Travel Guide: Winter in Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown New Zealand is one of the most beautiful winter destinations in the southern hemisphere. Decorated with stunning lakeside views and jam-packed with endless fun and outdoor activities, a thrill seekers paradise. This is The Alpine Anthology’s guide to Winter in Queenstown, New Zealand.
1. Hire a Car
Queenstown does have a lot of public transport access with buses, however it is easier to explore the South Island further with a hire car. They are very easy to rent from the Queenstown Airport. Rental car companies, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, Jucy, Sixt, Snap Rentals, Thrifty and many more offer a large range of vehicles to suit your needs. Nearby towns to Queenstown such as Glenorchy, Te Anau, Arrowtown and Wanaka are definitely worth a visit.
https://www.queenstownairport.co.nz/transport/rental-cars
2. Visit Paradise Ziplines
If you are up for an adventure and love a thrill, Paradise Ziplines is one of our favourite activities. Take the scenic drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy where you will meet your guide for an exclusive ziplining adventure. Take 8 ziplines over a stunning picturesque river and forest decorated with stunning mountain views. The guides will take you through a training and safety briefing before you take off, so you will feel in safe hands on your wilderness adventure. After your ziplining adventure, take the time to explore the town of Glenorchy.
On the drive back to Queenstown stop by lookout points along the road considered to be one of the most scenic in New Zealand. Our favourite is Bennetts Bluff View Point.
https://www.paradiseziplines.com/
3. Try the Skyline Luge of Queenstown
To catch a glimpse of the true beauty of Queenstown, take a visit to the Skyline Gondola and Luge. Our recommendation is to take the Gondola up at about 2:30PM after a lunch at Fergbaker in town. You can purchase a certain number of Luge rides depending on how many you would like to do. We purchased the Gondola ride up and down and 6 luge rides. The luge is incredibly fun and thrilling for everyone in the family. We started heading down the gondola at 5pm which was the perfect time to get the most stunning glimpse of the sun setting over the mountains.
https://queenstown.skyline.co.nz/
4. Ski and Snowboard at The Remarkables
The Remarkables Ski Resort is situated right next to Queenstown, it is approximately a 40 minute drive from the town centre to the top of the mountain. We would recommend taking the bus, the conditions on the mountain road can get a bit hairy and if you’re not a confident or experienced driver in icy and snow conditions it can be quite dangerous. The Remarkables is a great location for all skiers, challenging terrain for those who are up for a challenge and a great ski school for learners and beginners.
Bring some pastries from Fergbaker to enjoy for lunch to avoid the hefty mountain food prices.
https://www.theremarkables.co.nz/
Overall, Queenstown has so many options in terms of adventures for all members of the family. If you are interested in more tips and guide information for Queenstown, check out our posts on the Blog.
You can find us at: www.thealpineanthology.com