What to Do in Queenstown at Night
Queenstown has a lot to do during the day – A LOT! But when the sky gets dark and all the attractions start to close, what’s next?! Well, it turns out that the fun doesn’t have to end after dark. In fact, you still have many things to do in Queenstown at night!
Queenstown’s night activities go well beyond getting stupid in the “Party Capital”. There are actually many night activities in Queenstown to really make the most of your time in the lakeside town. Whatever you decide, be sure you have somewhere to stay at the end of the night by checking out these 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Queenstown, 10 Best Hotels in Queenstown, or the big one, The 50 Best Accommodations in Queenstown.
1. Party in Queenstown
Let’s get straight to the obvious! Queenstown is dubbed as the “Party Capital” of the South Island and for good reason. Every street has a bar or club suiting all party types, whether it’s a casual drink with your travel buddies or somewhere to dance until the early hours. We’ve listed all the hotspots in our Guide to Queenstown Nightlife, as well as top bars in the 5 Best Bars in Queenstown.
Location: See the links above for locations of party hotspots.
© Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash2. Unwind in Some Hot Pools
It can be pretty tiring after a day of doing all the adrenaline and adventure activities in Queenstown. A great place to escape for the night is the Onsen Hot Pools, which are open until 11pm. Ease your body in your own private pool looking out to some stunning alpine scenery on the Shotover Canyon. Find out more about Onsen Hot Pools and book your hot tub session on Klook, Viator or Tripadvisor. Plus, see more experiences like this in the 10 Best Luxury Activities in Queenstown and the 19 Most Romantic Things to Do in Queenstown for Couples.
Location: 162 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point, approximately 13km (8 miles) from Queenstown town centre. Complimentary shuttles are available.
© Onsen Hot Pools Retreat3. Go an Evening Cruise and Farm Tour
Get an insight into the traditional Kiwi lifestyle on a tour to Walter Peak, a high country farm isolated on the other side of Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown. Board the TSS Earnslaw that has been ferrying the waters of Lake Wakatipu since 1912. At Walter Peak, you’ll be treated to a Kiwi barbecue, as well as a sheep farm show before departing back to Queenstown. Note: tour does not run during winter. Find out more about the experience on Viator, Tripadvisor, Klook and KKday.
Location: Tours depart from 88 Beach Street.
© Pxhere4. Do a Bungy Jump at Night
During the winter months, take the leap from The Ledge Bungy on Bob’s Peak. You’ll get a unique perspective of the Queenstown lights while free-falling 47m (154ft). For more bungy jump options in New Zealand, see the 7 Epic Places to Bungy Jump in New Zealand.
Location: Top of the Skyline Gondola at Bob’s Peak.
© AJ Hackett5. Night Ski at Coronet Peak
Another winter-only night activity in Queenstown, Coronet Peak hosts night ski sessions on Wednesday and Friday nights. Follow the trails lit up by floodlights and enjoy the apres-ski atmosphere in the Coronet Peak cafe. Learn more about the ski season in The Ultimate Guide to the Queenstown Ski Season.
Location: Coronet Peak Road, approximately 16km (10 miles) from Queenstown town centre. Bus transport is available to the ski fields, which you can find out more about in the link above.
© Pixabay6. Get Some Grub
Ok, so we’re not winning the idea of the century with this one, but why not go out for dinner?! Queenstown has heaps of restaurants with both Kiwi and international flavours to try. Try an oversized burger at Fergburger or Devil Burger, or how about a deep-fried Kiwifruit at Erik’s Fish & Chips? Take your takeaway to Perky’s Floating Bar on the Queenstown Wharf, which is a B-Y-O food bar. For more ideas, see our recommendations in The Food Guide to Queenstown: Places to Eat & Food Tours.
Location: Fergburger – 42 Shotover Street. Devil Burger – 5/11 Church Street. Erik’s Fish & Chips – 13 Earl Street. Perky’s Floating Bar – Queenstown Bay.
© Pexels7. Race Your Mates at Game Over
Get in a go-kart and hit the Game Over track! Game Over in Frankton teams as an evening and rainy day activity in this indoor entertainment centre. Enjoy go-karting, laser tag and heaps of arcade games. Game Over is open until 7pm. See more rainy day activities like this in the 20 Things to Do in Queenstown on a Rainy Day.
Location: 14 Red Oaks Drive, Frankton, approximately 8.5km (5 miles) from Queenstown town centre.
© NZPocketGuide.com8. Do Some Stargazing
On a clear night, the stars seen from Queenstown are astonishing. Skyline Queenstown offers stargazing tours to make use of their high-powered telescope atop the Skyline Gondola. Alternatively, hit the road away from the lights of the town and watch as the skies get clearer for stargazing. In winter, Queenstown is also often seeing displays of the Southern Lights, a.k.a. Aurora Australis. Get tips for stargazing in What to Look for When Watching the Stars in New Zealand and The Best Time to See the Milky Way in New Zealand.
Location: Skyline Gondola or outside Queenstown.
© Unsplash9. Test Your Nerve at Fear Factory
Get a different sort of adrenaline rush in Queenstown at Fear Factory. This late-night haunted house activity challenges you to make it through the hallways of horror all the way to the end. Many have chickened out. Will you? This venue is open until 11pm. Learn more about Fear Factory, read reviews and book tickets on Viator and Tripadvisor.
Location: 59 Beach Street.
© Fear Factory10. Enter the Sensory Maze
Make your way through room after room of illusions, quirky physical obstacles and challenges, lighting effects, scents, sound effects and just plain weirdness. Odyssey Sensory Maze is open until 10pm. Find out more about Odyssey Sensory Maze and check out the latest deals on Klook, Viator and Tripadvisor.
Location: 57 Shotover Street.
© Odyssey Sensory Maze11. Have a Virtual Reality Experience, Do Some Go-Karting or Play Mini Golf at Thrillzone
Step out of reality and into a virtual world at Thrillzone. With a 12D motion theatre, 360º virtual reality missions, indoor mini golf and drifting go-karts, this place is a games arcade on steroids! Open until 9pm, Thrillzone is an easy go-to for things to do in Queenstown at night. Get your Thrillzone multi-activity pass on Viator, Tripadvisor or Klook. Plus, see more experiences like this in the 10 Things to Do in Queenstown with Kids.
Location: 53 Shotover Street.
© Thrillzone12. Experience a Frozen World at an Ice Bar
Far from the usual bars in Queenstown, the Below Zero Ice Bar is a bar almost entirely made of ice, from the ice sculptures adorning the walls to the cups that you drink your cocktail or mocktail from. You’ll be geared up for the experience with a thick coat and gloves. There’s also Minus 5° Ice Bar should you want another option. The ice bars are typically open until 9pm or 10pm.
Location: Below Zero – Searle Lane. Minus 5° – 88 Beach Street.
© NZPocketGuide.com13. Indulge in a Progressive Dinner Tour
Don’t just go out for dinner. Make it a foodie experience on the Progressive Dinner Tour with Alpine Wine Tours. Start the evening with your fellow foodies trying sparkling wine, craft beer and food pairings overlooking the Shotover River. Then you’ll embark on a scenic journey to the Gibbston Valley for wine tasting and your main meal of the night. Wrap up the evening with dessert in Arrowtown by a roaring fire. The experience includes all the food and tastings. Find out more about the Progressive Dinner Tour on Viator and Tripadvisor. Plus, see more food-related experiences like this in the 13 Best Foodie Experiences in Queenstown.
Location: Tours depart from the corner of Shotover and Camp Streets, 25 Shotover Street.
© Alpine Wine Tours14. Practice Some Tricks at SITE Trampoline
An awesome alternative evening activity to try out is at the SITE Trampoline. Practice those snowboarding tricks on their huge layout of trampolines or just have some simple bouncy fun. It’s a great venue for freestyle training until 8.30pm with airbags, super tramp, trampoline park, foam pits, air track, mini ramp and more!
Location: 1/15 Red Oaks Drive, Frankton, approximately 9.5km (6 miles) from Queenstown town centre.
© SITE Trampoline15. Have a Go at Ice Skating on a Friday Night
Tie up your skates and hit the ice at the Queenstown Ice Arena. Public ice skating sessions happen most days from the morning until the early evening, while they have later sessions on Friday evenings until 7pm. You can also watch events on an evening, such as the adult league night on most Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday nights for free! There’s a bar and cafe on-site to complete the experience.
Location: 29 Park Street, Queenstown.
© PexelsMore About Queenstown at Night
That’s it for our complete list of the best things to do in Queenstown at night but is by no means a comprehensive list. Find more Queenstown experiences in the following guides:
- 10 Non-Touristy Things to Do in Queenstown
- 20 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Queenstown
- 21 Epic Adventure Activities in Queenstown
- 15 Best Walks in Queenstown
- The Best Day Trips from Queenstown
And plan the rest of your evenings using the 45 Best Things to Do in Queenstown and 13 Things to Do After Dark in New Zealand.
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:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Adventure Mark (Health and Safety Audit - Updated [2024])
- Work Safe NZ (Adventure Activities Guidelines - Updated [2024])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
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