Book This Trip
Flights to Queenstown
Queenstown Airport has direct flights from Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Book early for best prices.
Book & Save on Activities →Queenstown Accommodation
Holiday parks near Queenstown are excellent value — Queenstown TOP 10 has the best facilities.
Check Availability →Budget Breakdown
Budget is indicative. Campervan hire can reduce accommodation and food costs significantly — compare campervans.
Day-by-Day Plan
Arrive Queenstown — Luge & Lake
- Skyline Gondola and Luge — cable car up, 3+ luge runs each ($40-55/person)
- Queenstown Gardens — free playground, duck pond, lakefront walk
- Steamer Wharf for dinner — great lake views, several family-friendly options
- Buy Luge 5-run passes online — saves 15% and skips ticket queues
- The Gondola ride alone is worth it for the Remarkables view — kids love the top station
- Queenstown Gardens playground is one of NZ's best — excellent for younger kids
TSS Earnslaw & Arrowtown
- TSS Earnslaw steamship lake cruise ($62/adult, $31/child — book 10am departure)
- Walter Peak High Country Farm tour add-on ($80/adult, includes afternoon tea, well worth it)
- Afternoon: Arrowtown village (25min drive) — gold panning in the Arrow River ($8/person)
- Arrowtown Chinese Settlement — NZ's best-preserved gold rush Chinese village, free to explore
- The TSS Earnslaw + Walter Peak combo is a genuine highlight — book it
- Gold panning in the Arrow River: genuine gold flakes, kids find it every time
- Arrowtown has excellent ice cream and fudge shops — budget $20 per family member
Drive to Wanaka
- Crown Range Road — NZ's highest sealed road (summer only), extraordinary views
- Arrive Wanaka — Puzzle World (optical illusions, gravity room, amazing for kids, $24/adult, $18/child)
- Wanaka lake beach — safe swimming, kayak hire
- That Wanaka Tree — the famous lake willow, 10min walk from town
- Puzzle World is genuinely excellent for ages 5-14 — allow 2.5 hours
- Wanaka Beach is calm and safe for all ages in summer
- Glendhu Bay Motor Camp (20min from town) is the most scenic holiday park in NZ
Mt Cook Day Trip
- Lake Pukaki viewpoint — turquoise glacial lake with Mt Cook backdrop (free, stunning)
- Aoraki/Mt Cook Visitor Centre
- Hooker Valley Track — 3hr return walk to glacier lake and swing bridges
- Return to Wanaka
- Hooker Valley Track: suitable for kids 6+, well-formed track, three swing bridges, end viewpoint is extraordinary
- Lake Pukaki stop is mandatory — 20 minutes, one of NZ's most iconic views
- Leave Wanaka by 7:30am for an early arrival and the best mountain light
Last Day — Lake Wanaka & Depart
- Morning swim or kayak at Wanaka Beach
- Roy's Peak optional (serious hike, 5hr return, kids 10+ only, extraordinary views)
- Or: Rippon Vineyard lawn and lake picnic
- Drive to Queenstown for departure flight
- Glendhu Bay is a beautiful last-morning coffee stop before driving to Queenstown
- Queenstown airport is small — arrive 90min before departure
- If flying home, pack your sandfly repellent in checked baggage
Packing Tips for This Trip
- Warm layers for evenings and Mt Cook (can be 10°C colder than Queenstown)
- Swimwear for lake days — Wanaka and Lake Pukaki (cold but refreshing)
- Sunscreen — Central Otago UV is intense in summer
- Small daypack for Hooker Valley Track
- Offline maps downloaded for mountain roads
FAQ
Should we base in Queenstown or Wanaka?
Both have great holiday parks. Queenstown has more activity variety and better restaurants for a first night. Wanaka is quieter, more scenic, and better value. Splitting 2 nights in Queenstown and 3 in Wanaka is ideal.
Is Wanaka or Queenstown better for families?
Queenstown has more organised activities (luge, steamship, jet boat) that kids love. Wanaka is more about lakes, nature, and Puzzle World. Both are excellent. Older kids (8+) usually prefer Queenstown; families with younger kids often prefer Wanaka's calmer pace.
Can we do skiing on this 5-day trip?
Yes in winter (June-September). Cardrona is the best family ski field — ski school from age 3, well-organised, 45min from Wanaka. Coronet Peak near Queenstown is steeper and suits older skiers. Budget an extra $150-200/person/day for lift passes and hire.
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