car hire queenstown
Pick up a car at Queenstown airport and come face-to-face with epic scenery and adrenaline-fuelled thrills.Book car hire queenstown airport now
the 60-second guide to queenstown
in its own head
"We may be small but we are bursting with energy and our rugged mountains and majestic lakes offer an adventure playground for active types - from bungee jumping to rafting, jet-boating to skiing."skiing
but more realistically
Many visitors head to Queenstown to make the most of the town's lengthy to-do list, but it isn't all about heart-stopping stunts. The jaw-dropping scenery means that sunrise and sunset offer quiet, contemplative moments and the lakeside setting is the ideal spot for an alfresco picnic.
the vibe
Queenstown is the destination of choice for buzz-seeking backpackers, lending it an air of youthfulness and fun. However, it has also managed to hang onto a quaint, alpine charm.
the natives
In one word - outnumbered! During the busiest holiday periods, for every Queenstown resident there are three visitors.
the weather
Like the rest of New Zealand, summer months (December to February) in Queenstown are warm, sunny and the ideal temperature for outdoor pursuits, while winters are chilly but bright.
the local speciality
Start with a traditional Maori dish such as Kina pie, shellfish layered with breadcrumbs, and afterwards dig into a pavlova - the fruity meringue dessert has been claimed by Kiwis as their national dish.
the celebrity
Queenstown's rugged splendour made it the perfect choice to represent Middle Earth in Peter Jackson's Lord Of The Rings trilogy. The likes of Orlando Bloom and Viggo Mortensen were familiar faces here during filming.
did you know?
The city was known as Canvas Town during the gold-mining boom of the 19th century and was given its new moniker after being decreed 'fit for a queen'.
they say
"Whenever I get stressed, I just want to hop on a plane to Queenstown." - actor John Travolta.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Queenstown Mini Golf
- 2. Deer Park Heights
- 3. Shotover Canyon Swing
- 4. Kiwi Birdlife Park
- 5. Skyline Gondola, Restaurant & Luge
Perfect your pitch and putt technique with a round of golf on a smaller, more novelty scale.
where to park?
Situated on Brecon Street, try the car park on Church Street. Open from 7am-11pm it costs from 80p per hour.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Queenstown Mini Golf
- 2. Deer Park Heights
- 3. Shotover Canyon Swing
- 4. Kiwi Birdlife Park
- 5. Skyline Gondola, Restaurant & Luge
A Lord Of The Rings shooting location and the home of roaming wildlife, including bison and miniature horses. The view of Queenstown from up here is second to none.
where to park?
Cars are allowed to drive through the park, stopping as they please in lay-bys for visitors to get out and feed the animals.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Queenstown Mini Golf
- 2. Deer Park Heights
- 3. Shotover Canyon Swing
- 4. Kiwi Birdlife Park
- 5. Skyline Gondola, Restaurant & Luge
One for thrill-seekers, the canyon swing involves jumping off the top of a 109-metre cliff, hurtling earthwards at breakneck speed and then swinging in mid-air.
where to park?
The head office is on Shotover Street (from here participants are escorted to the jump site by a four-wheel drive). A car park can be found between Shotover and Ballarat Streets.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Queenstown Mini Golf
- 2. Deer Park Heights
- 3. Shotover Canyon Swing
- 4. Kiwi Birdlife Park
- 5. Skyline Gondola, Restaurant & Luge
Looking for a more sedate activity in Queenstown? How does admiring rare and exotic birds sound, or visiting a traditional Maori hunting village? This could be just the ticket.
where to park?
Situated on Brecon Street, try the car park on Church Street. Open from 7am-11pm it costs from 80p per hour.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Queenstown Mini Golf
- 2. Deer Park Heights
- 3. Shotover Canyon Swing
- 4. Kiwi Birdlife Park
- 5. Skyline Gondola, Restaurant & Luge
After you've taken Queenstown's must-do gondola to its peak, grab a bite to eat and then hit the tarmac for a cruise with a view along the winding go-cart track.
where to park?
Gondolas to the peak depart from Brecon Street, where there is a metered car park.
and 4 to drive to...
Described by Rudyard Kipling as the 'eighth wonder of the world', this fjord is one of the South Island's most beautiful spots.
how to get there?
Just over 150 miles from the city, head south on Kingston Road, continuing on the Athol Five Rivers Highway and turning right at Te Anau Milford Highway, which leads to the Milford Sound Highway.
and 4 to drive to...
Hikers, mountaineers and those who want their breath taken away simply by the scenery will be impressed by the rugged beauty of this national park.
how to get there?
Head north on Crown Range Road towards Wanaka, then continue on Cardrona Valley Road and Wanaka Mount Aspiring Road. The journey should take roughly two-hours 40-minutes.
and 4 to drive to...
Not only a fantastic spot for coffee and cake, Lake Wanaka is also a great place to indulge in a raft of watersports, such as kayaking and yachting.
how to get there?
Just an hour's drive from Queenstown, head north on Cardrona Valley Road.
and 4 to drive to...
Caving without the claustrophobia. Take a boat trip into a wonderful and shimmering world where spellbinding glow-worms light your way.
how to get there?
Just over 100 miles from Queenstown, take Kingston Road south towards Eyre Creek and turn right at Mossburn Five Rivers Road, which merges with Te Anau Mossburn Highway.
ask a queenstown cabbie!
Local cab driver Jo Takalua on car hire in Queenstown: "Queenstown is on the South Island, which is nowhere near as busy as the North Island - a bonus for newcomers to these roads. We do get over a million visitors a year though and the traffic can get heavy at times, particularly the main ones leading into town. But then again, being stuck behind a car for more than a minute on the South Island counts as a traffic jam as far as we're concerned! It's worth keeping an eye out for traffic cops - they're pretty vigilant over here and well hidden. But mostly it's a breeze driving in Queenstown, and getting out into the surrounding countryside is a real motoring pleasure."