The Skyline Gondola offers a quick way to reach Bob's peak where along the way up, you'll see…read morestunning panoramic views of the town and lake below. Once at the top, everything is clearly signposted, with access to the Ben Lomond Track trailhead as well as the luge. We opted for the 3 luge ride package, which was the minimum number of rides that you have to do. The process is well organized, with separate lines for first-timers and returning riders. On our first run, we received a quick safety briefing and after that, we were off! There were two tracks you can choose from for the ride down. Overall, it was a really fun experience, and we had a great time!

The skyline gondola and luge at Queenstown was a great experience. The gondola is the steepest…read moregondola I've ever seen and gives beautiful views of the lake at city below. They do a gondola and 3+ luge pass that was so much fun. One thing I'll caveat though is the clientele and safety is much more reckless and lax than the Rotorua location. There were a few times when customers stopped completely on the track or rear-ended other customers, which was really concerning. My mother-in-law got rear ended pretty hard at the finish by a reckless customer, which was really scary. There's only 2 tracks currently open and you can get some air on the dart track. They're doing a lot of construction on the tracks, so hopefully they add more tracks soon. If I were to do the luge again, I'd do the Rotorua location since the tracks are longer and more scenic and seems safer.

I had my chest puffed up when I booked the swing and zip-line. I was brave enough to flip and do…read moredaring stunts- no big deal. What I found out, is that with age I have become more of a giant baby! You really don't realize how high up you are until you're strapped in! The Fox is higher than the swing, I was setup to run and jump (because suddenly the flip seemed to wild for me). I sadly wimped out and did the seated start. Had I bought one more go around, I would've jumped. It was a freaking BLAST though! There is nothing like it! Such an adrenaline rush! Is signed my husband up without asking him and he loved it! The Canyon Swing is another beast. What was I thinking!? I knew I would regret it if I didn't do it, but when it was my turn and I was a solo swinger (unlike the others), everything changed so suddenly. I couldn't even commit to the handstand. Luckily, I was told that taking 9 minutes to jump wasn't the worst, but it also wasn't brag-worthy. Hey! I did it, and wasn't pushed. That's brag-worthy! Haha! It reminded me of bungee jumping all over again- awful! On the fall I just remember tensing up, ad holding my breath preparing for the splat. The human body isn't supposed to enjoy this! Once the slack caught me, I could breathe and realized how exhilarating (in a bad way hah) it was. Not sure if I would do it again...well maybe with a friend. Utterly terrifying and exciting at the same time. I immediately had a large beer afterwards to calm my nerves and adrenaline. Only thing I don't like is that they don't have video of the Fox. I wore my GoPro but it's been having issues and of course didn't record it. I totally would've paid for a video of that like I did my swing. I do like how they had great places for observers to watch so they could see (and hear) you. My husband enjoyed making fun of my stiff jump. One tip- once you are at the bottom of the swing- don't forget to take in the stunning beauty of the Shotover River and Canyon. So peaceful, too (after all of that screaming).

What a fantastic experience! My wife and I did this combined with the Shotover Jet boat on our…read morefirst full day in Queenstown. We got picked up downtown just before noon and were back about 3:30pm. The swing was awesome and the boat was terrifying! Book it! Buy the pictures! Talk about it for years!

There is only so much beer and meat pies one can devour…read more.. So check out this charming Gardens. Really pretty area to just hang. Cool unique indigenous plants, trees, etc... They even have a redwood type of tree....thought that was only in Calif.

Queenstown Gardens is a must visit. You probably can't miss it if you're staying in a hotel along…read moreFrankton Road. There's also a very well kept walking/bike trail along Lake Wakatipu if you walk down from the main road, which does take you all the way to the gardens. You might feel like you're just by yourself, but no worries! You'll find a decent amount of people exercising--even in the rain. The botanic gardens is free to go in. Everything is well maintained, and very family friendly and wheelchair accessible. Pathways are wide. There are many beautiful, tall tress, and flowers. Love the fact you can enjoy the greenery while also enjoying the lake. Overall, it's definitely a must visit. You can easily walk through here to get to the Queenstown Mall, and other activities in that area.

Zip trek ecotours did an excellent job helping us zip line down the mountain in Queenstown…read more Initially, I was very scared as I have never zip lined in my life and harbor a fear of heights. However, I truly had nothing to fear as the adrenaline and awesomeness of zip lining down a mountain quickly overwhelms your senses. Zip lining is fairly safe as the guides equip you with a helmet and harness. One guide zips to the bottom of the run to make sure they are ready to brake you when you reach the bottom. The guides check your harness and straps before sending you down the stairs. And yes, you do initiate the zipping by walking yourself off the steps to no where. The guide also shows you some neat tricks for the more adventurous, such as zipping backwards or upside down. I wasn't quite brave enough to try the upside down trick but the group seemed to have lot of fun doing it. Ziptrek also gives you tidbits of information on increasing conservation efforts of natural resources in between each zip line. Although nothing truly new is learned, it's admirable that the company is trying to be ecologically sound with their business. The six line tour is the best, since your last line is the steepest zip line in the world. You do take a small hike down the mountain inbetween the 5th and 6th lines. This can be a bit hard on your knees. There are also no railings so if you are the cautious type, move to the back of the group. A truly fun and awesome experience that made me realize I am no longer scared of heights. Take a chance and try this sport. You won't regret it!

Well HELLO QUEENSTOWN! Definitely a pretty amazing introduction to this quaint little ski town!…read more The second my friend and I got off the plane, we taxied over to Queenstown and went straight for an information desk (I would review the bitch of a lady at the desk but this isn't the right yelp page for that). We signed up for Zip trek zip linning immediately, but seriously, immediately, we signed up for the 11am trek (4 zips, as opposed to 6) and it was 10:30! Up the gondola (which costs $30- you can get discounted rates if you buy luge tickets too) and to the left in the dense trees (down a little hill, we got lost ha ha) there you'll find the check in for Ziplining! We were harnessed and placed in a group of 5 other people and then we were off! We had two guides taking care of everything, they tightened our harnesses, latched us on the ropes and told us exactly what to do when we were ready to ZIP! I have never been zip lining before in my life... And if you're the type to get a stomach knot when riding a Rollercoaster or a water flume at an amusement park like me, be warned, you'll experience that knot the first 2 or 3 zips! Oh and if you're scared of heights, yaaaaaa just don't go to Queenstown since the biggest tourist attractions in this town are sky diving, bungee jumping, paragliding and ziplining! While I experienced some stomach knots and can remember myself thinking WTF AM I DOING during the first zip, my fears subsided a little bit as we carried on. At each tree house the guides would talk to us a bit about sustainability (you've been warned, if you don't like that kind of stuff) and at the last tree house, we were told that some of our admission $ would be donated to a charity. Zipping through the trees and donating to charity? Can't say that's a bad thing!!! When we were done with our 4 zips, we had to hike back up, not a terrible hike but if you're not In shape.... You may wish that Ziptrek offered mules to ride up on! Whether you do the 4 or 6 zips, you'll get stunning views of Queenstown, a little history, a little sustainability information and loads of funny memories.... They take your picture at some lines and let's just say, my first picture involved a SPREAD EAGLE.... The guides will probably keep that photo and post it on the wall of embarrassing fame, if they have one.... Ha Ha Ha, but I could care less! ;)

I figured that while I'm in Queenstown I might as well do something adventurous. Honestly I saw…read morethat they give you a free shirt when you complete the jump here so I booked for the next day. Since it's my first time I went with the smaller jump at the Kawarau Bridge. First you check in at the front desk and they you go to the next counter where they weigh you. They write your weight and bungee number for the camera on your hands and then you just wait for the bus. The bus ride to the site was about half an hour and then you can basically take as much time as you need to prepare yourself for the jump. They hand you a slip of paper with your info on it that you would hand over to the people at the jump site where they coordinate you with your photos. The jump itself basically feels like going down on a roller coaster, except you're not seated. You bounce upside down a couple times and there's a team waiting on a raft at the bottom that will help you get untied. For me the worst part was actually the walk up the stairs because that was way more exhausting going up the entire hill. Once you come back up you can view your photos on the screens and pick up your free shirt. I believe the buses come by every 45 minutes so really if you do the jump pretty quickly after getting dropped off you'll be able to make it to the next bus. All the workers there were great and really helped to calm my nerves. They reassured me every step of the way and double and triple checked everything before sending me off the bridge. For anyone who is a first timer I highly recommend AJ Hackett Bungy. The scenery at the bridge was gorgeous as well so it was a great first bungy experience and next time maybe I'll do the Nevis.

This is where the batshit idea of jumping off a bridge with ropes attached to you started! ( Okay…read moreanthropologists yes I realize it has been done in ancient cultures). Super Safe way to get your crazy on. You can have them adjust the tension so you can touch the water or not...I did not. Pro Tip: It is way easier if you swan dive out rather than drop off...less stress on your body and eyes. Cmon you know you should do it

Must visit for us…read more Traveled North and South Island and never spotted a Kiwi Could not pass this up Remember that our ticket was part of a package w Tram and restaurant Also Remember that Fee includes conservation Solid 4 stars

We loved the kiwi encounter experience. The speaker seemed truly knowledgeable about the kiwis that…read morelive there and was able to provide visitors with interesting insights that go beyond things you can just google. We asked about their conservation and breeding programs and how they are actually involved in the entire process of helping these kiwis. We were able to ask questions and follow up questions since our kids are very curious and knowledgeable about animals. The guy at the front for conservation talk really sucked though. He gave a talk about various native animals that sounded very amateurish and ad hoc. We don't have a problem that he's not good at speaking but it felt like a waste of time gathering people on a stage and sucked like that while we sat in the wet and cold wintery wind of NZ weather. We were not impressed, what saved the show was they brought out some animals that we were able to see up close. There were also kids playing sport to our right and constructions going on in our left. The set up was very noisy. They could totally improve the set up. Didn't feel all that naturey. We also enjoyed seeing some native birds on the premise. The gift shop was nice and reasonably priced.

My husband and went to Queenstown especially for the adventure sports and as a base for seeing the…read moreglaciers. We decided on the 'Triple Challenge' as neither of us were brave enough for the 'Awesome Foursome' which includes a bungey jump! The Triple Challenge consists of a ride on the Shotover Jet, followed by a Helicopter Ride onto some White Water Rafting. We met at the base in Queenstown for a quick briefing then went straight to the Shotover Jet where we had the most exhilerating fast paced ride of our lives! The ride lasts about half an hour and you are with a small group of people in the jetboat (around 8 plus the driver) Straight after the jetboat you are whisked off for your 'heli rafting' experience. You go the rafting lodge where you meet the guides you will be rafting with are given full wetsuits to change into, there are changing rooms to use for this. Some people will transfer by minibus but if like us you booked the Triple Challenge you will then be taken to the helipad for your amazing ride down to Skippers Canyon , it doesnt take long but is an experience that will stay with you forever. Before you embark on your rafting you are given safety instruction from the guide and basic maneouvre information and technique. You then set off in your raft and group of people there were 6 of us plus the guide and you raft for around 2 hours. This is an amazing experience, exciting, scary, fun and wet! Do expect to get wet, its great fun, not by falling in though i hasten to add, though it can happen. Just riding those rapids with the raft hurtling over them gets the water shooting over you and down your wetsuitbrrrr its icy cold even in summer! Part of the rafting went through a tunnel where my husband was asked to guide the raft laying on his back using his feet on the walls, he loved doing that! Great fun and experience. Once you have reached the end of the rafting experience you go back to the lodge for a hot showe, refreshments and a bit to eat which is all included in the cost. The guides are superb , the experience amazing, if you only do one thing in New Zealanddo this!

This organisation is excellent. I did the Milford Track hike (tramp) with them recently and found…read moretheir service and guidance to be outstanding. As a person new to NZ tramping, I was reliant on them to help me prepare then experience the walk. At every stage, they provided helpful and sensible advice. The booking and preparation information was good, with useful checklists and background. The pre-tour briefing was great - presented by an obviously well experienced tramper, with access to a pack, raincoat and walking poles to borrow or hire if required. During the tramp itself the Guides were marvellous - approachable, friendly, helpful and sensible - without judgement - which for me, as a novice multi-day tramper, was very important to my level of comfort and my experience. I admit to some apprehension prior to the walk, being unsure that I had prepared well enough, but the guides put me at ease often. The Lodges are all good, with clean facilities, secure accommodation and nice food. I can't fault the way Ultimate Hikes present themselves and provide their services, everything was great. I wouldn't hesitate to go on another of their hikes. Thanks to everyone involved.

My wife and I planned our entire honeymoon around our time on the Milford Track with Ultimate…read moreHikes. It's a bit of a family tradition (my grandparents and uncle all did the Track on their respective honeymoons). Ultimate Hikes did NOT disappoint. It was everything it was cracked up to be and more! The beauty of the hike aside (because of course it was amazing), the staff in Queenstown, the staff at the huts, and our guides were all phenomenal. Everyone on the trip felt comfortable going at their speed, and the guides were all knowledgeable.

Stu was a great host! He showed us the lake, educated us and we caught our limit of fish! This was…read morea great day, I would highly recommend a day with Stu!

From the owner: Stu Dever has operated guided fishing trips on Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown for over 20 years. Stu…read morecan show you the best spots to catch the local fish, using years of specialist knowledge. Stu is a Salmon fishing specialist and is the longest serving fishing guide on Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown. You can be sure of one of the best fishing experiences in Queenstown on our modern 34 foot launch and our fishing trips operate year round. On Lake Wakatipu we fish for Chinook Salmon, Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout and we provide you with all the equipment provided and prices include fishing licenses. We can cater for individuals, groups and children and prices start from $120 per adult for 2 hours. Give us a call today to ensure the best fishing experience Queenstown has to offer. Our boat departs from the Water Taxi Jetty on Beach Street in the centre of Queenstown, alongside Earnslaw Park within walking distance of all the central accommodation. We provide free shuttles from all the main accommodation within Queenstown. Call us on +64 (0)27 433 3052 or visit us at www.fishing-queenstown.co.nz to make an enquiry. Note : Our boat departs from the Water Taxi Jetty beside Beach Street in the centre of town at the piers, not at the registered business address.

This was one of the most fun things I've done. The premise is that you're in this boat with a big…read moreengine. The driver speeds along the river and does spins at full speed. Everyone gets wet and a good time is had by all.

We did the Dart River Wilderness Jet trip this morning and had an excellent experience! This is…read morewell worth the money! We did the 9:00am tour and enjoyed the 3 hour trip, which included a 4WD bus ride, pleasant nature walk, and most importantly, a jet boat journey up the Dart River with amazing views! The mountains, waterfalls, trees, and waters all made for incredible sights along our boat ride. Our boat driver, Ethan, shared useful information about the area and took us on a fun and memorable tour. And the boat is unique in that it can operate in 4 inch water depth - very cool! This is a fantastic trip that came recommended to us by a local - we are so glad we did it! Skip anything on the lake right near Queenstown and do this instead for a more unique experience and spectacular views.