Queenstown Leisure

Queenstown has just about every crazy sport and leisure option there is, and people come here mainly to be thrilled. Many extreme sports were either invented or pioneered in Queenstown and it is about the best place in the world to experience them, owing to the outstanding scenery, the relative affordability and the sheer range. The following activities are some of the more popular in Queenstown.

Bungee jumping

Invented in Queenstown, there are four bungee jumps available, from the 140-foot water-dunking original AJ Hackett jump just outside the city to the much more lofty Pipeline down Skipper’s Canyon. The closest bungee jump to Queenstown is The Ledge jump near the top station of the Skyline Gondola, while AJ Hackett’s most recent Queenstown bungee, the Nevis Highwire Bungee, is the tallest in New Zealand, at 440 feet. Bungee jump packages usually include transport, t-shirts and videos.

Hiking

Hiking trails and scenic walks branch off in all directions from Queenstown, with Time Walk and the Ben Lomond Track being two of the most popular and accessible from the city. The Time Walk takes about 2 hours and goes through an iron gateway on the Queenstown Hill track, while walkers on the Ben Lomond Track can make use of the Skyline Gondola, from where a stiff walk takes you past Bob’s Peak and on to the highest summit of the mountain at 5,730 feet. The Ben Lomond Track is a full-day walk, especially if you neglect to make use of the Skyline Gondola.

Two very famous New Zealand walks are located fairly near to Queenstown: the Routeburn track and the Milford track, with transport to and from the start and end of the respective tracks included. The Milford track is touted as the world’s finest walk and ends at the sublime Milford Sound. If your budget can stretch to flying out of Milford Sound back to Queenstown, try it; you will not be disappointed.

Jet-boat rides

Several companies offer jet-boat rides in and around Queenstown including the legendary Shotover Jet. The Shotover Jet is the only company with a permit to take people up the fabled Shotover River that runs through the towering Skipper’s Canyon. Tours run for 90 minutes and include transport to the boat from the city. Another company runs super jet-boat tours of Lake Wakatipu, right in the heart of Queenstown; while Dart River Safaris tour the upper and lower Dart River, where you can get great views of Mount Aspiring National Park. Dart River Safari packages also include some hiking.

Mountain biking

With so many accessible mountains in the Queenstown region, the options for mountain biking are excellent and several operations in the city run guided mountain bike tours with all equipment supplied. Gravity Action was the first biking company to be set up in Queenstown and they provide tours of Skipper’s Canyon. You will be transported to the start of the Skipper’s Canyon Road and be given the choice of two tracks; an easy main track or a difficult narrow, steeper trail. As ever, the views are breathtaking (if you have time to look up) and the guides are very friendly, fit and professional.

Skiing

Skiing is the top attraction in Queenstown from late June to September, when skiers and snowboarders come from all over the world to sample the slopes of the Coronet Peak; the less-crowded Remarkables; the tough slopes at Treble Cone and the easier Cardrona ski fields. Facilities are excellent and prices are fairly reasonable at all Queenstown ski resorts, unless you take a heli-skiing trip, which involves being flown to a remove location at altitude by helicopter and picked up later for the return trip to Queenstown.

White water rafting

Another extreme Queenstown adventure activity is white water rafting and the two main rivers - Shotover and Kawarau – offer great possibilities. If you are not sure, the Kawarau River is a lot less fearsome than the tough Shotover River and is better for first-timers. The following companies offer rafting on both rivers: Challenge Rafting, Queenstown Rafting and Extreme Green Rafting, the latter of which offers an Upper Shotover Scenic flight or drive option.