Discover art, vineyards, fine dining and incredible scenery
Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s most picturesque towns, sitting on the tip of the crystal clear Lake Wakatipu. It’s a bustling hub of international and local visitors come to seek out one of the endless thrills on offer here from skiing, white water rafting, canyon swinging, jet boating, mountain biking and bungy jumping.
But Queenstown is not just a gathering point for adrenaline junkies, slow down to the cosmopolitan pace of life and you’ll discover its flourishing arts scene, excellent vineyards, fine dining, international-standard golf courses and quiet lakeside shores where you can take in the incredible scenery. There is an infectious energy year-round here but its bars and restaurants are especially abuzz in summer and winter when seasonal activities draw the highest number of visitors.
For those after a slower pace, head over the Crown Range to the mellower but equally stunning Wanaka. This little township has its own glassy lake, epic mountain backdrop, fine dining scene and endless outdoor pursuits, but where Queenstown is the compact, excitable hub with high rise hotels and busy streets, Wanaka is the cooler, calmer equivalent with fewer shops and a more local feel.
Highlights
Spend half a day exploring Moke Lake, relaxing, following the gentle hiking paths and enjoying the view from spectacular scenic phot spots
Cycle along the beautifully scenic 26km Queenstown Trail from the town centre to the Kelvin Peninsula. You’ll ride alongside Lake Wakatipu and over Kawarau Falls Bridge
Journey deep into Middle Earth and explore Lord of the Rings locations from Queenstown to Glenorchy. You will discover breathtaking and iconic LOTR scenery from Isengard, Amon Hen, Lothlorien Forest, The Misty Mountains and Ithilien
Go on a delicious wine excursion through the Gibbston Valley Region on a tour tailored to suit your tastes and interests
![Black and white illustration of Ellie Khoury's headshot](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/392555/Ellie-Khoury_square-scaled-140x140-c.jpg)
Ellie Khoury
Travel Designer
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/470601/Queenstown-road-AdobeStock_99662226-600x9999.jpeg)
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/470603/Milford-sound-wf-1-600x9999.jpg)
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/470600/Queenstown-sky-AdobeStock_340521512-scaled-600x9999.jpeg)
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/470604/shotover-river-queenstown-wf-1-1-600x9999.jpg)
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/470605/Wanaka-lake-view-wf-1-600x9999.jpg)
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/470602/Queenstown-hikers-AdobeStock_250735492-scaled-600x9999.jpeg)
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/470606/queenstown-lake-wf-1-600x9999.jpg)
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/470599/Queenstown-forest-AdobeStock_333189282-600x9999.jpeg)
The birthplace of bungee jumping, Queenstown is an adventure-lovers paradise. Take on the Shotover Canyon Swing like I did and see the Shotover Canyon from a whole new perspective whilst channeling your inner adrenaline junkie or Jet Boat down the river for dramatic natural scenery (or do both!). These are two of my favourite destinations in New Zealand and are ideal year-round, they are the perfect outdoor playground for skiing, hiking, biking, boating or just chilling with a view.
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Ellie-Khoury_square-150x150.jpg)
Ellie Khoury
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in Queenstown and Wanaka
Why book with Jacada?
![Illustration of a handwritten letter, coffee and sunglasses](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/385960/JACADA_personalized-600x600.png)
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
![Illustration of a merchant and their bowls of spices](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/385961/JACADA_authentic-experiences-600x600.png)
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
![Illustration of turtle hatchlings](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/385962/JACADA_responsible-travel-600x600.png)
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Trip Inspiration
Discover more of New Zealand
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/322737/new-zealand-auckland-e1574857874923-249x140.jpg)
Auckland
New Zealand’s largest cosmopolitan centre is a lively mix of culture, cuisine, music and art with ample green spaces and easily accessible beaches.
Discover more![Bay of Islands](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/159414/bay_of_islands_nz-249x140.jpg)
Bay of Islands
Equally beautiful and historically significant, the bay is peppered with 144 vastly untouched islands that are renowned for their inviting clear waters, subtropical climate and diverse marine life.
Discover more![christchurch-new-zealand](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/158903/Christchurch-coastal-view-WF-249x140.jpg)
Christchurch
Curious travellers will relish all the new eclectic hubs to discover in a city and region that is full of surprises, friendly locals and an inspirational community spirit.
Discover more![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/159069/Cathedral-cove-coromandel-wf-249x140.jpg)
Coromandel
A classic Kiwi beach holiday destination made up of petite coastal towns, velvety white-sand beaches and native rainforests teeming with birdlife.
Discover more![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/216210/moeraki-boulders-249x140.jpg)
Dunedin and Coastal Otago
Dunedin is a university town and there is a good selection of lively restaurants and bars. It is also a great base from which to explore the Otago Peninsula with its rugged landscape, beautiful beaches and wildlife.
Discover more![Sunrise at Te Mata Peak, Napier, Hawkes Bay](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/159398/Hawkes-bay-wf-249x140.jpg)
Hawke's Bay
The North Island’s wine country is one of New Zealand’s warmest, driest regions with golden colours stretching across arid plains.
Discover more![Humpback whale mother and calf, St. Mary's Island, Madagascar](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/159598/humpback_whale_aerial-249x140.jpg)
Kaikoura
With the swelling Pacific Ocean on one side and the snowcapped Kaikoura Range on the other – Kaikoura is a quaint peninsula village that is a base for discovering some of New Zealand’s best wildlife.
Discover more![mount-cook-new-zealand](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/208899/mount_cook_NZ-249x140.jpg)
Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mount Cook
New Zealand’s highest peak, Aroaki Mount Cook, is an arresting sight dominating the skyline of the national park which surrounds it.
Discover more![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/159555/Marlborough_sound_beach-249x140.jpg)
Marlborough Sounds and Wine Region
Hop from vineyard to vineyard on the wine trail in this diverse, sun-drenched plateau and sample some of the country’s finest wines, most notably the internationally renowned Sauvignon Blanc.
Discover more![milford-sound-sunlight](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/159649/milford-sound-sunlight-249x140.jpg)
Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park
With the snowy-peaked Southern Alps sloping down into deep blue waters and lushly forested shores bursting with wildlife, the spectacular Fiordland National Park area in the south-western corner of the South Island is known for its stunning vistas.
Discover more![falls-river-abel-tasman-new-zealand](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/159300/Abel-tasman-kayaking-wf-1-249x140.jpg)
Nelson and Abel Tasman
New Zealand’s sunniest region has a diverse geography ripe for exploring from golden sand beaches to dense forests, the clearest fresh water lake in the world and secluded, enticing rivers.
Discover more![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/159316/thermal-park-rotorua-wf-1-249x140.jpg)
Rotorua and Taupo
Steaming mud pools, erupting geysers and Maori traditions all make Rotorua and Taupo a special area to visit – one that is distinctively unique to the rest of New Zealand.
Discover more![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/159115/cable-car-wellington-wf-249x140.jpg)
Wellington
Nestled on rolling green hills that spill down to a charming harbour, New Zealand’s capital is an epicentre of culture and creativity – renowned for its arts, gastronomy, heritage and bohemian character.
Discover more![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/166382/Franz-Josef-Glacier-heli_hike2-249x140.jpg)
West Coast and the Glaciers
The narrow strip of coastline squeezed between the Southern Alps and Tasman Sea plays host to some of New Zealand’s most dramatic landscape, which is quite some claim.
Discover moreMeet your Australasia team
When to visit
New Zealand is a year-round destination. In summer visit the beaches and explore the country’s National Parks. Spring is a mild time of year to travel and the countryside comes to life. In winter the South Island is a playground for outdoor adventures and epic scenery. Autumn sees cold, crisp days in the South Island and more mild rainy days in the North Island.
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/374697/Wine@2x-120x120.png)
Wine Tasting
March–April
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/374684/Mountains@2x-120x120.png)
Skiing and Snowboarding
June–September
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/374690/Sealife@2x-120x120.png)
Whale and Dolphin Spotting
Year Round
Plan your trip to Queenstown and Wanaka
Whatever you want from your adventure in Queenstown and Wanaka, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Extremely professional and everything was exceptional
Ellie has done a fabulous job listening to our interests, needs, wants and desires in customizing our Australia/Tasmania/New Zealand itinerary. She has put together a spectacular trip for us. I would highly recommend Ellie and Jacada for your travel needs.
We asked for a trip of a lifetime and Rosanna and Cathy delivered - and more! Our experience of working with Jacada to plan our trip was exceptional. Any questions and amendments/additions were swiftly sorted to make this trip the best holiday we have ever had. As it was planned so well with every detail covered, everything ran so smoothly…
Every detail from the lodging at 5 different stops, to transportation in-between, to recommendations on what to do and planning excursions was handled with absolute precision by Ellie, Cathy and the rest of their team. Cannot recommend working with Jacada, specifically Ellie and Cathy, highly enough. They made it possible for my family to enjoy the trip of a lifetime!!
Jacada supplied the expertise and logistical help my wife and I needed to experience our dream honeymoon! We are both experienced travelers who enjoy planning our own trips and were a little nervous about trusting a travel agency to handle the details. Jacada's team quickly put those fears to rest with their thoughtful and thorough planning of our trip, a…
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/390895/S-Pacific-POM_AdobeStock_312160377-scaled-400x400-cc.jpg)
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/390889/S-Pacific-POM1_AdobeStock_332558468-scaled-600x9999.jpg)
Plan with peace of mind
When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.