Queenstown Walking Tour
A relaxed self-guided walk around central Queenstown
Queenstown is incredibly easy to explore on foot. The town centre, waterfront and Queenstown Gardens are all close together, so you can see plenty without a car or a strict plan.
Start wherever you happen to be along the waterfront, give yourself an hour or two and have a wander.
- Free
- 1–2 hours
- Easy walking
- Central Queenstown
Start at the pier
The pier is the obvious place to begin. Queenstown sits right on the edge of Lake Wakatipu, which runs the length of the town, with mountain views in pretty much every direction you look.
While you’re there, see if you can spot one of the lake’s longfin eels. They can grow to more than a metre long and live for over 80 years.
Wander through Queenstown Gardens
At one end of the waterfront you’ll find Queenstown Gardens. It’s only a few minutes from the centre of town, but it quickly feels much quieter.
Wander through the trees and along the edge of the lake for views back towards Queenstown and across the water to Kelvin Heights. There’s no set route, so explore in whichever direction takes your fancy before making your way back towards town.
Stroll back to town along the beach
As you head back towards Queenstown, wander along the beach and enjoy the waterfront views. Have a look at the art galleries along the way, then stop by the Queenstown War Memorial and Williams Cottage, one of the oldest surviving wooden houses in Queenstown.
Wander around Steamer Wharf
Keep following the waterfront and you’ll come to Steamer Wharf, one of the main spots for eating and drinking by the lake.
It’s also where you’ll see the historic TSS Earnslaw coming and going across Lake Wakatipu. Even if you’re not stopping, it’s worth a wander for the views.
And then... just keep exploring
That’s really the nice thing about walking around Queenstown: everything is close together.
Have a look at the old Queenstown Fire Station on Shotover Street, then head uphill towards the Skyline Gondola. On the way, take some time to explore the old Queenstown Cemetery, which sits just below the gondola.
Want a more in-depth way to explore Queenstown?
There’s much more hiding around central Queenstown than you’ll notice on a quick wander: local history, unusual details and things most people walk straight past.
That’s where UrbanFox comes in. Follow a 3.6km route through central Queenstown, solving clues and challenges as you go.
Think of it as a self-guided walking tour — with puzzles built in.
- 14 clues
- 1–2 hours
- 3.6km
- Play from your phone
Looking for more local ideas? Browse the Things to Do in Queenstown guide or see all Queenstown guides.