The Perfect Queenstown Itinerary: How to Spend 5 Days in Queenstown

This 5-day Queenstown itinerary has it all from the town’s top activities to off-the-beaten-path spots!

Queenstown is one of the most beautiful towns in New Zealand. Renowned for its looming, often snow-covered mountains and the bright blue lake the town is built around. It’s certain to enamor anyone who visits.

And to us, 5 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Queenstown as it will allow you to fully explore this incredible destination. We’ve lived in Queenstown for over 3 years and so we want to share with you all of our insider tips.

Of course, I’ve highlighted the not-to-be-missed Queenstown activities. Things like the Skyline Gondola and the TSS Earnslaw. But I’ve also included some off-the-beaten-path gems on this five-day Queenstown itinerary, too. Think, a secluded lake that looks like it belongs in a Lord of the Rings movie and a teeny-tiny town that’s known as one of the prettiest towns in the country!

In short, in this blog, we’ll introduce you to several experiences that are not on most Queenstown itineraries. So let’s get started!

Related Read: If you’re on a tight schedule, 3 days in Queenstown may be a better itinerary for you!

Is 5 days in Queenstown enough?

Yes, 5 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Queenstown. As a Queenstown local I know first-hand how many must-do activities there are in Queenstown, activities like a cruise on Milford Sound, a jet boat ride, and riding the Skyline Gondola. And 5 days is enough time to tick all of those off and more!

Yep, by following this 5-day Queenstown itinerary, you’ll also be able to explore both Arrowtown and Glenorchy and take a trip to Moke Lake (one of my favorite spots in Queenstown!)

Day 1 – Wander Downtown, Skyline Gondola, Arrowtown, Onsen Hot Pools

Morning – Wander downtown

Before breakfast, we recommend taking a stroll to Queenstown Beach first to watch the first light of the day fall on the surrounding mountains. Then, head into downtown Queenstown before it gets too packed. Begin your morning by walking along Queenstown Mall, aka the main pedestrianized thoroughfare in town. As you’ll see, it’s lined with lots of restaurants, Cafes, clothing stores, and souvenir stores. Maybe grab a coffee from my favorite Cafe in town – Vudu on Rees Street.

Then make your way up towards the Skyline Gondola but first, it’s time for breakfast in a local-favorite spot. I love Bespoke Kitchen, which is located on Isle Street, just below the Skyline Gondola. It specializes in healthy goodness and is open for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast here will set you back approximately $20 NZD.

Afternoon – Skyline Gondola

Your next stop is the world-famous Skyline Gondola, which climbs 450 meters above Queenstown. The views along the ride and from the top are wow-worthy! An adult pass (including 3 luge rides) is $81 NZD per adult and $57 NZD per child.

Once at the top, be sure to take lots of photos/selfies from the viewing platform. And watch the famous AJ Hackett Ledge bungy in action. You can even give it a go if you’re feeling brave. A combo ticket for this heart-stopping bungy and its exhilarating swing is $295 NZD per person.

Your next stop should be the surprisingly fast luge. Which is similar to a go-kart but without the engine! It goes surprisingly fast, believe me!

This is definitely one of the best things to do in Queenstown with kids! You could spend several hours here, high up above it all.

Evening – Arrowtown

Arrowtown is a cute, picture-perfect town about a 20-minute drive from Queenstown. That’s especially stunning in the fall. And it’s here we recommend coming for dinner on your first day in Queenstown.

But before dinner, be sure to take a walk along the town’s main street – Buckingham Street. It looks like something from a movie set and many of the storefronts here have been maintained from the town’s gold rush days.

Yep, Arrowtown was at the center of the mining boom in the South Island in the late 1800s, and its mining past is evident on a stroll around town. First, you have the Chinese Settlement built along the banks of the Arrow River, this is where Chinese miners lived at the height of the boom.You should stroll along here before dinner for a glimpse into the town’s fascinating history.

For dinner, there are loads of great restaurants here in Arrowtown. But our personal favorites include Aosta a fine-dining Italian eatery on Buckingham Street and Slow Cuts also on Buckingham Street which specializes in juicy burgers and slow-roasted meats.

Late Evening – Onsen Hot Pools

What better way to end your first day in Queenstown than relaxing in a private hot pool with the most epic mountain view? Onsen Hot Pools is one of the most popular things to do in Queenstown and slots sell out quickly. It’s located in Arthurs Point, about a 10-minute drive from downtown Queenstown.

The view from these cedar-lined tubs is one of the best in Queenstown – they overlook the Shotover River Canyon.

The Original Onsen Experience lasts for one hour and costs $175 NZD for two people.

Day 2 – Day trip to Milford Sound

One of the most popular things to do in Queenstown is go on a tour to Milford Sound. And visiting Milford Sound is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! It is one of the most beautiful places in the world. In fact, Rudyard Kipling re-named it the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World.’

As you’ll read, there are a couple of ways to get from Queenstown to Milford Sound. If you have a rental car you could do the trip in one day. But that involves 4 hours of driving each way. And when you consider that a cruise through Milford Sound is a minimum of 90 minutes long and the fact that you’ll want to make some stops along the drive – you’ll need to prepare yourself for a 12-hour-plus day.

The alternative to driving to Milford Sound is to book a guided tour. There are plenty to choose from, but our personal favorite is the coach-cruise-fly option, which allows you to experience the best of this region by getting a luxury coach there and flying back.

Option 1: Drive yourself

It’s important to note that Queenstown is a 4-hour drive (or 287 km) each-way from Milford Sound. So, it will be a long day of driving, and you will be limited to what scenic stops you can make along the way.

All in it’s a whopping 8 hours of driving. That’s not taking into account the traffic you will indefinitely encounter on the narrow roads into Milford Sound. So, 8 hours could quickly turn into 10 hours.

FYI, you will need to leave Queenstown super-early, i.e., around 6 am, to make the most of this drive. The best stops along the way include Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, Homer Tunnel, and The Chasm.

A benefit to driving yourself is that you’ll be able to check out the Milford Sound Swing. It’s a short walk from the car park and so worth seeing! In fact, I’d go so far as to say that it’s a must for photography lovers!

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.

Option 2: Small group bus tour

If you’re on a budget and are after a more intimate tour, then consider this small group tour. It involves getting a luxury minibus there and back and a boat cruise of Milford Sound.

It’s 13 hours long and passes by the best sights along the drive into Milford Sound, including the Homer Tunnel and Eglinton Valley, where you’ll make a quick pitstop to snap some photos. It even includes a short guided walk into Mirror Lakes.

The cruise section of this tour is a small boutique cruise with a maximum capacity of 75 guests. Meaning you’re getting a less-crowded and more personalized experience. Tea and coffee are provided complimentary on board, too.

The smaller boat can get up close and personal with the waterfalls as well as Milford’s famous seal residents. It’s also an hour and 45 minute long cruise, in comparison to the 90-minute cruise time of most other operators here.

This small group tour from Queenstown costs $289 NZD per person and includes lunch, snacks, and bottled water. And of course, your cruise tickets and your return bus journey in a comfortable minivan are included too.

Option 3: Coach-cruise-fly

I personally love this option because it allows you to experience the best of this region by getting a luxury coach there and flying back. On the coach journey, you’ll stop at scenic sights along the road and snap some epic photos. And then on the flight back, you’ll see Milford and Fiordland National Park in its full glory from high above.

And because this tour is 9 hours long it means it’s not as long of a day as the coach-only option I mentioned above.

Of course, once you get off the coach in Milford, you’ll have the boat cruise to look forward to. Which is, without a doubt, the top thing to do in Milford. The cruise is around an hour and 45 minutes long, and coffee and tea are served on board. Lunch is also included in the price.

This combo tour costs $745 NZD per person. It’s more expensive because it involves three different methods of transport (luxury coach, boat cruise, and flight).

Day 3 – Glenorchy, Bob’s Cove, Moke Lake

Morning – Glenorchy

The drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy generally takes 40 minutes to complete. However, given how unbelievably beautiful the scenery is, don’t be surprised if it takes you two or three times as long as that!

Along the way, you can stop at plenty of stunning viewpoints (our favorite is Bennett’s Bluff) and remote beaches like Bob’s Cove (which you’ll read more about below), where you can take Insta-worthy photos and generally immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of the area.

You might recognize Glenorchy from the Lord of the Rings movies. Close to Glenorchy, you can see easily recognizable filming locations from the movie franchise, including Isengard Lookout, Lothlorien Forest, and Ithilien. 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. That’s oh-so-photogenic! From here, be sure to walk along the Glenorchy Walkway, a scenic and easy walk.

Afternoon – Moke Lake & Bob’s Cove

Around 20 minutes from Glenorchy is one of my favorite places in Queenstown – Bob’s Cove. A turquoise water paradise surrounded by native bush. Here, you can simply laze on the lake beach and take it all in or walk the steep hill up to Picnic Point for the epic views.

On your drive back into Queenstown, swing left down Moke Lake Road to witness the Lord of the Rings-esque scenery of Moke Lake. It is a gravel road so drive slowly, plus there’s lots of lambs and rolling green hills on your drive in that I’m sure you’ll want to photograph. Spend an hour taking photos along the edge of the lake.

If you want to hike around Moke Lake, it will take you about an hour and a half. It’s one of the best (& thankfully easiest hikes in Queenstown).

Evening – Fergburger for dinner and catch the sunset

Our night two dinner recommendation is easily the most famous food spot on the South Island. Fergburger, I’m sure you’ve heard of it – this delicious hole-in-the-wall burger joint is always jam-packed and has attracted many celebrities over the years. In my years living here, I’ve tried Fergburger countless times and never been disappointed. That’s the sign of a good spot, isn’t it? Even the locals eat here despite the queues.

My go-to order here is the Tropical Swine, an NZ beef burger with streaky bacon, cheese, and pineapple. While, my husband loves the Big Al – a double burger that comes with egg, bacon, cheese, and aioli. A burger here costs around $16.50 NZD so it’s the perfect choice if you’re on a budget in Queenstown.

My recommendation is to get your order to-go and head to Perky’s Floating Bar. This boat is permanently docked in the lake where you can bring your own food & purchase reasonably-priced drinks. Laze on a beanbag and watch the madness of Queenstown around you. Perky’s is also a great place to chat to the locals.

Day 4 – Shotover Jet, TSS Earnslaw, Dinner at Rata

Morning – Shotover Jet

Another one of the most popular tours in Queenstown is the heartstopping Shotover Jet. It takes place in the Shotover Canyon and the specialized jetboat speeds through the narrow twists and turns of the canyon at 85 kph!

When the driver goes slower, you’ll be able to take in the stunning natural beauty of this spot – but when he puts his foot down, you’ll need to hold onto your hat (literally)! The driver will also throw in a couple of 360-degree turns for fun, and just a warning – you likely will get wet!

A ticket costs from $159 NZD per adult, and there are various departure times throughout the day.

BOOK the Shotover Jet here!

Afternoon – TSS Earnslaw

The TSS Earnslaw is a historic steamship that was built way back in 1912. It chugs across Lake Wakatipu a couple of times a day to Walter Peak Farm.

The return journey is 1.5 hours, and during the ride, you can watch the giant steam engines at work. If you wish, you can hop off at Walter Peak for an early lunch and watch a farm tour. We highly recommend doing this as the food is amazing (my husband said it’s the best meal he’s had in Queenstown) and the farm tour is so interesting. You’ll get to witness a sheep-shearing demonstration and watch the sheepdogs round up the sheep.

We advise booking the the lunch and farm tour option, which is 3.5 hours long. It includes everything I’ve listed above – an awesome lunch, a farm tour, and the return boat journey.

Prices for the TSS Earnslaw cost from $89 NZD per person.

BOOK the TSS Earnslaw Lunch & Farm Tour option here!

Evening – Dinner at Rata

For your final evening in Queenstown, we recommend having dinner downtown. Our recommended restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Queenstown! Rata is a fine-dining eatery tucked away down a little side street in the center of Queenstown. The interior is modern and light-filled, and oh boy, is the food bucket-list-worthy. If New Zealand did Michelin stars, Rata would definitely have one.

Their dishes use only the freshest quality produce and ingredients from the South Island, and so the menu here is seasonal. Their wine list is also exceptional. You’ll definitely need to book a table here in advance.

Day 5 – Helicopter Tour, Go on a Hike, Dinner at Blue Kanu

Morning – Helicopter Tour

Kickstart your final day in Queenstown on a high (literally) with a scenic helicopter tour with an alpine landing. The flight is 50 minutes long and includes a son landing on Jura Glacier – so special! On the flight, you’ll fly over Lake Wakatipu, the Dart River, and the Southern Alps. It’s honestly one of the most bucket-list-worthy tours in Queenstown! I did it twice when I lived in Queenstown!

This tour includes pick-up and drop-off to most Queenstown hotels and costs from $743 NZD per person.

BOOK the scenic helicopter tour here!

Afternoon – Hike!

Hiking and Queenstown go hand-in-hand, there are just SO MANY awesome hikes here. From short, easy hikes to some of New Zealand’s Great Walks which can take a few days.

This afternoon, you’ll just have time to conquer a short but scenic walk, below are my top suggestions.

Lake Alta Hike

At the top of the Remarkables mountain range you can hike to the glorious Alta Lake in the summer months. The trail is 2.4 km in total and will take around 1.5 hours to complete. And I’d rate it as fairly challenging as you may be scrambling over rocks in some parts and it’s quite steep.

The trail starts from the Remarkables skifield, there’s a car park here you can park at and you must pay a small toll fee to access this road.

Mt Crichton Loop Track

Mount Crichton Loop Track is an easy trail that’s 6.4 km long and will take around 2.5 hours to complete. It starts from the Twelve Mile Delta Campground which is around a 10-minute drive from Queenstown towards Glenorchy. The trail passes through beech forests, over rivers, and past a waterfall. It offers an insight into the area’s goldmining history mainly thanks to the Sam Summers Hut that you’ll pass along the way. Sam lived here with his family in the 1930s while panning for gold.

Lower Wye Creek Track

The Lower Wye Creek Track is a 6.6 km trail that starts at Wye Creek, a 20-minute drive from Queenstown. It’s 4 hours long and it’s a summer-only track. It’s a fairly difficult trail mainly due to how steep it is. But it is very pretty – passing through native beech forest, a cascading waterfall, and a hydro dam.

Queenstown Gardens

This one involves no travel time as it’s located in town and starts from Queenstown Beach. This trail is 3.1 km long and is very easy and flat. It passes by botanic gardens and follows along the shores of Lake Wakatipu for most of the route.

Dinner at Blue Kanu

I saved my favorite Queenstown restaurant for last! Blue Kanu is a unique eatery as it serves up what it dubs ‘Polynasia’ cuisine – a mixture of Pacific Island and Asian cuisine. Their dishes are so fresh and exotic-tasting – I love their lamb jungle curry and braised pork belly.

If you’re lucky enough the staff will even sing and play guitar to you while you dine. Fun!

Where to Stay in Queenstown

• Kamana Lakehouse – High up in Fernhill, around a 25 minute walk or short bus journey from Queenstown CBD is Kamana Lakehouse. This hotel has arguable the best view of any hotel in Queenstown on account of its steep position. The rooms here are modern and funky, and some come with balcony’s overlooking the lake. You can even book the Lakeview Luxe Suite which comes with its own private hot tub. A room here will set you back around $241 NZD per night.

• Sherwood Queenstown – Situated in Frankton, around a 20-minute walk into Queenstown, is the very cool Sherwood. We actually stayed here twice and loved its cozy boho decor. And it’s actually one of the most sustainable hotels in the world! Again, it boasts spectacular lake views and the rooms are spacious, stylish and comfortable. The on-site restaurant is excellent and is a local-favorite! A room here costs around $240 NZD per night.

• Ramada Queenstown Central – If you’re looking for a reasonable prices hotel in downtown Queenstown look no further than the Ramada, which has rooms starting from $200 NZD. The rooms here are stylish and sleek and some offer views of the Remarkables, Lake Wakatipu, and Kelvin Heights Peninsula. The hotel only opened in 2020 so it’s very modern both inside and outside. There’s an on-site restaurant and bar.

• 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.

• 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.

Thanks for stopping by!

Aaaand, you’ve reached the end of this epic Queenstown itinerary! Thanks for sticking with it, I’m sure you’ll agree (I hope so anyway) that this Queenstown itinerary has it all. But, if you think I’ve missed anywhere be sure to let me know in the comment section below!

Last Updated on August 13, 2024 by snaphappytravel