Jetboating on the Shotover River
Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand[5.4 miles]
Exhilarating 85km/h jetboat ride (with 360-degree spins) through the striking canyons of the Shotover River.
Best for ages: 8+ | £60 | 4-5 hours
Best places to stay:
Ignoring the faux alpine design, Hotel St. Moritz offers just about everything the outdoorsy visitor to Queenstown could want: stylish, comfortable rooms, a great location and enthusiastic staff.
The hotel is set up for skiers, with its own specialist storage facilities, and the hotel’s elevation means fantastic views of Lake Wakitipu – but it does mean a walk up the hill to the hotel from the town below.
There’s a good choice of room types – from standard guest rooms to two-bedroom apartments – and a full complement of bars and restaurants.
It’s a few minutes’ walk from the centre of Queenstown – so the ideal base for exploring everything Queenstown has to offer.
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Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand[5.4 miles]
Exhilarating 85km/h jetboat ride (with 360-degree spins) through the striking canyons of the Shotover River.
Best for ages: 8+ | £60 | 4-5 hours
Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand[19.6 miles]
The original bunjy jump, from a 43m-high bridge over the Kawarau River, plus valley swings and human catapult experiences alongside. Adrenaline rush guaranteed and spectacular scenery to boot.
Best for ages: 10+ | £100 | 4-5 hours
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand[0.4 miles]
This 1912 Edwardian twin screw steamer – the only remaining commercial passenger-carrying coal-fired steamship in the southern hemisphere – offers 1.5-hour scenic cruises on Lake Wakatipu. Passengers can view the engine room, and read onboard displays about the boat’s history, as well as soaking up the jaw-dropping scenery.
Best for ages: 4+ | £40 | 1.5 hours
Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand[6.4 miles]
Inspired by the Japanese tradition of onsen, these cedar-lined hot tubs are filled with local mountain water heated to 38.5°C. Both indoor and outdoor tubs are available for up to 4 people per tub (they have special couples ones too), and all come with views of the Shotover River. Perfect for post-adrenaline-activity recovery.
Best for ages: 8+ | £40
Arrowtown, South Island, New Zealand[17.4 miles]
This charming town showcases New Zealand’s gold-mining history – a rare taste of heritage in this modern nation. Founded in 1862, at its height it was home to over 7,000 residents (today around 3,000). Many of the original buildings have been preserved, creating a character-filled main street – that’s now home to some excellent shops and restaurants.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Destination guides including or relevant to this place to stay
South Islands, New Zealand
A primordial playground with truly spectacular scenery on the grandest scale, outdoor adventure activities galore, colourful and compelling Maori culture and terribly nice Kiwis.