Queenstown truly has it all. If you are an adrenaline junkie, Lord of the Rings fan or just want a scenic walk, this place offers everything and more!

I spent 3 days here and it was not nearly enough. I love bungee jumping and everything else with a thrill which is what makes Queenstown a must. If your dream is to see a kiwi bird, they also have a small park here where you can see them and so many day trips to places nearby. Let me take you through my must do´s and then other suggestions if you have more time than me.

Day 1

Day one all went to one activity. I booked a tour from the crack of dawn to Milford Sound. Queenstown offers a plethora of day trips options to the famous and stunning Milford Sound. Some trips go by bus, others by plane or a mix, but all of them includes a scenic ferry trip on the stunning fjord. This is also one of those few places in the world where you want bad weather for the eerie and dusk feeling. I made a new friend who got one of the rare sunny days there, which there only is like 50 of in the year. Making it even more special! Therefore no matter the weather you will have an amazing time and just as breathtaking views.

So, what did I choose? Originally I had wanted to take the bus to Milford Sound and then fly back, but the weather did not permit me to do so that day. Prior to deciding this I booked a smaller van option with no more than 16 people, not a lot pricier than a bus that fits 40+ people, but better seats and more room for my legs. Which proved to be a good investment as the ride to Milford Sound is 4 hours one way from Queenstown. Also why I booked one of the earlier buses to be able to get a bit more out of the day.

Another great reason to go by bus is the amazing stops along the road. The stops included Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes and Pops View. If you love Lord of the Rings, Eglinton Valley might look familiar to you as it was used as a backdrop in the movies. Me however, was hoping to see a Kea.
The guide and bus van driver said at one point “to look for a green bird the size of a cat” as we were passing one of the areas they frequent. But when we later stopped there were two Keas hanging around at the parking lot, such a highlight besides Eglinton Valley and Milford Sound.

The irony is that a Norwegian went to take a cruise on a fjord. I am from a fjord country and the first time I take a cruise on one, it is in New Zealand.
Honestly, I did not feel the need to go, but everybody told me that I had to go and it was beautiful. Which I had no doubt about: After enough people told me I could not miss Milford Sound, I decided to book a tour. Something I will never regret as it was absolute serene and idyllic. While on the fjord you might also spot penguins and sea lions hanging around.
The way back to Queenstown was one stop only, giving us the evening to relax.

Day 2

Day two, or what I dubbed my adrenaline day!
A month ahead I had booked in my two must do´s in Queenstown, but planned it for months. Therefore a lot of my planning in New Zealand was centered around this day. You can book all your adrenaline stuff on the day of, or the day before while in Queenstown, but if you book with AJ Hackett 20 days in advance there is a discount.

What I booked: The Catapult and The Nevis Swing!
These two things has been on my bucket list for years and I finally made it. I have finally ticked them both off my bucket list.

If I had the funds and the time, I would have done Nevis bungy jump as well, but that was not the case this time. Gives me a reason to come back though. This is the only place that has a catapult, which is why I will always recommend it to everyone, but the swing is just as amazing.

Nevis Swing – You feel the drop and the guys on the platform is quite playful adding to the adrenaline. They asked if I wanted it counted down or a surprise, I choose countdown from five. From five to four in the countdown it took like 20 seconds, so I commented on it and as a reply I got “3, 2, 1” and I dropped. So fun and about 0,05 seconds of “why did I do this?”.
Nevis Catapult – I had seen on some videos where it looked like the start had a sudden jerk. Of course there is a pull, but it looked a bit painful, but it was not. You do not even notice it, so I worried for nothing. Just keep your eyes down as they instruct you to and you are all good.

If you are like me and not renting a car and wondering how to get there, do not worry. There are shuttle buses that will take you to the locations as they are a bit far from the center of Queenstown.

For the 20 days early discount check out their website: AJ Hackett
To see my experience, please look at my personal Instagram: My Experience

Kiwi birds

After a morning with thrills, I went to see some Kiwi birds. A must when in New Zealand and this is one of the places you can do it. Be aware, Kiwi birds are noctural so where they are residing is very dark and your eyes will have to get used to it a bit.
There is a no photo rule and it is also so dark that your camera would not be able to capture anything without a blitz.
I grew up with one of the prettiest zoos (in my opinion) just an hour away from me, making this one a bit dissapointing. I knew it would showcase birds of New Zealand, not only the Kiwi bird. However the cages were so small. After seeing Keas in the wild the day before and now seeing two in a cage that was barely four by four meters made me incredibly sad. Also right next to the park was a preschool and parking lot making it very noisy. If they moved a bit out of town, I think I would have enjoyed it more. Also it was expensive for such a small park.
If this is your only place to see a Kiwi bird, go for it. You do not need to time it with the Kiwi Encounter they offer, you can see the birds without that. Take a look at their website and enjoy the look of the noctural bird of New Zealand.

Gondola and Luge fun

Back to a more action filled day! With the friend I made the day before we decided to try the luge. To do so, we needed to take the gondola, but it gives an amazing view of Queenstown. If the luge is not your thing it is also a restaurant after taking the gondola up. Other options are zip lining or hiking which I would have absolutely done if there were more time.
The luge was a lot of fun, but you do have to sign up for 3 rides. You can sign up for more, but three is the minimum and it comes as a package deal with the gondola. This is perfect for everybody, but there is a height requirement if you are to ride alone, but a lot of kids were zooming down the hill by themselves after a quick lesson in how to drive it.

Day 3

Change of plans sort of day. While I was supposed to take a trip to Arrowtown and Wanaka, it got cancelled. Leaving me to fend for myself and find something else to do. I had so many ideas on what was possible, but there are a lot of tour offices in Queenstown and I felt like getting some input. After a short discussion, we ended up on a tour towards Glenorchy with a lot of movie sight stops.
I previously mentioned that Eglinton Valley was the backdrop for Lord of The Rings. My favorite scene is actually filmed up by Arrowtown, but that tour was full. So I went with the next best. A tour that took you to Boromir´s death scene, Frodo and Sam spotting Oliphaunts at Ithilien and how the Remarkable Mountains were used in scenes during the movies. This along with where the cast stayed, Peter Jackson´s cabin (just pointed out from afar) and a lot of interesting facts on the tour made for an amazing experience. The guide of the tour was amazing and knew so much, but she also surprisingly spoke Norwegian, very well I might add. And she had only stayed in Norway for half a year. She became such a highlight for me, because there are not a lot of foreigners that do not live in Norway that speaks Norwegian.

Glenorchy in itself is not a big place. It is about 200 people living there with one restaurant, one church (for all religions), one school, one gas station and two bars. The most famous thing in Glenorchy is the shed pictured above, but do not ask me why as I have no clue.
The tour itself was centered around Lord of The Rings and they even had props at one point. This was a bit of an overkill for the introvert that I am, but fun non the less. Specially seeing how into it the others around me got, I could not help joining in.

Must eat in Queenstown

What I missed in Queenstown, but you should not

Three days are definitly too short, so here is what I missed, but you should not.

Day trip to Wanaka – Though the most famous thing here is a tree in the lake, it looks absolutely stunning. It is also a lot of hikes in the area that looks stunning and might make Wanaka worth a stay in and out of itself.
Day trip to Arrowtown – An old mining town that just looks impossibly cute. It is also possible to take the bus there and enjoy it by yourself. Not far from Arrowtown is the river where Arwen took down the black riders.
Day trip to Doubtful Sound – People say this is where you should go as it is less tourists than Milford Sound and I do understand why that might be as it is less known, but I also heard it is just as breathtaking. Would be cool to experience both and compare them.
TSS Earnslaw – A steamer that will take you on an amazing scenic tour over Lake Whakatipu for 1,5 hours.
Jet Boating – Take a ride in a jet boat speeding past a round corner in a narrow river while you hold on, with wind in your hair. It looks like a lot of fun and I saw this is something you can buy in combinations with other adrenaline activities.
Hydro Attack – You and a driver will take over Lake Whakatipu with a shark submarine that will rush to the surface. This looked like a lot of fun, but I am greedy and wanted to drive it, but I understand why that is not possible.
Off-Roading – Anyone that likes adventure and adrenaline must love this or find it subdued. For me it is always fun, but I did not manage to get the times to match up.
Ziptrek – There are so many places in Queenstown and near where you can go ziplining and I am sure the view is to die for while you rush past the tree tops.
Horseriding – I found one that took you to Lord of The Rings spots, how amazing is that? However without a car or an extremly expensive taxi ride it is not possible to reach the stable, therefore I had to forfeit.
Skydiving – I have other places in mind for this, so it was not even on my list until I realised how beautiful the view must be. You will get to see the Remarkable Mountains from above. Such an missed opportunity.
Wine tour – For me it is more about seeing the wine cellar and wine yard, but I will happily do wine tasting even if I am not a wine drinker. I go for the vibe, culture and curiosity.

As you can see, I could stay a week longer in Queenstown and still have more to do including bungee jumps, hikes, daytrips and everything between.