Queenstown is well known for its paid adventure activities, but there are also plenty of cool things to do that are free. In winter, most of these continue to be easily accessible as the snow line is typically well above 1,000 metres, higher than most hikes and drives. Similarly, the daytime temperatures are generally around 5 to 10 degrees, so you can manage with an extra layer or two. If it’s your first time in Queenstown, we absolutely recommend exploring the local area. After that, head toward Glenorchy for adventures at Moke Lake, Mount Crichton, Glenorchy, Paradise and the Routeburn.
Queenstown exploration
Despite Queenstown now being a substantial resort and commercial destination, it’s still very beautiful and there’s plenty to explore. Here are a few mini trips to make if it’s your first time in Queenstown…
- Walk around the Lake Wakatipu shoreline, including the Queenstown Gardens.
- Drive along Gorge Road to Arthurs Point, then on towards Coronet Peak. You can take Littles Road opposite the ski field turn off, or continue on. Head towards Arrowtown and Lake Hayes.
- Drive up ‘The Zig Zag’ to a viewpoint on the edge of the Crown Terrace.
- On your way back to Queenstown, turn off at Frankton and head towards Kelvin Heights, Jacks Point and Drift Bay on the south eastern arm of the lake.
Road to Glenorchy
The drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy is gorgeous, the road largely following the edge of Lake Wakatipu. There are several great viewpoints on the way, and on a clear winter’s day there’s the addition of snow-capped mountains lining the lake.
From this road you can access Moke Lake and the Mt Crichton Loop Walk, Glenorchy (of course), and then continue on for the Routeburn track, Paradise and Kinburn.
Moke Lake
Moke Lake, surrounded by golden mountains, is a beautiful sight in winter, especially when the weather is calm enough for the lake to generate reflections. You can take a loop walk around the lake, and even camp at its northern end.
To access the lake, turn off Glenorchy Road about 5km out of Queenstown. From there it’s a short, pretty drive past the tiny Lake Kirkpatrick to reach Moke Lake.
Mount Crichton track
The next stop is the Mount Crichton track, which is about 15km out of Queenstown. This two-hour loop walk is a unique experience, combining beautiful bush and river gorge sections with gold mining history and remnants on the western side of the loop, and an outlook to Lake Dispute on the eastern side.
The highlights include the historical Sam Summers Hut, located in beech forest by a stunning waterfall. Gold mining remnants on the western side of the loop are also clearly evident, like a scooped out gully (created by water blasting in the 1800s), tailings, and a narrow tail race tunnel.
Glenorchy to Paradise
Glenorchy is a very pleasant town with overnight accomodation options and the unusually cool monicker, “Gateway to Paradise”. Fair enough, as Paradise is down the road at the entrance to Mt Aspiring National Park. Glenorchy also provides access to many of the Fiordland hikes, including the astounding Routeburn track.
From Glenorchy, drive for about 25 minutes to reach Paradise, one of the loveliest areas of farmland in the country. There’s also a Paradise hiking track, though the entrance is hard to spot – soon after the Paradise sign, enter what looks like a private driveway to find a collection of old buildings and the start of the 90 minute loop walk.
Routeburn day walk
From Glenorchy, another option is to drive to the Routeburn trailhead in Fiordland National Park. While the entire Routeburn Track usually takes three days, you can do the first section in between four and six hours.
The first two hours of the walk, which is mostly flat, takes you to the Flats Hut and campsite. From there you can hike upwards for about 40 minutes to the Routeburn Falls. If you have the time and energy, continue on towards Lake Harris and the Harris Saddle – but remember to allow plenty of time to get back!
Kinloch
If you want to stay in the area for a night or two, Kinloch is another good option. There’s a lodge and campground, and it’s easy access to the Routeburn, other walks, and yet more beautiful views of Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains.
Want more South Island trip ideas?
Check out our recent blogs about Milford Sound, Wanaka, the West Port to Karamea road trip, and Hokitika to Punakaiki.