Things to do in Queenstown New Zealand – 1 day itinerary

The best things to do in Queenstown New Zealand if you only have one day! Everyone will tell you to spend more than one day here, but if you’re short on time like us, it IS possible to hit all this good stuff in just 24 hours – I promise!

Where we stayed

Queenstown is located in the Otago region of New Zealand, which has a great wine vineyard scene, especially for pinot noir! More on that below, but because of this we chose to stay ON a real vineyard! You can find it on Airbnb here, but this old wine cottage gave us the rustic experience we were looking for, but with modern amenities. 

Things to do in Queenstown New Zealand: Morning Itinerary

Walk around Bob’s Cove

Start the morning off with an easy walk along the shores of Lake Wakatipu. This is an easy walk with amazing views of the beautiful blue water of the lake! We had this trail to ourselves and loved finding open spots right up next to the water. The trail took us about 30 minutes, but could be longer depending on the route you take!

Hike to the Queenstown Hill Summit

The hike that has the best views of Queenstown and the surrounding area is Queenstown Hill Summit. This hike took us 2 hours total, with time for photos along the way and at the top. It’s in alpine terrain so you’ll see lots of pine trees and rocks. Keep in mind that even though the hike is technically labeled as a hill, it was still quite challenging!

Things to do in Queenstown New Zealand: Afternoon Itinerary

Visit Arrowtown

The historic little town of Arrowtown is located right outside Queenstown proper and gives you a feel of what New Zealand was like back in the day. It’s also a perfect spot for authentic New Zealand souvenirs. Walk around the town and visit the historic sites – it’s so cute!

Grab lunch at Chop Shop

The Chop Shop is an Arrowtown hidden gem and served the best food we had on our New Zealand trip! We ordered the Nasi Goreng and Lamb Gyro and they were both AMAZING. A great spot for brunch or lunch, and a fun atmosphere!

Get a glass of wine at Amisfield Bistro & Cellar Door

On your way back into Queenstown, stop at Amisfield Bistro & Cellar Door. You could also choose to skip Arrowtown and just eat lunch here if you choose, but you’ll be looking at smaller portions with a steep price tag (but high quality food). We opted for a glass of wine on their outdoor terrace which was stunning. Highly recommend the 2016 Pinot Noir! As a bonus, you get free macarons when you’re finished 🙂

Things to do in Queenstown New Zealand: Evening Itinerary

Eat dinner at Smith’s Craft Beer House

We were planning to eat at the famous Fergburger, but there was a crazy line and nowhere to eat inside, so we walked a little further to Smith’s Craft Beer House and we’re so glad we did! We sat outside on the 2nd level balcony and ordered some amazing burgers, including the best voted burger in Queenstown!

Try craft brews at Altitude Brewing

We’re huge craft beer lovers, so we had to stop by a few local breweries! We started with Altitude Brewing and sat outside in the chairlift. I tried a cucumber sour beer and it was awesome – definitely recommend!

Try more craft brews at Searchlight Brewery

Wrap up the night at Searchlight Brewery. It has a great indoor and outdoor space and great beer! Play hammerschlagen or board games depending on the weather. Loved this spot!

This is definitely not an all-encompassing list of things to do in Queenstown New Zealand, but it’s a great way to get a taste of the area in 24 hours! Have a blast and write any other ideas below!

Related post: 4 must-visit Central Otago Wineries near Queenstown