunshine Bay Beach, about a 10-minute drive from town, and just walk some of the path before returning to your car. The best photo spot here is from the jetty at Sunshine Bay Beach.
10. Cromwell
The commuter town of Cromwell is a 45 minute drive from Queenstown, it is a huge fruit-growing and grape-growing region. There is also a selection of cafes and restaurants in Cromwell if you fancy stopping here for lunch or dinner. The best views in Cromwell can be seen from the jetty in the old town.
11. Up in the air – a helicopter ride to Milford Sounds
The ultimate bucket list item whilst in Queenstown is a helicopter ride to the famous Milford Sound. This trip will vary in price depending on the company you choose, if you have a little more money in your pocket try to book a trip that includes a landing on a glacier.
This helicopter tour includes an alpine landing and is one of the most luxurious helicopter tours in the area!
12. The Cardrona Hotel
The Cardrona Hotel is one of the oldest bars in New Zealand and is located on the road to Wanaka, about a 45 minute drive from Queenstown. Be sure to stop in for food or a beer, especially on a sunny day as the Cardrona Hotel has a huge beer garden.
Best Things to Do in Queenstown
- Paragliding at Bob’s Peak – If you’re an adventure nut, you may just have the time today to indulge in some paragliding. Yep, you can go paragliding from the top of Bob’s Peak – how cool! This tandem paragliding experience takes 1.5 hours all in, and costs from $339 NZD. It’s very well-rated and so safe!
- Go Kayaking at Moke Lake – It’s so peaceful at this scenic lake, which is around a 20-minute drive from Queenstown. And the water is usually super calm, so it’s an easy task if you’ve never kayaked before. If you don’t have a kayak with you (I mean, they’re a bit bulky for hand luggage) – you can book this 3-hour kayaking tour, which includes pick-up and drop-off from Queenstown! It includes all your equipment (kayak, helmet, life jacket) and costs $173 NZD.
- Go jetboating on the Shotover River – The world-famous Shotover Jet is a must-do thing in Queenstown! Sure, it’s very fast-paced, and you’ll get wet, but you’ll also get to see some awesome scenery (when you’re going slow, that is). Your experienced driver will do everything he can to get your heart pounding – think 360-degree spins and driving at speeds of 90 km/ph! The Shotover Jet costs from $163 NZD per person.
- Go on a helicopter ride – Imagine seeing the beauty of the town you’re going to be living in from high above. A scenic helicopter tour with an alpine landing is top of most people’s Queenstown bucket list and for good reason! On this 50 minute flight, you’ll soar over Queenstown, Mt Aspiring National Park and, Skippers Canyon. It’s spenny at $785 NZD per person but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
- Visit Milford Sound – Milford Sound is one of the most beautiful & dramatic places in the world. In fact, Rudyard Kipling re-named it the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’. Would you believe it is New Zealand’s number one tourist attraction, attracting over 800,000 visitors a year? The best way to see this magical place is on a boat cruise, like this small boutique cruise experience which costs from $149 NZD per person.
Where to stay in Queenstown
Glebe Apartments – centrally located (next to Queenstown Gardens in the CBD) these stylish apartments are a great option. You can choose from Studio, One; Two or Three bedroom apartments.
Cranbury Court Apartments – are again centrally located on Glebe Road, just a 5-minute walk from the CBD. FreshChoice supermarket is also close by. You can chose from One, Two or Three bedroom apartments.
Apartments at Spinnaker Bay – luxurious apartments with great lake views, these apartments are located on Frankton Road. You can walk the Frankton Track into the CBD – taking about 25 minutes. The apartments here are very stylish – choose from One, Two or Three bedroom apartments.
The Whistler Apartments – also located on Gorge Road, these apartments are a very popular choice in Queenstown. Just a 5-minute walk from the center of Queenstown. There are two supermarkets very close by – Raeward Fresh and Freshchoice. Choose from One or Two bedroom apartments.
Thanks for Reading!
Phew, guys, and that’s a wrap on the best photography spots in Queenstown. Hopefully, these photos have captured your imagination enough to make you want to visit Queenstown and take heaps of photos.
We love it here, we really do – there’s so much to do and see. As is the case in the rest of New Zealand it is expensive, but most of these photo’s were taken in places that are free to enjoy.
Of course, if you have any questions, feel free to ask – we’ve been living in Queenstown for a year and consider ourselves ‘kinda experts’. And last but not least – please tell me, where was your favorite spot in Queenstown from this list?!
Before you go! You may also enjoy some of other most popular blog posts, like –
Tips and tricks for moving to New Zealand
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10 Best Cafes on the South Island
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Last Updated on May 19, 2024 by snaphappytravel
2 thoughts on “12 of the best photography spots in Queenstown”
We have visited the North Island of New Zealand and absolutely loved it. We are trying to find a way back to New Zealand to see the South Island. Love your pictures! Just makes me want to get back there sooner!
HOLY MOLY this is amazing! Queenstown is already on my list (and itinerary for next fall), but you’ve definitely convinced me of a longer stay, and probably a tripod! These are absolutely breathtaking!