I have been to the beautiful Queenstown countless times now and Chance and I were lucky enough to live there for just over a year before moving to Australia.
It would have to be our most favourite part of the world and we definitely took it for granted when we lived there because everytime we go back we are reminded just how incredible it is.
Because it is the most popular tourist destination in New Zealand and we know lots about the place, I thought I would share a few MUST visits when your there whether you have kids or not.
Let me start by saying travelling to New Zealand with children is really easy! It’s exactly like being in Australia with being very child-friendly so you really don’t have to stress. You can take your pram and travel cot on the aeroplane for free with most carriers so make your life a bit easier and do it. We even took our capsule car seat when Leo was little because it’s a really good one and attached to the pram to help him sleep and it wasn’t a hassle.
We always hire cars through rentalcars.com because they always have the best deals and source from all of the car companies. We have never had a problem hiring through them, but just be aware there are often some added taxes you pay when picking up the car but they are usually minimal. You can also add car seats at the time of booking to ensure they are fitted and ready to go when you collect your car. Oh and we drive on the left side of the road too! 😉
For accommodation, we either book through Air Bnb or Booking.com but would also recommend Sherwood which is a gorgeous hotel that allows you to get in touch with nature by not having televisions in any of their rooms and offering yoga, pilates and amazing healthy food on site. We stayed there when I was pregnant and we loved it! It’s amazing how much you realise television has an impact on you when you don’t have one around.
Obviously, having lived there we have been through all the seasons and picking a time to go really depends on what you are going for. Queenstown is extremely popular for its epic mountains so winter ski season is huge. They also have a winter festival in June which is the most popular event of the year and the city is absolutely packed during that week but it is an amazing atmosphere. Just be warned that winter is of course extremely cold and it will often snow so you will need to pack accordingly. Summer is a gorgeous time to visit if you’re not a mountain person and the temperatures are always really comfortable. I also adore autumn because of the colours and the weather is usually lovely as well.
Now that you’ve hopefully started planning when you’re going to go and where you’re going to stay, it’s time to plan what you’re going to do! Despite it being a small place, Queenstown has so much to offer from the thrill-seeker to the “not-so” thrill-seeker. Travelling as a family will mean planning differently to on your own, but there is still heaps you can do and we have included some musts below.
Onsen Hot Pools
The pictures talk for themselves here and this is an absolute must do when in Queenstown. I wanted to do this when we got married but we didn’t have time so I made sure I organised it for our next trip last November. Kids under 5 are not allowed so we left them with family but you can also use Babysitting Queenstown, a service where babysitters can come to you to watch your babies for a few hours whilst you and your partner enjoy a few hours of absolute bliss or go with a group of friends! Don’t worry, if you’re a anxious mum like myself, I have heard great reviews about that service and had friends use it before and love it. You can also read reviews online.
You MUST book in advance for the Onsen or you risk missing out and there are a few different packages available. We chose the 60 minute package that came with towels, a drink and a snack for $120, which I thought was a great price! I think you can bring your own towels otherwise you have to hire them for around $3.
Situated in possibly one of the most picturesque settings in the world, you’ll feel totally relaxed after an hour in the soothing Onsen and it’s definitely a romantic setting. Traditional Onsen means you can go rudey nudey but take your swimmers if you’re not down for that.
www.onsen.co.nz
Fergburger
Often said to be the best burgers in the world, you simply can’t have been to Queenstown if you haven’t tried a Fergburger. They are AMAZING! I still dream of my favourite “cockle doodle oink” when I am craving carbs (when am I ever not?!). There is ALWAYS a huge line no matter what time of day you go so be prepared to wait. We used to ring up and order which always saved time but quite often now they don’t even pick up the phone they are that busy but try your luck. What makeS it so good? Ingredients are super fresh, they are BIG burgers so you’ll definitely be left satisfied and don’t forget a side of fries. There’s also Fergbaker right beside it that offers amazing pies and pastries. Oh, and there’s also a Mrs Ferg down the road that offers delicious gelato.
Walk The Streets
Queenstown is a very small place so you can easily walk the town centre and see everything in a few hours. It’s definitely worth popping in to the The Remarkable Sweet Shop to try the fudge, the Cookie Time Cookie Bar to try the freshly baked BEST COOKIES IN THE WORLD (the kids will love this place too!) and also at some of the clothing shops for some amazing quality winter clothing. You’ll love walking along the water front to admire the view and the Queenstown Gardens which wrap around the lake are absolutely beautiful as well.
Other TOP TIPS:
To EAT:
- Botswana Butchery-best steak ever! A little bit more fancy and expensive but worth it.
- Flame-Amazing burgers and meat MEAT MEAT!
- Winne Bagoes-great pizza!
- Halo-our go-to brunch
Where to BOOGIE:
- Winnie’s is always the go-to for a good dance and plays the latest songs-more for a younger crowd as it is a nightclub
- The Ballarat Trading Co is also great for a dance and good music-usually a more mature crowd.
- Cowboy’s bar-ride the bull and dance to old classics.
- Bar Up-a gorgeous quaint little cocktail bar-try their money shots!
- The Ice Bar-always a great thing to do if you’re new to Queenstown. Drinking cocktails in a bar made of ice? AWESOME!
To DO:
- Arrowtown-please visit! It is my favourite and absolutely beautiful in Autumn-also try the bakery there.
- Day trip to Glenorchy if you can-not much to see there but just beautiful views and you can do a horse trek! Also a great spot for photos.
- Day trip to Wanaka if you have time-about 45 mins and beautiful as well.
- The Gondola-the best view of Queenstown but not for the faint hearted if you’re scared of heights like me!
- Bungy/SKY-DIVE/Jet-boats! Queenstown is the best place if you’re a thrill seeker
- Mini-golf-we love Caddyshack City and great for the kids!
We know you will love visiting Queenstown and would love to hear your favourite parts so please share them with us!
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