View all destinations

Queenstown

Queenstown

Queenstown Tours

Welcome to Queenstown, where natural beauty and an adventurous spirit go hand in hand! Set on the edge of Lake Wakatipu with the steep mountain range of The Remarkables rising behind, this South Island beauty is justifiably world-famous. Whether you’re here on an adventure, haka plus or snow tour with us, Queenstown’s magical mix of gorgeous views, laidback vibes, great food, fun outdoor activities, and a can-do attitude is sure to be a South Island tour highlight.

A Hub of All Things Adventure

Queenstown’s abundance of adrenalin-laden activities is mind-boggling. The epic landscape inspires that spirit of grand adventure that has you jumping off a bridge tied only to a giant rubber band (in fact, nearby Kawarau Bridge is where commercial bungy jumping was invented!), or hurtling through a canyon in a jet-powered vessel, or leaping from a plane strapped (securely) to a stranger – it really is the best place to get some big items crossed off your bucket list. If more gentle adventure is your thing, not to worry, Queenstown can deliver on that too, with plenty of hikes, wine trails, 4WD tours and scenic cruises on offer. On your Queenstown holiday, package together your own combination of activities from our diverse activity selection to personalise your experience. Haka tours which feature Queenstown tour packages include all our South Island tours.

Winter in Queenstown

The energy that normally pulses through Queenstown goes into hyperdrive during winter – no surprise, really, considering that the town is surrounded by the Southern Hemisphere’s most famed ski areas! The Remarkables, Coronet Peak, Treble Cone and Cardrona cater to all levels of skiers and snowboarders. Powder hounds converge on Queenstown for the ski season that starts in the latter half of June and ends in September (sometimes October). During this time Haka Tours offers various Queenstown snow packages to get you shredding the slopes.

Famous Burgers, Fine Wining & Après-ski

Given that it’s one of the great alpine regions of the world, Queenstown definitely takes its après ski responsibilities seriously. Ice bars, lakeside pubs, fine dining restaurants, cocktail lounges, craft beer courtyards with outdoor fires, pumping clubs, relaxed pizza joints, and cosy wine bars featuring the world’s best pinot noir – it’s all here to explore, taste and enjoy. Of course, there are some stand outs, including that world famous burger bar open 21 hours a day (that’s not a typo) with legendary queues for their legendary burgers.

Lake Wakatipu

Queenstown is set on the banks of the lightning-bolt shaped Lake Wakatipu which is bordered on all sides by towering mountains. The lake’s unparalleled 360° awe-inspiring views have been used as backdrops for many small and big screen productions (including the Lord of the Rings trilogy) and is part of what makes Queenstown so special. Lake Wakatipu is often referred to as ‘the breathing lake’ due to a particular phenomenon where every 25 minutes or so the water level in Queenstown Bay raises or lowers by 20cm! This quirk is due to a ‘standing wave’, also called a ‘seiche’, which is caused by fluctuating atmospheric pressures. Māori legend states that the heart of a defeated monster lies at the bottom of the lake, and that accounts for the ‘breathing’. Whatever the reason, one of the more serene ways to appreciate the beauty of Queenstown is to hop on board one of the region’s oldest tourist attractions: the ‘Lady of the Lake’, the 100-year-old steamer TSS Earnslaw for a cruise.

Five Fun, Cheap-ish Things to Do in Queenstown

  1. Hike up the Tiki Trail to Bob’s Peak which overlooks Queenstown (part of the the Ben Lomond mountain), or take a ride up the Southern Hemisphere’s steepest gondola. Once at the top, take your fill of views and photo opportunities, then race down the hill in a plastic sled with wheels attached on one of the two luge tracks. It’s world-class fun for two or more people.
  2. The Queenstown Gardens jut out into Lake Wakatipu and provide fantastic views of the town and the mountains. The Gardens are also home to a Disc (frisbee) golf course! Disc golf has similar rules to regular golf but here frisbees are thrown at 18 targets = hours of cheap fun for all! Your Haka guide will know where to get maps and scorecards, and you can even hire frisbees.

continued...

  1. Actually, any of the network of hikes and walking tracks will provide you with incredible views!
  2. Get to know the Māori history of the area and see the underwater inhabitants of Lake Wakatipu including huge brown and rainbow trout, New Zealand long-finned eels, and even some diving ducks at the underwater observatory on the main pier.
  3. On Saturdays, you can browse and sample the wares of local farmers and artisans near the docks.

haka lodge queenstown

Stay at our Haka Lodge in Queenstown which is just a short walk from Lake Wakatipu and the famous Fergburger! As well as free and unlimited Wi-Fi (upload all your Queenstown images to Instagram), the hostel features multiple well equipped kitchens, numerous bathrooms, cosy lounges, outdoor chill-out areas, and more!

Tours including Queenstown

12Days
Created with Sketch.
Haka Plus

Southern Explorer

Price from
NZD

Visit Queenstown, Wanaka, glaciers & rainforests then see more of the South Island on the world famous TranzAlpine rail journey.

View tour
20Days
Created with Sketch.
Haka Plus

New Zealand Uncovered

Price from
NZD

Uncover all the beauty, adventure, culture and fun activities of New Zealand and tick practically everything off your bucket list.

View tour
8Days
Created with Sketch.
Winter

South Island Snow Safari

Price from
NZD

All abilities are welcome on our one-week snow tour that takes you to the top ski & snowboard locations on six mountains.

View tour
20Days
Created with Sketch.
Adventure

Legendary NZ Tour

Price from
NZD

Our Legendary Tour lives up to its name, with stupendous scenery, bucket loads of adventure and eye-opening cultural experiences.

View tour
16Days
Created with Sketch.
Adventure

Amplified NZ Tour

Price from
NZD

Discover the best of the North and South Island. Tours run from Auckland to Christchurch, or Christchurch to Auckland.

View tour
13Days
Created with Sketch.
Adventure

Backyard Beauties Tour

Price from
NZD

Starting and ending in Wellington, you'll explore the best of New Zealand as we travel though these Southern highlights including the West Coast & Queenstown’s adventure playground.

View tour
7Days
Created with Sketch.
Adventure

South Island Lick Tour

Price from
NZD

A week with wow factor! Tick off iconic South Island destinations with unbeatable scenery and a large dose of adventure.

View tour
10Days
Created with Sketch.
Haka Plus

Southern Pioneer

Price from
NZD

Take in significant Southern highlights & must-do activities: mountains, lakes, glaciers, pristine rainforest & the world famous TranzAlpine rail journey.

View tour

DISCOVER QUEENSTOWN

Want to be featured here? Simply tag your Insta pics with #hakatours or upload your pictures here.

Haka Winter Sale
Save up to 20%
T&Cs apply