Where to Find the Best Views in Queenstown
Set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and overlooking jagged mountain peaks, Queenstown, New Zealand, is one of those rare places where the real-life scenery is even more magical than the postcards. From high-flying adventures to mountaintop lookouts and lake cruises, here’s where you'll find the most spellbinding views in Queenstown.
Skyline Queenstown
Enjoy "Remarkable" views.
Step aboard the Skyline Queenstown and ride up 1,312 feet (400 meters) to the summit of Bob’s Peak, where you can gaze out over Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, and the Remarkables mountain range.
Sightseeing cruises
Get a new perspective on Queenstown.
The glistening waters of Lake Wakatipu and the adjoining rivers offer another perspective on Queenstown’s mountainous surrounds. Sightseeing cruises come in many different forms, from relaxed steamship excursions to thrill-a-minute jet boat rides.
Helicopter tours
You can't beat a bird's-eye view.
Hop into a chopper for a high-flying adventure. Helicopter tour options include flights to Milford Sound, where travelers pass over Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Helicopter tours also fly to the Southern Alps, where it’s possible to land on the icy expanse of the Jura Glacier.
Coronet Peak
Sunny summer vistas.
In the winter, the views from Coronet Peak ski field are often obscured by cloud, but on clear summer days, the panoramas wow with mountain peaks rising in every direction. Between September and April, you can hang glide from the ski field, enjoying bird’s-eye views of the surrounds as you soar through the air.
Queenstown Hill
Views plus action-packed adventure.
The 1,640-foot (500-meter) climb up Queenstown Hill is strenuous, though the rewards—views of Cecil Peak, Lake Wakatipu, and the Kawarau River—make it worthwhile. Thrill-hungry travelers can opt for all-terrain vehicle tours, steering their way to the summit.
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Mandy Hegarty is a writer who specializes in food and travel. Currently based in Dublin, Ireland, she’s previously lived in New York, London, and Montreal. She has written for the likes of Time Out New York, Air Canada, and Singapore Airlines.