Queenstown on a Rainy Day
Rain Rain Go Away, Come Again Another Day... NOT!
Queenstown is the luscious scenic destination that it is due to its stunning four seasons. Overall, New Zealand receives a healthy dose of rainfall each year - it’s what makes our beautiful country at the bottom of the planet so lush and green! We like that, and we love the fact that it means you'll get to experience the majestic beauty of our nation with a vibrant pallet of colours!
While Queenstown is not the wettest place in the country (the West Coast of the South Island has that title receiving around 6 – 8 metres per year) it does receive its fair share of downfalls.
If you’re visiting Queenstown and you hit a rainy day, don’t let it stop you having some fun. Queenstown’s endless list of activities, adventures, cafes and bars all provide some excellent wet weather options.
Here are our suggestions for some rainy day activities around Queenstown.
INDOOR GAMES AND ATTRACTIONS
Site Trampolining
Bounce, Progress, Live - This is a definite entertainment destination - not just for the young and fit and already proficient jumpers, but for all the adults with inner children dying to be let loose! Super Tramps, Olympic tramps, wall features, Tramp Park, foam pit and air bag, Ski/Snowboard/Skate focused, Parkour training – AirTrack and obstacles, High level coaching / personalised approach.
Chipmunks
We know travelling with little ones can be difficult - especially when you can't pack those Lego or Thomas the Tank Engine sets. So a great way to get out and about and gain a little breathing space with your young children is a trip to Chipmunks. It's home to Queenstown’s largest indoor playground for kids. Supposedly you can 'Learn, interact and entertain, - limitless fun under one roof' - we just think its great time out for the parents!
Caddy Shack Mini Golf
If your game of golf is postponed because of the weather, head indoors for a hit at Caddy Shack Mini Golf. This indoor novelty golf course is easy to find, located just a stone’s throw from the Skyline Gondola base. Caddy Shack offers 18 holes of mini fun, complete with miniature model cities at each hole. The facility also offers a café and easy parking.
XD DARK RIDE
Billed as the world’s ‘most exciting interactive motion ride’, this all-weather activity is suitable for 5 – 75 year olds as long as you’re over 102cm. Guests travel through multiple interactive adventures or stories while surround sound and 3D graphics make the fantasy ride seem like reality. The ride involves some moderate movements back and forth and side-to-side, so it’s not suitable for those with heart or back problems, or those who are pregnant. Check out their website
ODYSSEY SENSORY MAZE
One of Queenstown’s newest additions to the indoor adventure line up is the Odyssey Sensory Maze. Challenge yourself to find your way out of the maze while being subjected to unique illusions, sound effects, scents, quirky obstacles and strange sensations along the way. The maze is recommended for those 8 years and above. Located in the centre of Queenstown, the Odyssey Maze is a fun half hour indoor adventure before or after a meal.
STRIKEBOWL
No holiday is complete without a ten pin bowling session. Queenstown’s bowling alley is located at the Swiss Belresort on the way to Coronet Peak. Expect all the fun of a bowling alley at this facility that also offers a licensed bar, a pool table and arcade games. Strikebowl is suitable for any age, expert or novice.
INDOOR FITNESS
If you’re keen to keep fit despite the wet weather, then head to the Queenstown Events Centre for plenty of wet weather fitness options.
Indoor Rock Climbing
If Queenstown’s mountain environment has given you a taste for mountain climbing then try your hand at the Rockatipu climbing wall. The 12-metre climbing wall offers 20 different climbs ranging from beginner to expert. All climbing gear is available for hire at the facility.
Swimming
Also found at the Queenstown Events Centre, Alpine Aqualand offers a full range of water activities for young and old. Indoor and heated, the facility offers a 25-metre lap pool, a leisure pool, a lazy river, a toddler’s pool and an adult hot pool. You’re sure to find something to suit your needs on a rainy day.
Queenstown Events Centre is open every day, check with the centre for times and availability for the climbing wall.
Our Local Cinemas
Two very cool options here: a) head to Reading Cinema located on Mall Street. They have multiple films a day and have the Titan XE Theater which has amazing sound and a gigantic screen and; b) grab a bus or car out to Arrowtown and spoil yourself at Dorothy Browns Cinema - this is a very small cinema designed with couches and bean bags for comfort. Enjoy the in-house bar and book store, order a chocolate or cheese platter to take into the movies and sit back and relax. One of our favourite rainy day treats!
Onsen Hot Pools
Relaxation the Natural Way! Did someone say private jacuzzi? What an incredibly cool way to spend a rainy day! Relax in a private hot tub (with private dressing rooms and bathroom facilities) looking out over the Shotover River. Great for those lazy hangover afternoons where chasing the adrenalin rush seems like a 'no go'! Take a few mates, the pools cater for up to 4 persons, and at 39.8 degrees this is a perfect way to feel like you are part of the wild Wakatipu but with added touches of luxury.
I DON’T CARE ABOUT A BIT OF RAIN I’M GOING OUT ANYWAY
If you’re not put off by a bit of rain, don’t cancel your trip to Milford Sound. If you want to see the dense, lush rainforest of Fiordland in all its glory, then a visit on a rainy day is the way to go. Milford Sound is world renowned for its stunning scenery and on a wet day, it’s even more impressive.
On a rainy day, Milford Sound is misty, ethereal and utterly captivating. Cascading waterfalls come alive as they tumble thousands of metres from the hanging valleys into the water below. Hundreds of small waterfalls spring from all over the imposing valley walls. If you ask a local, they’ll tell you Milford Sound is better on a wet day.
There’s no need to plan your visit to Queenstown around rainfall seasons, as there is not a huge fluctuation throughout the year. As a general rule, March is the wettest month (receiving around 80mm average) and July is the driest month with around 65mm of rainfall on average. A lot of this precipitation will be in the form of snow.
The best advice we can give you when it comes to wet weather is to have a backup plan. Have some spare days in your itinerary in case an activity or tour is cancelled. Make sure you’ve got some rainy day options ready to go so you won’t be stuck at a loose end if plans change because of the weather.
