Best Things to Do in Queenstown

By Hannah Kent

1. Fergburger Anyone who has ever been to Queenstown (including me) will recommend that you try Fergburger, claiming it’s the best burger in the world — and I’d have to agree. At first, I thought it was overhyped: the lines are long, and the store is always crowded. However, despite not usually liking burgers, I absolutely loved this one. It had a juicy New Zealand steak patty, and I think what made it special was the tomato relish inside, replacing the usual tomato sauce. Yes, the lines were long, but they moved extremely quickly. It took maybe 30–40 minutes for a family of five’s order (six burgers total) to arrive. I would highly recommend walking down to Queenstown Bay Beach and enjoying your lunch or dinner there!

Pro tip: If you don’t like waiting in lines, there is a Fergbutcher in Arrowtown, around a 25-minute drive away. It serves the exact same food with the same ingredients, but with about half the wait time.

2. Shotover Jet The Shotover Jet ride is one of the best ways to experience Queenstown’s canyons. It is a high-powered boat that takes you through the narrow canyons of the Shotover River, reaching speeds of up to 90 km/h, taking sharp turns, and performing 360-degree spins. It’s the perfect outing for families — not as extreme as bungee jumping, but far more exciting than a river cruise. The boat itself is incredibly safe: the handlebars are heated for cold weather, and lifejackets are provided. However, I would highly recommend wearing sunglasses or some kind of eyewear, as the speed results in water painfully splashing onto your face. I also feel obliged to recommend keeping your phone in a zipped pocket at all times unless explicitly told it’s safe to take photos. A tourist on our ride had her phone out, we hit a sharp corner, and she no longer had a phone.

3. Skyline Luge The Skyline Luge is a must-do on any visit to Queenstown. You take a gondola up the mountain, where you get stunning views of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu. Once you reach Bob’s Peak, you can luge down the side of the mountain. A luge is a gravity-powered cart with steering and brakes that you pilot down a race course. It’s part go-kart, part toboggan, and genuinely made me question whether I deserve my Ls. You ride down an 800-metre track where you can race (or sabotage) family and friends. While the wait for the chairlift and luge can be long, it is 100% worth it, especially since you can go multiple times. Just make sure not to get distracted by the views — or you might crash!

4. Amisfield Queenstown has incredible food, but this restaurant was undoubtedly my favourite. Amisfield doubles as a cellar door, wine club, and restaurant, so there is something for everyone — though we only explored the restaurant. Every dish was amazing, and the views from our table were stunning. If the weather is nice, I would definitely recommend sitting outdoors. From the à la carte menu, I’d recommend the whole fish and chips, the black truffle Japanese milk bread, and the kingfish sashimi. This probably isn’t the best place for picky eaters, but there is still plenty of variety. While waiting for food, you can walk around the property, which has beautiful flowers and grasses that are perfect for photos.

5. Hike to Lake Alta I cannot recommend this hike enough during the New Zealand summer. The walk to Lake Alta is simply stunning. You hike up through a ski resort (with the melting snow) to reach a beautiful alpine lake. If you’re lucky, there may still be patches of snow to play in. The hike itself is very accessible, taking only 30–60 minutes from the Remarkables ski area, with clear signage and information about local wildlife along the way. The area was also famously used as a filming location for Dimrill Dale in The Lord of the Rings. If you visit closer to February, you can pack swimmers and go for a swim — the water is clear and beautiful, surrounded by snow-capped mountains.