The adventure capital of New Zealand, Queenstown, the South Island’s magnetic mountain resort, thrives on adrenaline. Site of the first commercial bungee-jumping operation — established in 1988 over the Kawarau River — Queenstown is the place to test your courage by jumping off, flying over or skimming above things. During the winter (June through September), visitors flock to four ski areas in the surrounding Southern Alps. The rest of the year, Queenstown serves as the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park, Fiordland National Park in the west, and countless hikes, including multiday treks on the Milford, Routeburn Greenstone and Caples tracks. In March, the beginning of fall, the crowds have eased but the weather is still great for outdoor adventures. The Akarua Arrowtown Autumn Festival in nearby Arrowtown is from April 16 to 20, and the LUMA Southern Light Project, which brings light installations to Queenstown Gardens, takes place May 29 to June 1. On the shores of glacially carved Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand’s third largest lake, Queenstown offers a respite from the wild with sophisticated dining and shopping, each with a distinct Kiwi accent.
Friday
1) 4 p.m. Panoramic perches
To get a sense of the jewel-like, mountain-encircled setting of Queenstown, go vertical one of two ways. Ride the Skyline Gondola (44 New Zealand dollars, or about $28) to ascend some 1,475 feet to the top of Bob’s Peak, high enough to appreciate how the town hugs the protected bays of the lightning-bolt-shaped lake, and the wall of mountains in the distance, known as the Remarkables (recognizable to “Lord of the Rings” film fans). In true Kiwi fashion, the gondola provides extra thrills once you reach the top, including a sled luge track (from 61 dollars, including gondola), but there’s plenty of awe-inspiring scenery to freely appreciate along its mountaintop hiking trails. To save gondola fare entirely, get a similar high via the 1,640-foot climb up the Queenstown Hill Time Walk.
36 Hours in Queenstown, New Zealand
2) 7 p.m. Dinner and a show
Billing itself as a community hotel, the Sherwood Queenstown, a former Tudor-inspired motel given a hipster overhaul on a hillside just outside of the downtown area, has become a destination for locals and travelers interested in culture and sustainability. Join in by reserving a table at its restaurant, provisioned in part by its own gardens. Locavore dishes might include green salad from the garden (10 dollars), venison tartare (18 dollars) and barbecued lamb (32 dollars). On weekend evenings, there’s a good chance a concert will be going on in its intimate lounge; at the very least, there are outdoor fires around which to mingle and gaze at the starry night sky.
Saturday
3) 8 a.m. Breakfast and browsing
Rise and shine before the breakfast lines form at Bespoke Kitchen, the four-year-old cafe known for its use of organic produce. The menu reinvents breakfast by offering substantial vegan chile tofu scramble (20.50 dollars), gluten-free potato, fennel and summer greens hash with a fried egg (20 dollars), and even a spicy pulled chicken burger (23.50 dollars). Dine in the sunny, window-wrapped space or on shady patios. Afterward, stroll a few blocks to the harbor to attend the Creative Queenstown Arts and Crafts Market, which sets up every Saturday morning, offering ceramics, knitwear, photography, graphic design and more.
4) 10 a.m. Thrill ride
Any walk around Queenstown will introduce the range of adventure options on offer by outfitters here, including bungee jumping, bungee swinging, skydiving, paragliding, rafting and heli-touring. Among the most thrilling is jet boating in vessels propelled by water ejected behind boats that are designed to skim over New Zealand’s shallow rivers. The Maori-owned Shotover Jet races on the Shotover River in depths as shallow as about four inches in a 14-passenger jet boat, then enters the narrow canyons where the company has exclusive access. Boats seemingly clear the rock walls by inches, thrills that are amplified by spinning 360 degrees (159 dollars).
5) 12:30 p.m. A burger worth waiting for
Who is Ferg, the man who scowls from signage around Fergburger, the cult burger joint generating long lines at all hours? The restaurant claims that in 2001 he decreed, “Let there be burgers fir (sic) the people to eat when they are drunk to hell.” He may be fictional, but the quality of the burgers is real. Lines of fans, drunk or not, snake down Shotover Street for nearly all of the 21 hours it is open daily. Menu choices thoroughly explore the burger range, from the standard beef Fergburger (12.50 dollars) to the venison Sweet Bambi (14.40 dollars) and the Little Lamby made with New Zealand lamb (14.40 dollars). Jockey for a seat at one of the few tables after ordering, or take your lunch to the beach about a two-minute walk away.
6) 2 p.m. Onsen Zen
Escape the crowds for an hour while basking in the views from a cedar hot tub at the recently expanded Onsen Hot Pools. Nine tubs overlook a scenic bend in the Shotover River from individual rooms with retractable windows that open the spa to the outdoors, and another five reside in the gardens outdoors. Book a four-person-capacity tub by the hour (from 87.50 dollars for one, or up to 212 dollars for four), which includes a glass of beer, wine or juice and a snack. Advance booking is highly recommended; reservations often run weeks in advance.
7) 4:30 p.m. Kiwi-style shopping
Spend an hour browsing the many shops and galleries of Queenstown, filled with Kiwi brands like Swanndri, makers of the classic “Swanny,” or long woolen bush shirt, and the outdoor clothier Icebreaker, which specializes in natural fabrics. For gifts and graphics, visit Vesta Design Boutique, housed in William’s Cottage, which was built in 1864 on the lakefront and is registered as Queenstown’s oldest house. Inside, check out limited edition prints of the mountains by Nicola Tucker, prints of New Zealand native birds by Marika Jones, and vintage-inspired travel posters of the region.
8) 6 p.m. Remarkable sunsets
Pick a spot to toast sunset in Queenstown, where the Alpenglow paints the distant Remarkables mountains pink. Reds bar, at the QT Queenstown hotel, specializes in Negronis, including classic and barrel-aged selections (19 dollars). The modernist lounge features window-seat-to-ceiling windows that frame views of the aptly named range as tour boats ply the lake below. Alternatively, from the main beach in town, pop into The Bathhouse, a vintage 1911 bathhouse with a distinctive crown on the roof now converted into a popular lakefront cafe. (Bear in mind sunset in Queenstown, at 45 degrees latitude south, may come as late as 9:30 p.m. in summer.)
9) 7:30 p.m. South Island on a plate
Like those of many upscale mountain towns, the Queenstown dining scene offers strong carnivorous choices, including Botswana Butchery and Jervois Steak House. But for a sense of the terroir of southern New Zealand, book a table at Rata, named for a native tree. A backlit photo mural of a mossy rainforest in Fiordland National Park sets a tranquil tone in the open-plan dining room featuring local polished stone and warm wood, and presided over by the chef Josh Emett. Regional ingredients fill the menu, which changes daily and recently included kingfish crudo (24 dollars), grass-fed beef tartare with Canterbury truffles (24 dollars), venison loin with onion purée (48 dollars) and slow-braised lamb shoulder for two (50 dollars per person). Finish with a tableside visit from the trolley filled with New Zealand cheeses (three for 20 dollars).
10) 9 p.m. Shaken and stirred
Queenstown is a party town, from the lakefront where budget travelers flock with six-packs of beer, to classic pubs and swanky cocktail parlors, including Upstairs @ The Bunker. Above the restaurant of the same name, the lounge features vintage black-and-white photos of Hollywood stars like Audrey Hepburn, and nattily dressed bartenders shaking up craft cocktails in an intimate, fire-lit room. On the patio, drink a frothy “From Russia With Love,” with vodka and peach liqueur (19 dollars) while watching old James Bond movies screened silently on an adjacent wall.
Sunday
11) 8 a.m. Make tracks
There are hiking trails, also known as tracks in New Zealand, all around Queenstown. Driving north along the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road about 15 or 20 minutes leads to several inspiring walks, including the Moke Lake Loop Track. Under four miles, the easy trail rings a highland lake that reflects the steep and treeless mountains surrounding it. If it’s warm, stick to Lake Wakatipu and take the short Bob’s Cove Trail, which leads to the rocky lakefront within minutes. Take the plunge into the bracing water from the pier on the far side of the cove.
12) 10 a.m. Rush the gold
Go Sunday driving to Arrowtown, about 13 miles from Queenstown, where gold was originally found in 1862 in the Arrow River, sparking a short, but intense, gold rush that left behind about 70 vintage structures, many now housing shops, cafes, galleries and restaurants. The Lakes District Museum & Gallery (admission 10 dollars) tells the story of Arrowtown’s history, from its indigenous Maori roots as hunting grounds for moa (including a display of bones from the extinct bird) to the establishment of a Chinese village of miners. Stop for a local beer and a bite at The Fork and Tap, a family-friendly pub with a generous outdoor patio, or taste a few pinot noirs from the nearby Central Otago wine region at The Winery, a wine shop dispensing samples from vintners around the country.
Lodging
The lively Sherwood Queenstown has 78 motel rooms updated in industrial-meets-bohemian style with army blankets atop beds and oversize cushions made from recycled kilim rugs. The restaurant is a destination in itself, and monthly programming includes art workshops and concerts. Rooms from 180 dollars.
