Incredible 3 Day Weekend in Queenstown
A 3 day weekend in Queenstown is the perfect length of time to explore the snowy Remarkable mountain range, amazing landscapes and even more Queenstown adventure activities. Sitting comfortably between Glenorchy and Wanaka, you won’t struggle to find daily adventures and great food to fill your time no matter whether it is rain, hail or shine.
In this Queenstown Travel Guide, you’ll uncover the most unforgettable things to do in Queenstown. From jet boating, bungee jumping to other exhilarating Queenstown adventure activities, to relaxing in private hot tubs and enjoy the natural landscapes beyond the various Queenstown wineries. If a weekend in Queenstown is only the beginning of your holiday, then consider making the road trip south to Milford Sound or further north to the West Coast and across to Christchurch. If this will be your first time down south then this Queenstown Itinerary will help you get started with what is on offer in Otago.
Planning Your Queenstown Itinerary
Queenstown is best experienced with a private vehicle, this gives you freedom to explore the region and snowy alps at your own pace. However it isn’t the end of the world if your budget doesn’t fit a rental car. The bars and restaurants in Queenstown are mainly situated on the water front making it a short walk from any major hotels or hostels, and a lot of the major tourism activities include transport options. You can easily spend a weekend in Queenstown without a car, but it just means more organising around public transport or tour activities to rely on to take you out of the city to see the incredible landscapes surrounding Queenstown
Car Rentals in Queenstown
Renting a car in Queenstown is super easy, there are plenty of rental companies at the airport you can either pre-book through or organise a car on the day you land.
There are at least 10 different rental companies at Queenstown airport, Avis car rentals and Hertz are the two main companies I have used each time I have visitied Queenstown.
Queenstown Taxis and Public Transport
As well as traditional taxi services, Uber is available in Queenstown which is super handy if you plan on having a few drinks or find the street parking in the city too expensive if you stay out of the main CBD. Public buses are of course another great option to get around the town and to neighbouring locations.
Day 1 – Queenstown Jet Boating
Skippers Canyon and Jet Boat Tour
Lets start your weekend in Queenstown with an exhilarating adventure activity; Skippers Canyon is the longest road in New Zealand where vehicle insurance is not offered. So I would highly suggest booking a tour with Skippers Canyon Tours before you even contemplate taking your own vehicle down the canyon.
Skippers canyon is not a good option if you are deathly scared of heights, but the reward of this breathtaking drive is the views and the jet boat ride at the end. The road is almost a single lane and on one side is a cliff face, and the other is a several hundred meter drop to the ravine below. Skippers Canyon is also a filming location for the most recent Mission Impossible film where Tom Cruise flies a helicopter through a canyon, but you’ll learn more about that and the history of Skippers canyon when you take the tour!
You can read more about Skippers Canyon and Jet Boat Tour here!
Queenstown Private Spa Pools
At the end of the day reward yourself with a much deserved soak in a private spa at either Onsen Hot Pools or Nugget Point. Both locations have amazing facilities; Onsen is famous for it’s private spa set up over looking the valley, and although Nugget Point looks over almost the exact same view, their shared swimming pool facilities are beautiful with Roman inspired interiors. So depending on your weekend budget and availability, both are worth checking out, just make sure you book well in advance!
Day 2 – AJ Hackett Bungy and Ziplining
It’s not a trip to Queenstown if your adrenaline doesn’t spike at least once everyday. AJ Hackett is widely known in New Zealand as the company that’s most likely to make you pee your pants. Originally starting with a bungy over the Kawerau River, they have since extended their adrenaline pumping activities to swings, catapults and zip rides. I could only muster up enough courage to do the Queenstown Zipline which was more fun than expected but if you love the feeling of falling then check out either of the bungys, catapults or swing on their website.
Queenstown Wineries
Once you’re done jumping from bridges or swinging into valleys with AJ Hacket bungies, continue along state highway 6 to one of the many vineyards along the way for a drink and some lunch. All of the wineries along this route to Cromwell have amazing views of the surrounding landscape and provide impeccable wine and food.
The Church Cellar Door and Cafe is a great place to stop if you want to bask in the afternoon sunshine and soak in the views of the surrounding landcape. Family friendly with farm animals nearby, you will discover the lawn at this Queenstown winery as relaxing and inviting as your grandmothers dining table.
Roaring Meg Dam
The Roaring Meg Dam is a powerful hydro station in the Kawerau river used to create power for the region since 1936.
The Roaring Meg is worth stopping for the beauty of the Kawerau river and the shear noise of the water that pushes through the power station and two turbines.
Eat out at Fergburger
Ferburger is the most popular burger joint in Queenstown; queues will stretch down the street with hungry customers happily waiting over 45 minutes to get their hands on a supersized Fergbuger. From breakfast burgers, to the main meat options including venison, Fergburger also caters for vegetarians with falafel and tofu patty options.
Since finding its success with delicious burgers, the ‘Ferg’ brand has since stretched their expertise to a bakery, bar and gelato shop. You will find these individual stores dotted around Queenstown; make a day of it and enjoy a meal at every Ferg branch!
Day 3 – Visit Arrowtown and the Chinese Settlement
You can’t spend a weekend in Queenstown without visiting their historic neighbour Arrowtown. Without a doubt Arrowtown is one of the coldest places I have visited in New Zealand, it sits in the shadow of the Crown Range and almost always has a low cover of fog covering the town. Arrowtown is famous for it’s historic Chinese settlement from the goldmining days in the late 1800’s. Check out the Remarkable Sweet Shop in the town for some amazing fudge and if you’re visiting in winter then grab yourself a mulled wine from the pub around the corner.
After you’ve spent your morning freezing your tits off in Arrowtown, head up the Crown Range to see some amazing views from across the valley, and if you have enough time visit the historic Cardona Pub for another snack.
Drive Crown Range
The Crown Range was once popular for being a back road that car rental companies would request you to not drive. These days the Crown Range is a popular road to get to plenty more ski fields or the Cardrona pub for a drink.
The Crown Range sits in the hills towering above Arrowtown, the views from above allow an almost 360 degree view across the valley and south towards Queenstown, this is also a popular route to take if you’re wanting to visit Wanaka or further north.
Cardrona Pub
The Cardrona pub is one of the oldest pubs in the south island and has been the main character in plenty of New Zealand TV adverts or shows across the years. The pub sits on the Crown Range and is open most afternoons carrying on into the evening and boasts a bar full of your choice of beer or spirits. There are also rooms to book for a night or two if you don’t mind staying slightly further out from any other food options in the area. Cardrona pub has an indoor fire to enjoy during winter, and a large backyard to relax in during summer.
More Experiences for your Queenstown Travel Guide
Queenstown is full of wonderful experiences but of course I haven’t indulged in them all. The following list of things to do in Queenstown are worth adding to your Queenstown travel guide, but you may need to do further research yourself as I am not lucky enough to share my experiences!
- Ben Lomond Hiking trail
- Hydro Attack boat ride
- Scenic Helicopter rides
- Routeburn Hiking Trail
- Queenstown Gondola
Looking for more Queenstown Adventure Activities? Ski or Snowboard At the Remarkables
Queenstown is most popular during winter for its snow season. Tourists and locals visit the region by the numbers to take a turn on traversing the mountains on boards or skis. The Remarkables ski field is the most well known mountain in Queenstown due to it towering above the town and creating a jaggered silhoutte during dusk and dawn.
If you’re keen to come back to the South Island to explore more of New Zealand’s natural beauty, check out my following itineraries for a Wanaka to Franz Josef road trip, or a 10 day road trip around Otago and Canterbury.
