10 Luxury Activities in Queenstown© Over The Top Helicopters - Tourism New Zealand
10 Luxury Activities in Queenstown

10 Best Luxury Experiences in Queenstown 🥂 [2024]

© Over The Top Helicopters – Tourism New Zealand

The Most Luxurious Tours and Experiences in Queenstown

A special destination like Queenstown deserves a special way to experience it. Whether you’re into outdoor adventures, relaxation or both, there is a multitude of ways to experience New Zealand’s most premium destination in style. From the snowy slopes in winter to the nearby Great Walks in summer, Queenstown is surrounded by the breathtaking scenery that can be experienced in various ways. We’ll go through those ways and more in this list of luxury experiences in Queenstown.

While you’re here, you might also be interested in The Luxury Guide to Queenstown and the 10 Best Luxury Accommodations in Queenstown.

1. Fly to One of the Most Iconic Attractions in New Zealand, Milford Sound

Experience the must-see Milford Sound in the most luxurious way possible: by plane or helicopter. What usually takes around four hours to get to by bus takes just 35 minutes by small plane, while incorporating some magnificent vistas of glacier-carved valleys, mountains, alpine lakes and vast forests. Once you arrive in Milford Sound, you can enjoy one of the two-hour cruises through the fiord, allowing you to experience this stunning part of the world in two of the best ways. Compare flights with our 5 Best Scenic Flights to Milford Sound from Queenstown.

Location: See the link above for the location of each tour operator.

10 Luxury Activities in Queenstown© Megan Thomas - Destination Fiordland

2. Take a Private 4WD Excursion Down the World’s Most Dangerous Road, Skippers Canyon

No matter what the weather is doing, it’s nothing that a 4WD tour can’t handle. Get well off the beaten track with a private tour with Off Road 4X4 Queenstown. Delve down one of the world’s most dangerous roads, the Skipper Canyon, and learn about the fascinating gold-mining history of this remote area. Visit the remnants of a gold-mining town, watch a gold-panning demonstration, and enjoy a scenic picnic lunch away from the world. Discover more about the tour, read reviews and book your luxury experience on Off Road 4X4 Queenstown’s page on Viator and Tripadvisor. Plus, see more all-weather experiences like this in the 20 Things to Do in Queenstown on a Rainy Day.

Location: 61A Shotover Street.

Off Road 4X4 Queenstown© Off Road 4X4 Queenstown

3. Sample the Cuisine and Wines of Otago on a Foodie Tour

Excite the senses on a foodie tour of Queenstown and surrounding wine region. Queenstown Wine Trail offers an indulgent Wine and Food Sampler Tour, which is four hours of tasting premium Central Otago wines, cheeses and enjoying a traditional New Zealand lunch. What’s more, there are ample photo opportunities as you travel through the scenic Kawarau Gorge and the Gibbston Valley. Find out more about the tour on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook.

Alternatively, choose Altitude Tours for their small-group and private wine tours in a luxury Mercedes van – available on Klook and KKday. Make your winery bucket list using the 10 Wonderful Wineries in Queenstown and be inspired for more tasty experiences in the 10 Things to Do in Queenstown for Foodies.

Location: Tour operators offer Queenstown pick-ups.

Queenstown Wine Trail© Queenstown Wine Trail

4. Explore Mountains, Alpine Lakes and Glaciers on a Helicopter Tour

Take to the skies and see the alpine landscapes of Queenstown from a breathtaking perspective on a Queenstown helicopter tour. Soar over a UNESCO World Heritage Area, land on glaciers, have a private picnic atop a mountain overlooking Lake Wakatipu, and go to places that very few have gone before. Queenstown offers a wide range of exciting helicopter excursions, even some unique offerings like an “Altitude Golf Experience” and heli-skiing. Compare all of the Queenstown helicopter companies in our 5 Epic Queenstown Helicopter Tours.

Location: See the link above for the location of each tour operator.

10 Luxury Activities in Queenstown© Over The Top Helicopters - Tourism New Zealand

5. Play Golf at Some of the Country’s Most Prestigious Courses

Home to some of New Zealand’s most scenic golf courses, golfing in Queenstown is a must for any sports enthusiast! Hit prestigious courses, such as Jack’s Point with unbeatable views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain ranges, The Hills with an incorporated sculpture park, and Millbrook with New Zealand’s only 27-hole course. Find out more about each course in the Top 5 Golf Courses in Queenstown.

Location: See the link above for the location of each golf course.

10 Luxury Activities in Queenstown© Nick Wall - Tourism New Zealand

6. Enjoy Fine Dining at Queenstown’s Premium Restaurants and Wineries

Queenstown has no lack of premium restaurants. For town centre fine dining, enjoy the rustic ambience of The Bunker – a back alley restaurant offering divine cuisine beside crackling log fires. Alternatively, escape the hustle and bustle of the town by dining at the Amisfield Winery & Bistro. The winery specialises in all things Otago, from its award-winning wines to food made with local ingredients. For more inspiration, see our 10 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Queenstown.

Location: The Bunker – Cow Lane. Amisfield Winery & Bistro – 10 Arrowtown-Lake Hates Road, approximately 14km (8.8 miles) from Queenstown town centre.

10 Luxury Activities in Queenstown© Destination Queenstown

7. Escape the Crowds with Heli-Skiing or to Queenstown’s Private Ski Field

In winter, be sure to take on some of Queenstown’s premium skiing experiences. Escape the crowds with an awesome backcountry skiing experience with Alpine Heli-Ski where you’ll experience fresh untracked powder and keep your energy levels up with a gourmet lunch accompanied by epic views. More information is available on Viator and Tripadvisor. Alternatively, Soho Basin is Queenstown’s private ski area where you’ll get free rein of 264 hectares (652 acres) and 500+ vertical metres of terrain to enjoy. Chairlifts are swapped for snowcat rides, while dining involves a three-course lunch with local wines at the Alpine Hut. Plan more of your winter vacation using The Ultimate Guide to the Queenstown Ski Season.

Location: Alpine Heli-Ski – 37 Shotover Street. Soho Basin – Cardrona Valley Road, approximately 43.5km (27 miles) from Queenstown town centre.

Alpine Heli-Ski Queenstown© Alpine Heli-Ski Queenstown

8. Explore Stunning Areas with an Expert Guide on a Guided Hike

Get a taste of one of New Zealand’s Great Walks on a Full-Day Routeburn Track Guided Hike with Nomad Safaris. This premium hiking trail is located within a UNESCO World Heritage Area, which you’ll get to enjoy with the knowledge of a local guide teaching you about the local flora and fauna. The small-group tour includes hotel pick-up, snacks, lunch with a view and a great day out. Learn more about the guided hike with Nomad Safaris on Klook, Viator or Tripadvisor.

Location: Queenstown pick-up is provided by the operator.

Nomads Safari© Nomads Safari

9. Join a Premium Tour of Queenstown, Arrowtown and Wanaka

Leave the hassle of driving and directions behind and join a local guide for a premium tour of Queenstown’s surrounding highlights. Remarkable Scenic Tours offers small-group tours offer full-day tours to Arrowtown and Wanaka to learn about their gold-mining history, enjoy a drink at the Cardrona Hotel, stop at the most scenic photo stops of the Crown Range and Kawarau Gorge, enjoy morning tea in Cromwell, and have some free time in Wanaka. Find out more about Remarkable Scenic Tours on Viator and Tripadvisor.

Location: Queenstown pick-up is provided by the operator.

Remarkable Scenic Tours© Remarkable Scenic Tours

10. Relax in a Soothing Hot Pool with a View

Finally, for a bit of pampering between the adventures, indulge in one of the soothing hot pool experiences around Queenstown. Onsen Hot Pools Retreat offers a range of private timber hot tubs with views over the vibrant blue Shotover River. Find out more about Onsen Hot Pools Retreat and book your session on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook. Alternatively, unwind in the collection of outdoor hot pools at the five-star Millbrook Resort. Hot pools are nestled among natural features and landscaping. The resort also offers a full gym, fitness classes, tennis courts and more. See more romantic experiences like this in the 10 Romantic Activities in Queenstown for Couples.

Location: Onsen Hot Pools – Arthurs Point Road, approximately 7km (4.3 miles) from Queenstown town centre. Millbrook Resort – Malaghans Road, approximately 19km (12 miles) from Queenstown town centre.

10 Luxury Activities in Queenstown© Destination Queenstown

More About Queenstown

That’s it for the best luxury tours and experiences in Queenstown but by no means the end of the activities in Queenstown. Find more astounding things to do in Queenstown that don’t fall under the “luxury” category but are just as breathtaking in the following guides:

Finally, find even more tips to make your luxury getaway exceptional in The Luxury Travel Guide to New Zealand and plan the rest of your road trip using the South Island Luxury Itinerary: Two Weeks and South Island Luxury Itinerary: One Week.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Laura S.

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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