While Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch are the biggest cities in New Zealand, Little Queenstown attracts more than 3 million visitors each year. These tourists come for the city’s world-class snowboarding and skiing, as well as unique and adrenaline-pumping outdoor activities on land, water, and air. Though widely considered the “Adventure Capital of the World”, there is more to Queenstown than outdoor thrills. Here are some hidden gems in Queenstown you should absolutely check out.
Enjoy the view and warmth of the sun at Sunshine Bay
Queenstown beach is always packed during the summer. For some, the crowd can get overwhelming; it can be difficult to find a spot to lie down.
If you don’t want to be with a huge crowd and want a peaceful and quiet place to spend the day, then head to Sunshine Bay. It’s a small, beautiful, and secluded beach, away from the busy and hectic streets of Queenstown.
Sunshine Bay offers a great place to relax, enjoy a drink or two, and feel the warmth of the sun.
Looking for a relaxing and moderate walk? Check out the Sunshine Bay walking trail, which starts at the end of the waterfront. It’s a gorgeous place to get a good workout.
How to get there:
You can drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy-Queenstown Road parking lot. You can also take a short 30-minute walk from downtown through Sunshine Bay Track.
Enjoy a glass or two at the Akarua Wines
There are many beautiful wineries to choose from in Queenstown. Most of them are at Gibbstown Valley, which is quite a drive away. If you want to opt for something closer from downtown, then head to Lake Hayes and try out the Akarua wines.
Lake Hayes winery is definitely one of the best in town; they don’t just have good wine, they also have a glorious garden setting perfect for a relaxing lunch.
Wine-tasting fee is only $10 NZD. You can, of course, buy a bottle (or more) of wine as souvenir. The great part is you can enjoy a walk at the beautiful track by the lake afterwards.
How to get there:
The best way to get there is to drive. You can take the bus from downtown Queenstown to Lake Hayes at the Frankton Bus Interchange. From the drop off, it’s a 2.6 km walk. If you’re up for it, bring a bike on the bus.
Barbecue at Fernhill
There is a small, free-to-use, barbecue park at Fernhill Reserve that features a great view of the lake. Just bring food and drinks and enjoy a great meal by the beautiful lake.
How to get there:
You can take a short 7-minute bus ride from downtown Queenstown to Fernhill via line 1 bus.
Attiqa/The Sundeck
Located above Attiqa, The Sundeck is one of the best hidden gems Queenstown has to offer, both for locals and tourists. With a great view of the lake and good food, they call themselves the “pot of gold at the end of the rainbow”.
People love the rooftop bar’s outdoor seating, even in winter. There are plenty of heaters and fire places to keep you warm. There is live music on weekends, too, but you should be there early as it can get packed easily.
Best time to go there is before sunset, as the deck offers the best view of the sun setting from the horizon.
How to get there:
To get there, head to small Queenstown Mall and look for Attiqa restaurant. The bar is located above the restaurant.
Craft beer at Otago
Located right at the end of Gibbston Valley is the Cargo Brewery and Waitiri Creek Vineyard. Both have something good for everyone. The old church is the main attraction of the area, but most people visit for the wine and craft beer.
You don’t need to make the difficult decision of what to drink, as you can try everything with their tasting boards. They offer a great selection of craft beers, wines, along with a delicious platter on the side.
Enjoy great food and drink in the shade of a tree of in the sun. Families with kids will love their large kid-friendly outdoor too that has a bunch of games and sports equipment.
How to get there:
From downtown Queenstown, it’s a short 28-minute drive via State Highway 6.
See a Kiwi at Kiwi Birdlife Park
Kiwis are elusive nocturnal creatures. As endangered species, they can be pretty difficult to spot in the wild. However, you can head straight to a bird sanctuary and see them up close and personal.
The Kiwi Birdlife Park gives you a guaranteed view of this shy and flightless bird through their Kiwi encounters. It’s a 5-acre oasis dedicated for reptiles and birds.
They also have bird shows where the whole family can get a closer look at the colorful and intelligent native birds of the region.
How to get there:
From downtown, the bird park is a quick 3-minute drive via Brecon St. (or 20 minute walk)
Quiet and peaceful hike at Lake Alta Track
Unless you are deep into hiking, you probably have not heard about the Lake Alta Track.
Lake Alta Track is definitely one of the most beautiful hidden gems Queenstown has to offer, but for some reason, not a lot of people visit it. If you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy a quiet and peaceful hike on your own, then this is an absolute must-visit for you.
This track has The Remarkables Ski Field (which also features a gorgeous road up), and the location for the Lord of the Rings films. If you are a LOTR fan, then you definitely need to see this place.
The hike is only a short 1.75 km stretch. Once you reach the lake, you can hike up more to the stunning view from above.
How to get there:
You can drive via State Hwy 6A and Remarkables Ski Field Access Rd. You can also ride The Remarkable’s Ski Bus which departs from outside the Snow Centre at Duke St. in Central Queenstown.
Have you checked out any of these hidden gems of Queenstown? If you have a few hidden gems of your own, be sure to let me know in the comments so I can give them a try!
IF YOU ARE WANTING TO CHECK OUT SOME OF THE SOUTH ISLAND'S FABULOUS HIKES WHILE IN QUEENSTOWN, JUMP OVER TO BEST HIKES IN SOUTH ISLAND NEW ZEALAND
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