Queenstown New Zealand
Queenstown NZ is party and adventure activity central, and as an added bonus, the Queenstown skiing and snowboarding is also great! There are a few Queenstown ski resorts as well as the option of heli skiing from Queenstown.
Queenstown is located within a spectacular lakeside and alpine setting. The views are second to none, and you will never tire of looking at The Remarkables soaring above Lake Wakatipu. Photography buffs will have a field-day in Queenstown! Whilst the vistas are serene, the culture of Queenstown New Zealand is anything but tranquil. Queenstown is abuzz with festivity, and the size of the town has exploded to rapidly accommodate the increasing population of tourists. Queenstown is an adventure activity mecca, and the hype associated with this can get a little crazy.
Pros and Cons of a Queenstown Ski Holiday
Pros
- There is a choice of Queenstown ski resorts plus heli skiing opportunities.
- Queenstown is easily accessible, with an international airport only 7km from the centre of town.
- There is an abundance of Queenstown activities on offer.
- There are lots of options for quality food and nightlife in Queenstown.
- The area offers lots of eye candy.
Cons
- Queenstown is very touristy so at times it feels all a bit contrived. When you see hundreds of tourists lining up at Fergburger, and you need to book a restaurant 2 months in advance, you know things have gone a bit cray cray.
- Tourist prices are alive and well. Expect to pay more for everything in Queenstown compared to many other parts of New Zealand.
- There is lots of traffic congestion and the drive into town can be painful at times.
Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective
- The snow volumes in Queenstown are generally lower than at ski fields further north, but the weather is more stable and the ski fields are less inclined to be closed (due to uncleared road, winds, no visibility or avalanche mitigation).
- The Queenstown ski resorts are not the best in New Zealand for powder hounds, but if you’re a beginner or intermediate, you’ll enjoy the well developed amenities and ease of access to the ski fields via paved roads.
Queenstown Skiing
Queenstown ski resorts/areas include:
And a little further afield but within reach for a day-trip:
You can readily sample all of the Queenstown ski areas during your trip, but if you want to narrow down your options, check out our best
Queenstown ski resorts awards.
Heli Skiing Queenstown
If you want the ultimate powder hound experience, there are a few Queenstown heli skiing operations. You can check out our reviews of
Harris Mountains Heli Ski;
Southern Lakes Heli Skiing; and
Alpine Heliski. The helicopter ride up in the spectacular Southern Alps is amazing, and then you also get to ski or board down the virgin snow. Bliss! The helicopters can’t fly all days, so to work around the weather, give yourself a decent window of time to go heli skiing.
Travel to Queenstown NZ
Queenstown is located in the Otago region in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. Getting to Queenstown is relatively easy as it has its own international airport, and direct trans-Tasman flights to Queenstown are readily available.
It’s possible to travel around and get to the Queenstown ski fields using shuttle buses (these can be full) or private transfers, whilst many prefer to hire a car to provide more flexibility. See our
Queenstown travel page for more information.
Queenstown Accommodation
Queenstown accommodation options are prolific and range from 5-star resort hotels to a variety of Queenstown backpackers. Queenstown also has inexpensive motels, lodges, and bed and breakfasts. When you’re spoilt for choice, at least you know you’ll be able to find a place that satisfies all your needs. See the
Queenstown accommodation page for more information.
Queenstown Activities
If snowboarding and skiing in Queenstown is not enough for you, the town is also known as the “adventure capital of the world”. You’ll be overwhelmed by the choice of off-slope
Queenstown activities, and if the Queenstown snow conditions are not great at the ski resorts you will never ever be bored. Tourist pursuits include winery tours, scenic flights, or trips to
Milford Sound. However Queenstown is most famous for its adrenaline-raising activities such as bungy jumping, white water rafting, and jet boating. The only problem is that many of the adventure activities are a bit pricey, so you could blow your entire holiday budget in one day. Skiing in Queenstown seems like a relatively cheap endeavour in comparison.
The
Queenstown shopping is also fabulous, so ladies (and gents) make sure those credit cards have a healthy limit!
Queenstown Nightlife and Dining
Queenstown isn’t just abuzz during the day. Après ski drinks turn into a very vibrant nightlife that continues on well into the evening. There are hundreds of
Queenstown restaurants and bars, and with a melting pot of international tourists in Queenstown, there’s always something interesting happening.