Last Updated on March 22, 2024 by snaphappytravel
Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s biggest attractions. As a place for indulgence and adventure, you can enjoy everything from high-end shopping and world-class fine dining to bungee jumping and snowboarding there.
Yet sometimes, it is good to explore a bit further afield. Here are 5 of the best road trips from Queenstown for those who want to go for a drive.
5 BEST Road Trips from Queenstown
1. Queenstown to Mount Cook
First up on this list of the best road trips from Queenstown is the drive to Mount Cook. If you have access to a car, a road trip from Queenstown to Mt Cook is something every tourist should do. It will take over 4 hours (it’s 261 km each-way!), without stops but we definitely don’t advise doing that!
As the tallest mountain in the country, a drive to Aoraki Mt Cook will showcase incredible alpine scenery, both during the 4-hour transit, predominantly along the Crown Range Road, and whilst you are at its summit. My favorite thing to do in Mt Cook is to walk the Hooker Valley Track, which is rated as easy and will take most people 3-hours to complete (return that is!)
Make sure you pre-book a session at the wonderful Hot Tubs Omarama, which is located along the drive and is the perfect way to unwind after the drive, or a day of hiking, climbing or skiing.
Top Tip: If you’re going to rent a car in Queenstown we highly recommend Discover Cars. We tend to always book our rental car through Discover Cars when we’re traveling. It is a search engine for rental cars and allows you to filter by price if you’re on a budget or by vehicle type if there’s a specific car you’re after.
2. Queenstown to Wanaka
As it is only an hour’s drive away, heading over to Wanaka is one of the most popular day trips you can do from Queenstown.
Nestled at Lake Wanaka’s stunning southern end, Wanaka town is a fabulous place to visit as it has Mount Aspiring National Park and the Southern Alps in close proximity to it.
Despite being relatively close to Queenstown, Wanaka has a very different vibe to it. Many people go there because of its buzzy cafe scene. Additionally, it is a good spot for fishing and is home to the iconic Wanaka Tree (we’ve all seen a photo of it!)
Wanaka also has its fair share of water and other adventure sports activities.
3. Queenstown to Milford Sound
Milford Sound is another bucket list destination for many tourists, and you can easily get to it on a road trip from Queenstown.
Located within the Fiordland National Park, this stunning region is defined by its deep, dark waters, brooding cliffs and raging waterfalls that creates one of New Zealand’s most intoxicating landscapes.
Many people might recognize it as a filming location in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
This is another destination that will take you about 4 hours to drive to, although in winter, it could be longer – especially on the winding section between Te Anau and Milford Sound. Before heading off, make sure you check the weather and road conditions and take notice of appropriate warnings.
Whilst at Milford Sound you should take a cruise to fully appreciate the magnificence of its natural beauty. And visit the hidden gem that is the Milford Sound Swing, as you can see from the photo above it’s SO photogenic!
4. Queenstown to Glenorchy
Google Maps will tell you that the drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy generally takes 40 minutes to complete. However, given how compelling the scenery is, don’t be surprised if it takes you two or three times as long as that! In saying that, if you only have 24 hours in Queenstown, you could squeeze in a drive to Glenorchy!
Along the way, you can stop at plenty of stunning viewpoints and remote beaches, where you can take Insta-worthy photos and generally immerse yourself in its collective beauty.
Glenorchy is another place in New Zealand you might recognize from the Lord of the Rings movies. In fact, you can even sign up for a Lord of the Rings Locations Tour if you’re a fan of the film franchise.
Even if you’re not into Middle Earth, there is plenty to do in Glenorchy, including checking out its famous red shed – a former building for the NZ Railways Department.
You can also take a jet boat ride or go for a swim in the lake in the summer. However, if you happen to time your visit during the winter months, you should definitely wrap up warm. The wind of the water can be bracing to say the least.
5. Queenstown to Bannockburn
A trip to the town of Bannockburn is another relatively short drive, taking just 50 minutes to get there.
It is a terrific place to go as a family, as it has something for everyone. One of the most charming features of this former mining town is the historic stone buildings that remain standing. Most of them house local shops now, but they all give you a sense of what life was like here several decades ago.
If you love wine, this is a good place to come for tastings as both the Mt Difficulty and Carrick Winery have brilliant cellar doors. Kids should also love the opportunity to pick cherries at Cheeki Cherries and there are plenty of hiking and mountain biking trails you can explore.
Thanks for Reading!
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