TRAVEL TO QUEENSTOWN

Getting to Queenstown is easy whether you decide to fly, drive or take a bus

By Plane

Queenstown is located in the southwest corner of the South Island of New Zealand and is very accessible with multiple daily direct flights from all New Zealand’s main centres.

Queenstown Airport is the gateway to the lower South Island. Located 15 minutes from downtown Queenstown, the Queenstown Airport services the region with daily domestic flights operated by Air New Zealand and Jetstar. It receives direct scheduled services from New Zealand’s main metropolitan ports of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Direct scheduled services from Australia's eastern ports Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Gold Coast are also available via Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia.

Getting into the town centre from the airport is easy with shuttles, taxi services, buses and rental cars available.

Queenstown Airport is also New Zealand’s busiest helicopter base and is frequently used for ‘flightseeing’ on fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. There are many great options available for visitors to explore the region by air.

By Road

For visitors that choose to drive, experiencing the beautiful S outhern Scenic Route through Otago and Southland is a stunning way to arrive in Queenstown or meander down the South Island from the West Coast or Canterbury, taking your time to take in the scenery along the way.

Major New Zealand highways connect Queenstown to surrounding South Island regions and you’ll come across incredible natural landscapes and different attractions on the drive to Queenstown.

Roads to Queenstown are well-signposted from the surrounding regions. New Zealand highways are fully sealed and well-maintained but some side roads to activities and attractions may be loose gravel and require more time and care.

If you are planning to self-drive it’s good to understand that driving in New Zealand can be different to driving at home. We drive on the left-hand side of the road, meaning the driver’s seat is on the right-hand side of the car. New Zealand roads can be narrow and winding with varying conditions. It pays to take lots of breaks and leave plenty of time to reach your destination.

It is also possible to encounter sheep and cattle on rural roads in New Zealand and ice or snow on the roads in winter. It pays to give yourself extra time, check the weather forecast and understand New Zealand road rules and signs. Visit Drivesafe New Zealand for helpful tips and information if you are planning a self-drive trip to Queenstown.

By Bus

There are daily buses to Queenstown from Wanaka, Dunedin, Invercargill and Christchurch to Queenstown as well as scheduled coach tours.

There are also a number of national coach companies offering coach trips to and from Queenstown, with itineraries of varying lengths, in addition to routes connecting with popular attractions in the surrounding regions including Te Anau, Manapouri, Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound.