Discovering Queenstown Series

One week of winter in Queenstown - A guide

So, after a few requests, we decided to write a series on what to do in Queenstown when you have a specific amount of time to spend here. The idea was to balance the cool activities that Queenstown offers with a touch of skiing, but really, to show you that Queenstown in winter is about so much more than the snow!  So here is our One Week of Winter in Queenstown: A Guide!

We’re going to call this series ‘Discovering Queenstown' and this first blog is about Discovering Queenstown over 1 week / 5 full days, and at more simple pace!

Okay, lets start with a week. And assuming day 1 is your arrival day, and day 7 is your departure day, then read on for what re recommend to do over the course of your week in Queenstown!

Day 1: Arrival + Settle in to your Spinnaker Bay Apartment

Head into town: pick up ski rentals, your ski pass and enjoy dinner out
Regardless of the time you arrive, heading into town in a great start to your vacation, stay or holiday. You can pick up some supplies for your apartment kitchen, grab dinner, grab ski passes and ski equipment and stretch your legs with a curiosity walk around town. The goal, to get yourself sorted and feed before your first day on the slopes tomorrow.

Day 2: Hit the slopes - The Remarks

Get up early and get going! If you are driving, then we suggest you grab a light breakfast and head up - take your time and stay focused. The road up can get challenging if you are not used to driving in high altitude mountain environments. You can drop off at the very top, and then move your car down to the parking lots and catch the shuttle back to the base building.
Enjoy a great day on the slopes!

Day 3: Morning exploring Queenstown central + Sky Line Gondola + Half day wine tour

Take time to enjoy a breakfast from the comfort of your Spinnaker Bay Apartment and then, if you want to stretch your legs, wander into town via the lakeside pathway. There are lots and lots of unique local shops in Queenstown, cafès and restaurants. An iconic thing to do is to take the gondola up to SkyLine and enjoy a coffee with the most spectacular views in the Southern hemisphere! In the afternoon, we highly recommend doing a wine tour out to Gibbston Valley - enjoy sumptuous wines and great shared platters!

Day 4: 1/2 day Ski Coronet Peak + Night Ski

Why not shake things up today? Instead of battling the hordes first thing in the morning, consider heading up for a ski after lunch and let it bleed into a night ski. We can’t guarantee your day 4 will match a night ski night (Wed and Friday), so be flexible to swap your days around!

Day 5: Day trip to: a) Glenorchy, or b) Te Anau

There is so much to see outside of Queenstown too! Why not take a day trip, either to Glenorchy or further away to the Anau. Gelnorchy is closes, about an hour commute - but one of the most scenic drives you’ll ever experience! At the other end, park and take a stroll - have coffee and grab some of those iconic insta pictures made famous in Lord of the Rings! Te Anau takes a little more organisation and we suggest hooking in with a tour company and enjoying the ride by bus - its a full day out with an early departure so prepare for that!

Day 6: Ski Cardrona + Apres drinks at Cardrona Pub

In terms of skiing, Cardona is an epic option. It’s a full day journey, and so to be on the mountain without fuss and to get parking, you’re going to need to be on the road early. Its about an hour 20 minutes door to door, but weather and traffic can extend this time considerably. You have an amazing trip over the crown range, so make sure you have your chains on board. And consider a stop at the iconic Cardrona Hotel on the way home for an après vino.

Day 7: Travel Day

If you have an afternoon flight, then you have time for a little more morning exploring. The only other local experience we’d highly recommend is a visit to Arrowtown. It’s a charming sleepy historic township founded on the gold mining rush. It takes about 30 minutes drive each way, and if you are carless, then ask at the front desk as we can direct you to the local bus stop. Visit the museum, do a little gold panning and enjoy a local brew at the Fork & Tap!

And that folks, is how we’d spend 5 clear days and two travel days in Queenstown! Enjoy and let us know if we can help you with any planning!

Alternatives

E-Bike adventure
Bike + wine tour
Queenstown markets on Saturdays

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