Queenstown & Fiordland
Queenstown and Fiordland are the South Island's showpiece. Queenstown sparkles on Lake Wakatipu beneath The Remarkables — the birthplace of the bungy and the home of every adventure imaginable, ringed by vineyards and fine dining. An hour or two southwest lies the World Heritage wilderness of Fiordland, where Milford Sound draws the world. Here's how to make the most of both.
Queenstown & the southern lakes
Queenstown invented the modern adventure holiday — the Kawarau Bridge bungy was the world's first, back in 1988. Today it's jet boats, skydives, rafting and, in winter, four ski fields. But it's also a superb base for lake cruises on the TSS Earnslaw, the Skyline gondola, Gibbston Valley wine, and the golden autumns of Arrowtown. See our adventure guide.
Milford Sound & Fiordland
Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) is the icon — a sheer-walled fiord crowned by Mitre Peak, laced with waterfalls, best seen on a cruise. The drive in from Te Anau is a highlight in itself. For deeper solitude, the larger Doubtful Sound rewards the extra effort. This is New Zealand's largest national park, home to the famous Milford and Routeburn Great Walks. A guided coach-cruise handles the long day for you. See our Milford cruise tour.
Making the most of it
Base yourself in Queenstown for 3–4 nights and you can mix adventure, wine and a Milford day trip comfortably. Milford is weatherproof — rain only swells its waterfalls — so keep it flexible. Winter adds skiing; autumn brings colour; summer is long and golden. It pairs naturally with the glaciers and Southern Alps to the north. See our itineraries guide.
Queenstown & Fiordland: your questions
Queenstown is where commercial adventure was born — AJ Hackett opened the world's first commercial bungy at the Kawarau Bridge in 1988, and the town has been the global home of the adrenaline holiday ever since. Today you can bungy, jet-boat the Shotover, skydive, raft, paraglide and ski — or simply enjoy the lake, the wine and the views. See our adventure guide.
Most visitors reach Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) via the spectacular road from Te Anau (about 2 hours), often as a long day trip from Queenstown, then take a cruise beneath Mitre Peak and the waterfalls. You can also fly in, or visit the quieter, larger Doubtful Sound by boat-and-coach. A guided coach-cruise takes the driving and timing off your hands. See our Milford Sound cruise tour.
Queenstown is a true year-round destination. Summer (Dec–Feb) is warm for hiking, biking, lake activities and wine; autumn (Mar–May) is stunning as Arrowtown's trees turn gold; and winter (Jun–Aug) is ski season, with Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona and Treble Cone nearby. Milford is beautiful in any season, and rain only adds to its waterfalls. See our trip planning guide.
Not at all. Beyond the adrenaline, Queenstown is a beautiful lakeside town with superb dining and wine (the Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir country is on the doorstep), the Skyline gondola, lake cruises on the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw, golf, spas and gentle walks. Historic Arrowtown and Wānaka add charm nearby. It suits couples, families and groups of every pace. See our food & wine guide.
Fiordland, in the island's remote southwest, is New Zealand's largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage area — a vast wilderness of glacier-carved fiords, rainforest, waterfalls and peaks. Its jewels are Milford and Doubtful Sound, and it holds famous Great Walks including the Milford and Routeburn Tracks. Te Anau is the main gateway town. See the South Island guide.