Your Guide to Queenstown Part Four: What to Do
Here's just a tiny morsel of the activities Queenstown has to offer.
Whether the snow's melted off the caps of the surrounding mountains or you're just looking for a day off from the slopes, Queenstown doesn't skim on activities on offer: riding inside jumping plastic sharks, relaxing in a hot pool, biking around the lake, galloping through the rivers and zip trekking through the treetops.
There are plenty of things to do in Queenstown (we doubt that after living in the activity-dense town for a year we could get to do everything the place has on offer), so here is just a tiny morsel to get you started.
See Part One: Where to Ski, Part Two: Where to Eat, Part Three: Where to Drink and Where to Sleep
Soak in the Onsen Hot Pools
Take an hour to experience the quintessence of bliss while overlooking the Dart River. The best time to head over is at sunset (around 6pm) for an even more spectacular view. For those keen to amp up their experience, the candlelit pool (which opens after sunset) is something a little beyond magical. Onsen Hot Pools is a must-do for any Queenstown trip.
$32-$46 for an hour.
Ride a Plastic Shark
When an American billionaire with a yacht which costs more than your lifetime earnings decides that something is good idea, it usually is. And in this case, that something is a water-based plastic shark which goes up to 80kph. The Seabreacher shark was only ever meant to be a billionaire's plaything, but Queenstown locals David Lynott, Lee Excell and Oliver O’Neill got whiff of the new creation and dragged one of the machines back to Lake Wakatipu. The experience may err on the costly side, but you are on holiday, and this is a plastic shark after all.
$159 for half an hour.
Ziptrek Between the Treetops
The Ziptrek Eco Tour is an informative tour on Queenstown and sustainability, which just happens to be on a Flying Fox, and that Flying Fox just happening to go up to about 40km/hr. I wish all museums would follow this model. Although not particularly scary (depending on your nerves), the Eco Ziptrek tour is the most informative tour of Queenstown's history.
Take the Kea 6-line tour for $179 or Moa 4-line tour for $129.
Explore Paradise on Horse
Ever wanted to plod the ground where Hugh Jackman stood shirtless? Also, the same very ground that Peter Jackson and all the hobbits and elves and other magical creatures stood? Ever wanted to ride the same horses which starred in the Lord of the Rings? Tired of me asking you rhetorical questions? Good. Because the Dart Stables horse treks fulfil every single one of those needs, exploring the aptly-named Paradise region, just a little further South of Queenstown.
Prices range from $135 to $285.
Hire a ChargeAbout Electric Bike
With a maximum speed of 27kph, the Charge About Bike can take you up hills, around lakes, or just for a gentle cruise. It may not be as high-energy as some of the other Queenstown activities, but a relaxing bike around Wakatipu soaking in the beauty of the place was one of my favourite experiences of my trip.
$119 for a full day, $79 for a half day.
To find out about more Queenstown activities, like bungy jumping, the Shotover Jet and paragliding, visit QueenstownNZ.co.nz
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