What to do in Queenstown

The South Island city offers no shortage of hair-raising adventures — but it’s also home to a compellingly diverse dining scene and thumping nightlife

7AM

BREAKFAST AT BESPOKE KITCHEN

There’s a big day of thrills and spills ahead, so it’s important to fuel up. Nestled in the hills just outside Queenstown’s main bustle, Bespoke Kitchen serves up local favourites like gingerbread porridge and vegan pancakes using organic produce. If you’re a light eater, stop in at nearby Fergbaker for a coffee and pastry instead. The queues are worth the wait. bespokekitchen.nz fergbaker.com

8.30AM

JET INTO THE WILDERNESS

Brace yourself for an exhilarating jet-boat ride along the glacier-fed Dart River in Mount Aspiring National Park, which bristles with mountain peaks and pine forests. Māoriowned Dart River Adventures has unrivalled access to the park and mingles cultural storytelling with sightseeing along the river, where sacred green pounamu (jade) can be found. dartriver.co.nz

11AM

BROWSE THE TOWN’S GALLERIES

Explore Queenstown’s art scene around

Earl Street, including the eclectic mix of sculptures and paintings from local artists at Artbay Gallery, and the stunning landscape photography at the Romer and Cory Marshall galleries. Return at night for Lightworx’s eye-catching illuminated art installations. artbay.co.nz romer-gallery.com corymarshallgallery.com lightworxgallery.co.nz

12PM

LUNCH AT THE BEECH TREE

Queenstown’s craft beer scene has exploded over the past decade thanks to a new wave of breweries and bars slinging local beers.

The Beech Tree is all about brews and board games, with 23 taps of rotating beers backed by a robust menu of burgers and fried, salty and pickled snacks. beechtree.co.nz

2PM

BUNGY JUMP OVER THE CITY

Ride the Skyline Gondola to the top station and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Queenstown. If you can stomach it, spread your wings and leap out over the town via the freestyle Ledge Bungy that plunges 150ft into the valley. For weightlessness minus the screaming, try the iFLY indoor sky-dive experience nearby. skyline.co.nz bungy.co.nz iflynz.co.nz

4PM

WANDER THE WHARF

Back on terra firma, soak up views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain range along Queenstown Wharf Walk. Watch street buskers play, stop by at Patagonia for artisanal ice cream and chocolates, or toast the sunset from the water at Perky’s Floating Bar. patagoniachocolates.co.nz perkys.co.nz

7PM

DINNER AT TANOSHI

Take a detour through the city’s lively Laneways to Tanoshi, a cosy Japanese diner that entices with its mix of ramen, don buri and teppan dishes. Ask the staff to pair your food with sake from the extensive list. tanoshi.co.nz

10PM

PIZZA PARTY AT WINNIES

Don’t let the wholesome family pizza facade fool you. Only after dark does Winnies really let its hair down. Staying true to Queenstown’s strong après ski tradition, there’s dancing on tables and partying long into the night at this revered institution. winnies.co.nz