Queenstown — Adventure Capital of the World 🏔️
New Zealand's adrenaline playground: a lakeside alpine town ringed by the jagged Remarkables, home to bungy jumping, world-class wine, and some of the South Island's finest lodges. Hand-picked stays and a must-see icon — every link takes you straight to Trip.com to check live prices and book.
🏨 Where to Stay
- Eichardt's Private Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — a lakefront icon since 1861 and #2 Luxury Hotel in Queenstown, awarded a Michelin Key in 2025. Behind its white stone façade sits an intimate collection of designer suites right on Lake Wakatipu, with a private yacht available for charter and one of the town's best cocktail bars.
- Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa — smart pick, central — French alpine elegance in the heart of town, blending Kiwi gold-rush character with a decadent Left Bank Bistro, a speakeasy-style Le Salon Rouge, and an L'Occitane spa, all within walking distance of the lake and gondola.
- Millbrook Resort ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — family-friendly, golf — a 650-acre alpine estate near Arrowtown with two championship golf courses, five dining venues, an award-winning spa, and a range of suites, resort homes and retreats that suit families and groups just as well as couples.
- The Rees Hotel & Luxury Apartments — lakefront, family-friendly — set directly on Lake Wakatipu with sweeping mountain views, offering hotel rooms, apartments and private lakeside residences, plus the acclaimed True South Dining Room showcasing Central Otago produce.
- Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — hidden gem, quiet lakeside — tucked away on the Kelvin Peninsula across the water from central Queenstown, with its own water taxi shuttling guests into town, an indoor pool and full-service spa, and some of the quietest lake views in the region.
✈️ Flights
- Flights to Queenstown (ZQN) — no direct route from Manchester; fly one-stop via a hub such as Dubai, Singapore or Abu Dhabi to Auckland (around 24-28 hours), then take a short Air New Zealand domestic flight on to Queenstown (around 1 hour 55 minutes).
🎟️ Experiences
- Skyline Queenstown — a gondola ride to the top of Bob's Peak delivering a 270-degree panorama over the town, Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains, with a luge track, mountain biking trails, and the acclaimed Stratosfare Restaurant for sunset dining.
🚗 Car Hire & Transfers