Queenstown · TOURS

The 15 Best Tours & Day Trips from Queenstown

79 tours  ·  from $30

Anything with a guide, a boat, a plane or a minibus attached, in one list. The 15 here are the ones worth giving up a whole day for, with prices, durations and what you get back for the money.

Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly Tour from Queenstown - Leaving Queenstown over the Southern Alps
Cruises & Boat Tours, Milford Sound Day Trips from Queenstown, Tour Reviews, Tours

Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly Tour from Queenstown

1.Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly Tour from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,792 reviews · from $462Our pick

True South Flights takes you from Queenstown over the Southern Alps to Milford Sound, where you board a roughly two-hour cruise before flying back by another route. Expect window seats, pilot commentary, hotel pickup from selected central hotels, and pilots such as Luke, Andrew, Michael, and Tanmay.

“Amazing scenic flight and cruise with True South to Milford Sound - so impressed with the friendly and professional staff and our pilot Jason who ensured we were well informed with key commentary on the flight over to Milford Sound. The aerial view of flying over Lake Wakatipu, The Remarkables and the first glimpses of Milford Sound is a memory we will hold for a lifetime - just breathtaking! The cruise on Southern Discoveries was great with lots of information shared on the local area, history and moved at a pace that allowed us to take photos and enjoy the amazing ambience and beautiful sights. Thank you and highly recommend…”

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Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour from Queenstown - Twelve Mile Delta adds a short walk
Lord of the Rings Tours from Queenstown, Tour Reviews, Tours

Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour from Queenstown

2.Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,285 reviews · from $123

Travel from Queenstown to Glenorchy in a small group of up to 11, stopping at LOTR filming sites, Isengard, Glenorchy Wharf, Mt. Aspiring National Park, and private Arcadia Station. Guides such as Amy, Dan, Tristan, Max, and Solomon mix movie detail with local stories. Costumes and swords make great photos.

“Absolutely beautiful day and tour around the South Island from Queenstown to see so many LOTR film locations, as well as iconic vistas! The road to Glenorchy is a must and we had the best tour guide in Tom who knew so much about the mRead more”

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Queenstown Segway Tour - One hour around Queenstown Bay
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Queenstown Segway Tour

3.Queenstown Segway Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,235 reviews · from $61Best value

Learn to ride a Segway with guide Kevin, then cruise from One Mile Car Park along Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown Bay, and Queenstown Gardens. Choose a one-hour bay ride or two-hour route with extra trails, hills, scenic stops, and a brief off-Segway activity. Small groups are limited to eight.

“Saw so much in our 1 hour ride. Was taken through all the main parts of the city with little stopping. Most of the time spent sight seeing”

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Queenstown: Queenstown Lake Cruise and Walter Peak Farm Tour - Walter Peak and the rural welcome
Cruises & Boat Tours, Farms, Lake Wakatipu Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walter Peak Farm Cruises from Queenstown

Queenstown: Queenstown Lake Cruise and Walter Peak Farm Tour

4.Queenstown Lake Cruise and Walter Peak Farm Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 950 reviews · 3h 30m · from $80

Cruise from Queenstown to Walter Peak on the TSS Earnslaw steamship or Spirit of Queenstown catamaran. Your guide leads a farm visit with sheep, alpacas, cattle, working dogs, and live shearing and herding displays, followed by fresh morning or afternoon tea.

“An excellent day out for our family. The steam boat ride was relaxing and enjoyable. The kids loved looking around the boat at how it worked. The farm visit was lovely. Got to feed and interact with lots of animals. A great afternoon tea provided. My father and I are coeliac and we had separate meals provided of an excellent quality, highly recommend!”

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Queenstown ATV Quad Bike Adventure Tour - Rough trails across the 650-acre park
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Queenstown ATV Quad Bike Adventure Tour

5.Queenstown ATV Quad Bike Adventure Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 842 reviews · from $197

Meet your guide at 61A Shotover Street, then learn ATV basics before riding a private 650-acre park near Queenstown. Guides such as Stefan, Ollie, Scott, and Lloyd adjust the pace to your ability. Expect rocky trails, hill climbs, Southern Alps views, full riding gear, and complimentary photos.

“Happened to be a small group. The trials and riding were super fun. The views on the top were outstanding. Good equipment.”

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Milford Sound Coach and Cruise tour from Queenstown - Te Anau gives you a needed pause
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Milford Sound Coach and Cruise tour from Queenstown

6.Milford Sound Coach and Cruise tour from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 789 reviews · from $152

Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound by air-conditioned coach with driver commentary, photo stops, lunch, and refreshments. Cruise the full length of the fiord toward the Tasman Sea, with chances to see seals and dolphins. Guides may include Carl, Hamish, Sebastian, Brian, Graeme, or Ian.

“Amazing views the best day of our entire Queenstown Trip. Milford sound is breathtaking and the Tour was a good oportunity to See it Even if you are in Queenstown”

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Milford Sound Day Tour from Queenstown - Te Anau, the practical halfway point
Milford Sound Day Trips from Queenstown, Tour Reviews, Tours

Milford Sound Day Tour from Queenstown

7.Milford Sound Day Tour from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 678 reviews · from $160

Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound by glass-roofed coach with guides such as Adrian, Ivan, Matt, or Nick. Stop at Te Anau, Mirror Lakes, Monkey Creek, and the Chasm, then cruise beneath Mitre Peak and waterfalls. It is a scenic, full-day outing with a long road journey.

“Enjoyable all day tour to Milford Sound, tour guides Dani and Sonny were great, beautiful sights, comfortable ride”

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Boutique Wine Tour - visit Central Otago, 4 Wineries & Lunch - Bannockburn brings lunch and a different setting
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Boutique Wine Tour – visit Central Otago, 4 Wineries & Lunch

8.Boutique Wine Tour – visit Central Otago, 4 Wineries & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 673 reviews · from $173

Travel from Queenstown with a local guide such as Ben, John, or Phil to four Central Otago cellar doors. Tastings, a shared platter lunch, hotel pickup, and transport are included. Expect scenic stops, Pinot Noir, local history, and a small group of up to 12 people.

“What a wonderful experience. Our tour guide, Donna did an amazing job sharing the history of the Otago area and vineyards. She was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the wines. We had a great bunch of folks on our tour and that always adds to the event. This is a wine tasting and it absolutely lived up to my expectations. We tried at least 20 different wines. Several from our group purchased bottles to drink while in NZ, we are buying ours through the wine collective.”

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Award Winning Premium Wine Tour Queenstown Tasting at 4 Wineries - First stop: Gibbston Valley Winery and the underground cellar
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Award Winning Premium Wine Tour Queenstown Tasting at 4 Wineries

9.Award Winning Premium Wine Tour Queenstown Tasting at 4 Wineries

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 632 reviews · from $164

Spend about six hours touring Gibbston Valley in a small group of up to 14. Visit Gibbston Valley Winery, Kinross, Mt Rosa, and Ayrburn, with tastings, a cellar tour, lunch time, and a sober driver such as Do, Lee, Beth, or Allegra to guide the day.

“Fabulous tour! We loved it so much. We loved that it was a small group, comfy bus, and great wine. We bought 5 bottles. Our driver Stewart was very knowledgeable and friendly. We even got a surprise gift at the end. 100% recommend.”

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Milford Sound Day Tour with Scenic Cruise from Queenstown - Landing at Milford Sound and reaching the cruise
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Milford Sound Day Tour with Scenic Cruise from Queenstown

10.Milford Sound Day Tour with Scenic Cruise from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 570 reviews · from $464

Fly with Glenorchy Air from Queenstown in a small fixed-wing plane with a guaranteed window seat. Your pilot, such as Joseph, Annabel, Rob, or Ben, points out mountains, lakes, glaciers, and valleys before you cruise Milford Sound for at least 1 hour 45 minutes, then fly back.

“Absolutely fabulous! We all enjoyed the scenery and the staff! The views were just breathtaking! Would do it again!”

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Queenstown: Milford Sound Small-Group Tour w Cruise & Lunch - Eglinton Valley and Mirror Lakes: the first major photo stops
Cruises & Boat Tours, Lunch Experiences, Milford Sound Day Trips from Queenstown, Tour Reviews, Tours

Queenstown: Milford Sound Small-Group Tour w Cruise & Lunch

11.Milford Sound Small-Group Tour w Cruise & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 523 reviews · 11 - 13 hours · from $208

Travel by small minivan from Queenstown to Milford Sound with a live English-speaking guide, stopping at Mirror Lakes, Lake Gunn, Hollyford River, and Homer Tunnel. Enjoy lunch, snacks, and a boutique cruise with Cruise Milford or Mitre Peak Cruises. Guides such as Jeff, Martin, Lynette, and Glen are known for lively local stories.

“One of the best tours I’ve ever been on. Amanda was the best guide and driver. So much energy and passion and knowledge of all things NZ. The van was amazing, the journey was so well planned with the perfect number of stops and the scenery was unforgettable. Highly recommended!”

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Queenstown: 2-Hour Zipline Tour with 4-Lines - Four lines that build courage one run at a time
2-Hour Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours, Zip Lines

Queenstown: 2-Hour Zipline Tour with 4-Lines

12.2-Hour Zipline Tour with 4-Lines

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 462 reviews · 2 hours · from $95

Meet your guides at the Ziptrek Treehouse atop Bob’s Peak, then ride four ziplines through native forest above Queenstown. The lines grow longer, higher, and faster as you go. Guides such as Liv, Alex, Ben, and Jacob have been praised for clear safety briefings, local stories, and fun tricks.

“Our guides were Shaz and Mitch and they made the whole experience even more fun. Loved it.”

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From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise & Scenic Coach Tour - Mirror Lakes and the Eglinton Valley
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From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise & Scenic Coach Tour

13.Milford Sound Cruise & Scenic Coach Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 446 reviews · from $169

Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound in a glass-roof coach with an English-speaking driver-guide, stopping at Mirror Lakes, the Eglinton Valley, and other viewpoints. Then cruise for 1 hour 45 minutes beneath Mitre Peak and past waterfalls, seals, dolphins, and penguins. Optional audio guides are available in Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish.

“Coach journey is a long one from Queenstown but worth it. Some nice stops along the way. Unfortunately, due to a very dry spell we didn’t see the fjord in all its waterfall glory, but still spectacular.”

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From Queenstown: Lord Of The Rings Tour to Glenorchy - 12 Mile Delta adds a short walk and a real sense of place
Glenorchy Day Tours from Queenstown, Lord of the Rings Tours from Queenstown, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Queenstown: Lord Of The Rings Tour to Glenorchy

14.Lord Of The Rings Tour to Glenorchy

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 432 reviews · 4h 30m · from $124

Travel from Queenstown to Glenorchy in a small group of up to 11, stopping at 12 Mile Delta, Glenorchy, Lothlórien, Paradise, and Isengard. Guides such as Dan, Solomon, Amy, and Tristan share film trivia and local stories, with costumes, replica swords, and tea included.

“Had a great morning seeing some of the LOTR filming locations, got some great pictures too!”

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Milford Sound: Premium Small Group Tour from Queenstown - Pickup in Queenstown and the early start
Milford Sound Day Trips from Queenstown, Tour Reviews, Tours

Milford Sound: Premium Small Group Tour from Queenstown

15.Premium Small Group Tour from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 414 reviews · 13 hours - 1 day · from $226

Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound in a small Mercedes van with a local guide such as Jono, Andy, Nicole, or Ashleigh. Expect scenic stops, a packed lunch, a two-hour nature cruise, and optional glass-roof transport. The day is long, but the route is part of the show.

“Our guide Will was awesome, very informative with a few jokes thrown in as well. Kept everyone abreast of what was coming up and ensured everyone was included and had opportunity to ask questions as needed. Highly recommend.”

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