Flights to Queenstown

Top Experiences For Visitors to Queenstown

The Remarkables

If you're booking cheap flights to Queenstown between June and August, and you love winter sports, make a beeline for The Remarkables. It's one of the top destinations in New Zealand for skiing. It's excellent for beginners, and there are challenging slopes for the seasoned pros.

Skyline Gondola

No trip to Queenstown is complete without a trip up the Skyline Gondola. It's the steepest cable car in the Southern Hemisphere and offers some of the best views in New Zealand. Once you reach the top, you'll have beautiful vistas over the city, Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables.

AJ Hackett Bungy

The AJ Hackett Bungy is one of the top attractions in the city. The 43-metre jump is the oldest bungee in the world and has been thrilling adventure junkies since it first opened its doors in 1988. People from all over the world buy return flights to Queenstown to tackle the bungee that started the adrenaline craze.

Lake Wanaka

Lake Wanaka is one of the most beautiful lakes in New Zealand. It's an easy day trip from Queenstown, and you can spend the night in the small town of Wanaka if you're looking for a few days of nature and a peaceful atmosphere. Travellers buying an airfare to Queenstown can explore the many hiking trails in the area, go swimming in the lake or hire a boat for the day.

Tips for First-Time Travellers on Return Flights to Queenstown

You can pay for almost everything with your credit card

When your flights to Queenstown land at Queenstown Airport (ZQN), you don’t need to rush to an ATM to withdraw money. There are credit card facilities everywhere and you'll be able to swipe for purchases at supermarkets, restaurants, bakeries and even for your metered parking ticket.

Queenstown isn't the cheapest destination

While you can hitchhike and camp to save money, you'll still need a big budget for your trip, even if you’ve bought cheap flights to Queenstown. Fuel costs on average $2 NZD ($1.87 AUD) per litre, and you can expect to pay about $10 NZD ($9.34 AUD) for a craft beer and between $20 to 30 NZD ($18.68-28.02 AUD) for a meal at a restaurant. A bed in a hostel will cost $21 AUD per night, and the average price for a hotel is $100 AUD per night.

You need to book accommodation well in advance

Queenstown is one of the most popular destinations in New Zealand. Each year, thousands of people from around the world buy an airfare to Queenstown, and the city fills up fast. If your visit coincides with Chinese New Year, you'll need to book your flights to Queenstown and accommodation a couple of months in advance. It’s one of the busiest periods for Queenstown and the earlier you book, the better chance you’ll have of getting cheap flights and your first choice hotel.

Hire a car

Queenstown is the perfect city to base yourself for road trips around the South Island. You can book your vehicle through Webjet when you buy your return flights to Queenstown or as soon as your plane lands at Queenstown Airport (ZQN). Some of the best day trips from the city include visiting the world-famous Milford Sound and the Wanaka Tree.

Major Events and Festivals

Queenstown Winter Festival

Queenstown Winter Festival is one of the biggest annual festivals in the Southern Hemisphere. The event sees people from all around New Zealand and the globe buying flights to Queenstown to take part in the street parties and attend the impressive lineup for international and local acts. The festival is usually held in June, and there are many free and paid events you can attend.

Gay Ski Week

Gay Ski Week is another popular event held in Queenstown each year. From 1 September, the entire town is lit up with rainbows and there are various parties to attend. You'll find events on the ski slopes as well as cabaret nights in the town. It's a spectacular event and is worth the price of flights to Queenstown.

Rhythm & Alps

Rhythm & Alps is a music festival that's held a short distance from Queenstown and Wanaka, and it's considered one of the top festivals in New Zealand. It takes place from the 29 to 31 December and boasts a line up of more than 50 international and local acts. Buy your flights to Queenstown to attend and get ready for an incredible three-day party!

Luma Southern Light Project

The Luma Southern Light Project is a free event that usually takes place from 31 May to 3 June. It's a celebration of light and artists from all around the world take part by setting up installations. If you're buying flights to Queenstown for the whole family, it's the perfect event to attend.