Free Things to Do With Kids in Queenstown

Lake Wakatipu is the heart of Queenstown, and the lakefront is completely free to enjoy. We let the kids skim stones at the Queenstown Bay beach, feed the (very bold) ducks, and watch the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship come and go. The grassy lakeside reserve is perfect for a picnic with one of the best mountain backdrops in the world.

A short drive away, the beach at Kelvin Heights and the quieter shores at Frankton are great for a paddle on a warm day. The water is glacier-fed so it's bracing even in summer, but our kids never seem to mind — they're straight in regardless.

The Queenstown Gardens peninsula is one of our favourite free family spots anywhere in New Zealand. There's a free disc-golf course (bring or borrow a frisbee), a great playground, an ice-skating rink in winter, towering sequoia trees, and a flat loop walk that's easy with a pram. You can easily spend a whole afternoon here for nothing.

It juts out into Lake Wakatipu, so wherever you wander you've got jaw-dropping views of the Remarkables mountain range across the water. We usually bring a picnic, let the kids tire themselves out on the playground, then do a slow lap of the peninsula while they spot ducks and the steamship chugging past. In autumn the trees turn brilliant gold, making it one of the most photogenic free spots in the country.

You don't need the gondola to get a view in Queenstown. The walk up to the Tiki Trail (the same hill the gondola climbs) is free and rewards you with the same panorama if the kids are up for the climb. For an easier option, the Frankton Track hugs the lake edge and is flat, scenic and stroller-friendly.

Just out of town, the short walk to the Lower Shotover River or a wander around historic Arrowtown's free riverside trails make for a lovely, cheap day out.

If you do want to spend a little, a few Queenstown classics are great value. Gold panning in the Arrowtown river is free if you bring a pan, and many kids' favourite — watching the bungy jumpers at the Kawarau Bridge — costs nothing to spectate. The Queenstown Trail network is brilliant if you've brought or hired bikes.

Queenstown doesn't have to break the bank. Here's how a free family day adds up. The biggest savings come from skipping the paid adventure activities and leaning into the lake, gardens and walking trails — which honestly are the most memorable parts anyway.