Category Tour Reviews

Queenstown · TOUR REVIEWS

The 15 Best Tours in Queenstown

230 reviewed

Every tour on this site, one page, best first. These are the 15 bookings that beat everything else around Queenstown right now, with what each costs, how long it runs, and why it earns the spot. The full catalogue sits underneath if none of them fits your dates.

Queenstown: Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise

Queenstown: Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise - The BBQ buffet at Colonel’s Homestead: what you should expect

1.Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,713 reviews · 3h 30m · from $95Our pick

Cruise Lake Whakatipu to Walter Peak for a wood-fired gourmet BBQ, farm dog and sheep show, plus tea at the woolshed.

“Had a great day out on the TSS Earnslaw. Arrived at 10.30am for 11am boarding and arrived back about 3pm. Onboard had plenty of areas to sit and was able to move around. Was able to see the steam room for the boat which was amazing! We arrived at the farm/station and debarked the boat. Absolutely beautiful spot, with flowers and buildings along the lake. Signage/instructions was poor: no clear area to head to or where to go so everyone just followed each other, but wasn’t a big deal! The food was a BBQ buffet, beautifully cooked with decent variety. We then were given a short period to explore the…”

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Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip

Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip - Queenstown to Te Anau: the road trip that sets the mood

Milford Sound: 2-Hour Small Boat Scenic Cruise

Milford Sound: 2-Hour Small Boat Scenic Cruise - Getting On Board at Milford Sound Wharf (and Where to Stand)

3.Milford Sound: 2-Hour Small Boat Scenic Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,561 reviews · 2 hours · from $101

A 2-hour small-boat cruise into Milford Sound with close waterfall spray, wildlife chances, and skipper-led commentary—great value at $101.

“Wonderful experience! Very nice guide and very friendly and cool crew. Small boat, comes very close to the rocks. Awesome experience, highly recommend this tour! ☺️”

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Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Ride in Queenstown

Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Ride in Queenstown - Seating Choices: How to Dial Up (or Down) the Spray

Small Group, Award Winning Milford Sound Day Experience & Cruise

Small Group, Award Winning Milford Sound Day Experience & Cruise - Fiordland’s big moments on the Milford Road drive

5.Small Group, Award Winning Milford Sound Day Experience & Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,416 reviews · from $235

Small-group Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown with pickup, Fiordland photo stops, picnic lunch, and a 1hr45 cruise.

“We had a wonderful time! It was so relaxing to let someone else drive and we really enjoyed the fact that this is a small group tour with lots of scenic stops. Do was an excellent tour guide who provided a lot of information and entertainment. The included WiFi was also appreciated. Would book with them again for sure.”

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Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly Tour from Queenstown

Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly Tour from Queenstown - Queenstown Start: Pickup, Check-In, and Getting to the Flight

6.Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly Tour from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,792 reviews · from $462

Fly from Queenstown over the Southern Alps, cruise Milford Sound for 1h45, then return by air on a different route.

“Absolutely brilliant day out. Pick up from centre Queenstown, straight to plane. Beautiful flight over the Southern Alps, lots of information about locations and how they were formed. Then onto the ferry for a great trip down & back up the sound. Great team!”

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Queenstown: Shotover River and Kawarau River Jet Boat Ride

Queenstown: Shotover River and Kawarau River Jet Boat Ride - Shotover River: shallow channels and the 360° spin factor

7.Shotover River and Kawarau River Jet Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,682 reviews · 1 hour · from $89

Ride Lake Wakatipu at speed, then race the Shotover and Kawarau rivers with 360° spins and heated handrails for $89.

“A fantastic ride. We were fortunate enough to be sat in the front row. Sam was a great driver and real fun to talk with explaining what why a how all he was doing. Would recommend to everyone. Thanks”

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From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Tour

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Tour - Glass-roof coach comfort and the impact of your driver-guide

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat - Queenstown Pickup and Check-in: How the Day Actually Starts

Queenstown: Lake Wakatipu Scenic Cruise (90 Minutes)

Queenstown: Lake Wakatipu Scenic Cruise (90 Minutes) - Following the Route: Queenstown Gardens, Kelvin Heights, and the Remarkables

10.Lake Wakatipu Scenic Cruise (90 Minutes)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,462 reviews · from $49Best value

A 90-minute Lake Wakatipu cruise from Queenstown Bay with live captain commentary, heated cabin comfort, and great photo stops along the lake.

“Captain and staff were excellent and courteous, information from captain was both interesting clear and informative mixed with a little humour to brighten up and already sunny day.”

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Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour from Queenstown

Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour from Queenstown - Meeting at 43 Camp Street and Settling In

Queenstown: TSS Earnslaw Cruise of Lake Whakatipu

Queenstown: TSS Earnslaw Cruise of Lake Whakatipu - Engine room access: watching coal and steam do their job

13.TSS Earnslaw Cruise of Lake Whakatipu

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,255 reviews · 1h 30m · from $68

Ride Queenstown’s iconic TSS Earnslaw on Lake Whakatipu. See coal-fired engines, explore the ship, and enjoy mountain views.

“nothing to improve. An experience of a lifetime. Awesome, thanks everyone for making it such a wonderful time. I loved every minute. 😁”

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Queenstown Segway Tour

Queenstown Segway Tour - Stop 1: Queenstown Gardens and the perimeter views

14.Queenstown Segway Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,235 reviews · from $61

Queenstown Segway tour glides around Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown Gardens with easy training, scenic stops, and small-group fun.

“Terrific way to get around and see the beautiful surrounds of Queenstown. Great clear instructions on how to ride the Segway as a complete novice, to the point of feeling really confident at the end of the two hours.”

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Queenstown: Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Experience

Queenstown: Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Experience - Getting Set Up at the Shotover Base: Where the Day Starts