Activities
Make the most of your visit to New Zealand - there's a huge variety of activities available for all appetites. Extend your stay and have the experience of your life! On this page we'll list some ideas that we think will appeal to workshop attendees. You can find even more on our page all about your host city of Queenstown.
Road trips are a great way to explore New Zealand. Fly in to Christchurch, hire a car, and take your time. The driving is easy, the scenery is stunning, and there's plenty to see - even special geology tours and sites like these.
Aotearoa New Zealand has 13 national parks, spanning 30,000 square kilometres of untouched wilderness – roughly, the size of Belgium. These parks protect some of our most spectacular landscapes, ranging from alpine, volcanic, and coastal regions to forests and wetlands.
Several of these parks are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, internationally recognised for their outstanding natural beauty. The largest heritage area covers a 450 km tract of the South Island's southwest coast, encompassing Westland Tai Poutini, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Mount Aspiring and Fiordland national parks - and these last two are very accessible from Queenstown.
The heart of the award-winning Central Otago wine region, Queenstown is internationally renowned for its picture-perfect vineyards boasting full-bodied pinot noir and aromatic whites. The gateway to over two hundred wineries, Queenstown is the perfect place to taste the terroir of the South Island’s schist soils, river gravels and long hot summers.
For those who prefer to take in Queenstown by the pint, our spectacular collection of wineries are joined by a vibrant craft beer scene, putting local ingredients to good use.
Wineries & Breweries in Queenstown | Official Website
If you're looking for a special experience, consider a trip to Amisfield. This winery and restaurant is located amid lush vineyards just a short drive from Queenstown. Ranked third-best restaurant in the world in the Food & Wine magazine’s Global Tastemakers Awards, this is an incredible fine dining experience.
Image courtesy Amisfield Restaurant
The Arc'teryx Routeburn Classic is an iconic ‘adventure run’ along New Zealand’s renowned Routeburn Track. This exclusive event, limited to 400 athletes, takes place annually in April.
Spanning 32 kilometres and reaching an impressive elevation of 1302 metres, it highlights the breathtaking beauty within a designated World Heritage Area in Fiordland National Park.
With diverse terrains ranging from lush native bush to exposed alpine environments, athletes face demanding uphill climbs and challenging technical descents. The track’s rugged and intricate nature adds to the event’s appeal.
The Arc'teryx Routeburn Classic offers an unparalleled adventure, showcasing New Zealand’s stunning landscapes and pushing participants to their limits with a captivating blend of endurance, technical skill, and natural beauty.
Find out more at https://www.routeburnclassic.co.nz/
Starting at the Clyde Dam (one of our great field trips!) experience the original Great Ride that offers some of the best cycling in New Zealand.
Relax in the solitude with the big open skies with amazing scenery that is steeped in our local history. Explore your Solar System as you travel past each planet on the only Interplanetary Cycle Trail in the World!
Enjoy the friendly local country hospitality at the various pubs, cafes, wineries, restaurants and accommodation providers along the way. Visit the art galleries and the other small local shops where the owners always have time for a chat.
152 kilometres of easy gradient trail on New Zealand's most famous Cycle Trail awaits. The off trail activities where cameras are a must offer another opportunity to experience the special place that we call home.
Find out more here: https://www.otagocentralrailtrail.co.nz/
Only got one day? Try the fantastic Lake Dunstan cycle trail.
Looking for something easier? Explore Queenstown by bike.
Around 100 years ago, in an article that appeared in the London Spectator, the poet Blanche Baughan declared the Milford Track to be ‘the finest walk in the world’. Arguably New Zealand’s most famous walk, the 53 kilometre journey begins at the head of Lake Te Anau, and leads you across suspension bridges, board walks and a mountain pass.
The Milford Track will show you pristine lakes, sky-scraping mountain peaks and enormous valley views. It will take you to feel the misty breath of Sutherland Falls, the tallest waterfall in New Zealand.
On a sunny day it is postcard perfect but some walkers say that when it rains and torrents of water cascade down the steep mountainsides, only then have you truly experienced the magic of the Milford Track. And with 200 rainy days in a year and a seven metre average rainfall you're bound to see the waterfalls in full force.
On this multi-day walk there are three public lodges (run by the Department of Conservation) as well as three private lodges for those looking for more comfort.
Find out more here: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/
Looking for something more luxurious? Try the Hollyford Track or the other New Zealand Great Walks.
Our team recommends these fantastic hikes in the region:
Routeburn Track: Fiordland National Park
You don't need to set aside a week to experience the beauty of Queenstown. Up here in the mountains, wilderness is only a few minutes away. There’s no better way to immerse yourself in Queenstown’s mind-blowing landscape than to lace up your hiking boots and get amongst nature.
The best day hikes in and around Queenstown include lakeside loops, winery trails and climbs up to mountain peaks, ranging from 5-8 hours return. Dress in layers and check out the guide to outdoor safety because weather conditions can change quickly in the high country.
See our list of recommended walks here: https://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/things-to-do/outdoor-activities/walking-and-hiking/day-walks/
Visit New Zealand’s first UNESCO Global Geopark.
The Waitaki Whitestone Geopark includes an abundance of unique geological and cultural features. Notable features include Te Kaihīnaki / Moeraki Boulders, karst limestone at Elephant Rocks, Māori rock art drawings at Takiroa and the braided Waitaki River.
About 200 km from Queenstown, this is a great location to visit on your way if you fly in to Christchurch instead of direct to Queenstown.
Find out more here: https://www.whitestonegeopark.nz/about-our-geopark
The Dark Sky Project is based in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. This place is special for anyone who loves stargazing. It's the biggest Dark Sky Reserve in the Southern Hemisphere, comprising Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park and the Mackenzie Basin of Aotearoa/New Zealand’s South Island.
The Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve is one of the world’s best places to see the stars. It’s wide, open vistas are free from light pollution. Those who live and work in and around it are dedicated to keeping the sky dark. This means you can see stars, planets, and the Milky Way in beautiful clarity.
The two-hour experience includes transport to and from the working Mount John observatory.
Find out more here: https://www.darkskyproject.co.nz/
Alternatively, watch the stars from the comfort of the outdoor hot pools: https://tekaposprings.co.nz/tekapo-stargazing/
Approximately 250 km from Queenstown, this is a great location to visit on your way if you fly in to Christchurch instead of direct to Queenstown
Queenstown's Kawarau River is the home of river surfing. During this epic water activity you'll swim through raging rapids, surf standing waves, ride whirlpools, play on eddy lines and try some rock jumps.
There are a range of tours to suit your risk appetite, so why not try out a few before we discuss risk communication in the workshop?
Find out more here: https://www.riverboarding.co.nz/
Explore the Southern Alps aboard the TranzAlpine train - one of the world's great train journeys, covering 223 kilometres (139 miles) each-way and taking just under 5 hours.
The TranzAlpine train travels coast-to-coast through the 'Great Divide' and the indomitable spine of mountains that partitions New Zealand's South Island.
On the east, enjoy relaxing in the garden city of Christchurch and horse trekking into the mountains from Springfield. On the west, experience the tranquillity of Lake Brunner and venture into glacier country from Greymouth. At the centre, explore some great NZ mountain hikes at Arthur's Pass.
Book a journey travelling in either direction from Christchurch to Greymouth, or Greymouth to Christchurch.
Find out more here: https://www.greatjourneysnz.com/scenic-trains/tranzalpine-train/
New Zealand has some of the greatest scenic drives in the world. Cruise down the West Coast of the South Island, stopping to look at the Pancake Rocks and Franz Josef Glacier, or drive from Christchurch to Queenstown via scenic wonders such as Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki.
New Zealand is a relatively compact country, so you can see many of the country's highlights in two weeks. To explore more of the regions and get off the beaten track, you could easily spend three weeks or more exploring.
Whether you are going for just a weekend, or for a whole month, you can find an itinerary to suit you.
Self-guided tours are very easy, with plenty of car hire companies and quiet roads.
See great itinerary ideas here: https://www.newzealand.com/nz/trips-and-driving-itineraries/south-island/
Acclaimed as the largest 'Warbirds' Airshow in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the world's top Warbirds airshows, Warbirds over Wanaka will be celebrating 38 years in 2026. Each year more than 50,000 people make the pilgrimage to Wanaka for their weekend of excitement.
Local operators and visiting aircraft owners will be offering flights in many different aircraft types from an open cockpit Tiger Moth experience to a WWII Fighter aircraft to more modern jets and helicopters.
Look out for the spectacular Future of Aviation exhibit, showcasing the future of flight, technology and aerospace.
Find out more here: https://www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com/
New Zealand’s ultimate mountain biking and cycling destination, Queenstown is home to an ever-growing network of biking trails for every level, age and style. From conscious commuters and wine tourers, to mountain bikers, downhill shredders and multi-day adventurers.
The Queenstown Trail is one of New Zealand’s Great Rides, boasting a 150km network of trails that take you on a scenic adventure past lakes, across rivers and through vineyards. For mountain bikers, Queenstown boasts three lift-assisted bike parks, world-famous trails and one of the most legendary dirt jump parks on the planet.
Our biking culture is unique, with many of the trails in Queenstown built by dedicated local volunteers at the Queenstown Mountain Bike Club and Queenstown Trails.
Find out more here: https://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/things-to-do/biking/