Queenstown
Set beside Lake Wakatipu and framed by the Remarkables, Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s most loved South Island stops. It’s known for alpine scenery, lake cruises, day trips to Fiordland, easy access to wine country, and a wide range of bucket list experiences.
View toursA lakeside town surrounded by alpine beauty
Queenstown is a natural centre point for South Island coach touring. It sits on the edge of Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by mountains, with easy touring connections to Milford Sound, Te Anau, Wānaka, Mount Cook, Dunedin, the West Coast glaciers and Christchurch.
Coach tours often stay in Queenstown for more than one night, giving travellers time to enjoy the lakefront, take a scenic gondola ride, cruise on the TSS Earnslaw, visit nearby Arrowtown, join a wine tour in Gibbston, or add a day trip into Fiordland.
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Contact usPopular tours including Queenstown
In the heart of the Southern Lakes
Queenstown is located in the Southern Lakes region of New Zealand’s South Island, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in Otago. The town sits beneath the Remarkables mountain range, with Cecil Peak and Walter Peak rising across the lake and the Southern Alps shaping the wider landscape around it.
It’s this setting that gives Queenstown such a strong sense of place. You arrive to deep blue water, high country slopes and mountains close enough to feel part of the town itself, making it one of the most recognisable and moving alpine destinations in New Zealand.
Things to do in Queenstown
Shotover Jet
Watershed Sauna
TSS Earnslaw Cruise
Arrowtown
Golf
Wine Tasting Tour
Walter Peak Dining Experience
Onsen Hot Tubs
KJet Boat
Glenorchy
Local Breweries
Zipline with a View
Skippers Canyon 4WD Tour
Walter Peak High Country Farm
Skyline Gondola
River Rafting
The Bathhouse Spa
Dart River Safaris
Glenorchy Funyaks
Why book with New Zealand Coach Tours?
Our Wānaka-based team helps travellers choose and book guided coach, small group, train and coach, and self-guided coach journeys across New Zealand. We work with a wide range of established operators and provide local advice throughout the planning and booking process, backed by our Best Price Guarantee.
Tell us your dates, budget, pace and must-see places, and we’ll recommend suitable tours or create a tailor-made self-guided itinerary. We can also arrange extra accommodation, transfers and activities before or after your guided tour.
Get a tailor-made self-guided coach itinerary
Key info about Queenstown
Best time to visit Queenstown
Queenstown is a year-round destination, with each season offering a different feel. Summer suits lake cruises, short walks and Fiordland day trips, autumn brings golden colour around Arrowtown, winter brings skiing, snowboarding and snow-covered mountain scenery, and spring offers fresh alpine views before the busy summer season.
Highlighted tour:
Intrepid Travel New Zealand Southern PioneerAverage temperature by season
Spring
September - November
Avg Temp: 8 - 16 ℃ / 46 - 61 ℉
Summer
December - February
Avg Temp: 20 - 27 ℃ / 68 - 81 ℉
Autumn
March - May
Avg Temp: 10 - 20 ℃ / 50 - 68 ℉
Winter
June - August
Avg Temp: 0 - 10 ℃ / 32 - 50 ℉
Getting to Queenstown
Queenstown is reached by road via State Highway 6, with coach routes commonly connecting through Wānaka, Te Anau, Mount Cook, Franz Josef, Lake Tekapo and Christchurch. Queenstown also has a domestic and international airport, making it a practical place to start or finish a New Zealand coach tour. Direct flights operate from Australia, while travellers from the USA, UK, Singapore and other long-haul destinations usually connect through Auckland or an Australian gateway before flying into Queenstown.
Drive times
Christchurch to Queenstown
6 hours 30 minutes
Mount Cook National Park to Queenstown
3 hours 30 minutes
Dunedin to Queenstown
4 hours
Flight times from major cities
Auckland to Queenstown
1 hour 50 minutes
Wellington to Queenstown
1 hour 25 minutes
Christchurch to Queenstown
1 hour 10 minutes
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Queenstown is included on many South Island and nationwide coach tours, and itineraries often spend more than one night here. It’s commonly used as a base for Milford Sound, Te Anau, Arrowtown and Wānaka, while longer touring routes may connect Queenstown with Mount Cook, Franz Josef and Christchurch.
Yes. Many guided tours include at least one night in Queenstown, and some include two or more nights. If you’d like more time for a lake cruise, wine tour, gondola ride or a Fiordland day trip, we can help you choose an itinerary with a longer Queenstown stay, or create a tailor-made self-guided coach tour for you.
Yes. Guided coach tours have fixed start and end dates, but we can help arrange extra accommodation before or after the set itinerary. Self-guided coach tours are 100% customisable, so it’s easy to add more time in Queenstown during your trip.
Yes. Queenstown is a very good fit for coach touring. The surrounding roads are scenic but can involve mountain passes, changing weather and long travel days. With a coach tour, the route, transport, accommodation and key logistics are arranged, so you can enjoy the lake and mountain views without watching every bend in the road.
Guided coach tours are a good choice if you want a tour director, set itinerary and organised sightseeing. Self-guided coach tours are best if you want more flexibility, choose your dates, add extra nights or include specific Queenstown experiences. Small group tours can suit travellers who prefer a more personal style guided tour with a smaller group.
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