Where to Find the Best Views in Queenstown

Step aboard the Skyline Queenstown and ride up 1,312 feet (400 meters) to the summit of Bob’s Peak, where you can gaze out over Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, and the Remarkables mountain range.

The glistening waters of Lake Wakatipu and the adjoining rivers offer another perspective on Queenstown’s mountainous surrounds. Sightseeing cruises come in many different forms, from relaxed steamship excursions to thrill-a-minute jet boat rides.

Hop into a chopper for a high-flying adventure. Helicopter tour options include flights to Milford Sound, where travelers pass over Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Helicopter tours also fly to the Southern Alps, where it’s possible to land on the icy expanse of the Jura Glacier.

In the winter, the views from Coronet Peak ski field are often obscured by cloud, but on clear summer days, the panoramas wow with mountain peaks rising in every direction. Between September and April, you can hang glide from the ski field, enjoying bird’s-eye views of the surrounds as you soar through the air.

The 1,640-foot (500-meter) climb up Queenstown Hill is strenuous, though the rewards—views of Cecil Peak, Lake Wakatipu, and the Kawarau River—make it worthwhile. Thrill-hungry travelers can opt for all-terrain vehicle tours, steering their way to the summit.