Hotels in Queenstown

Book your cheap hotel in Queenstown

The “Adventure Capital of the World”, Queenstown is also just more than a place for adrenaline thumping activities. Bungy jumping was invented here! Located in the Otago region in the south-west of South Island, this exciting destination is also stunningly beautiful with Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkable Mountains dominating the landscape, so breath-taking in fact that it is a popular filming location for movies like Lord of the Rings, for example. Visit this town for thrilling adventures and party entertainments.

With 3 million visitors annually, the range of holiday accommodation is very wide with hostels, B&Bs and cheap hotels at the cheap end and luxury lodges and resort hotels at the other.

Neighbourhoods of Queenstown

Busy all year round with visitors who like to play hard and party hard, it’s important to choose carefully where you are going to stay. Some ideas are:

  • Downtown/CBD: Close to the lake and surrounding the major shopping centre, it’s as busy as you would expect it to be with loads of places to eat, drink, shop and generally make merry.
  • Queenstown Hill: A fantastic place to stay for scenery, this area sits on the slopes of Te Tapu-nui with views of the lake and forest.
  • Fernhill: On the lower slopes of Ben Lomond and abutting the lake, this pretty suburb is mostly residential but has some great hotels with a view.
  • Frankton: On the edge of the town, this is a nice place to stay if you want to be away from the hubbub. It’s quiet and leafy and has lovely parks.
  • Arthur’s Point: A former mining area between Bowen Peak and Queenstown Hill, this area is popular with walking tourists.

What to see and do in Queenstown

Some visit for the adventures, some for the nature and beauty and some visit for a party. Attractions and activities include:

  • Sports and adventure: Just some of the fun ideas are bungy jumping, walking, cycling, fishing, hang gliding, jet boating, mountaineering, parasailing, white water rafting, wine tasting, skiing, snowboarding, and heliskiing.
  • Skyline Gondola: By day or night, the views of Queenstown from 400m are breath-taking.
  • Kiwi Birdlife Park: A host of native birds are at home here among the 10,000 different plants living alongside geckos, skinks and other reptiles.
  • Time Tripper: Under the main pier, the old underwater observatory has been converted to an exhibition space to tell the story of Lake Wakatipu.
  • Queenstown Gardens: More than just a park, the gardens also hold an ice rink, a frisbee golf course, tennis courts and lawn bowls among the manicured lawns and mature trees.

What to eat in Queenstown

Catering to the tastes of tourists from all over the world, there’s a huge variety of food establishments in the town. The food here is as much about the experience as the dish, and there are some amazing places to eat. For dining, look out for local ingredients, which include world-class seafood, deep-sea fish, lake trout, lamb, venison, beef and game meats. The best food experiences include:

  • The Stratosphere: Located at the top of the Skyline Gondola, every diner gets a view thanks to tiered seating.
  • Lake Dinner Cruise: Enjoy a cruise on the lake on either a historic steamship or modern catamaran, choosing from the lunch or dinner packages.
  • Otago Wines: Queenstown is in the heart of the world’s most southerly wine-growing region, so local wines are a good choice.

Typical events and festivals in Queenstown

The town’s events combine a love of celebration with the sports and activities that attract so many visitors. Highlights are:

  • Winter Festival: For four days in late June, the town hosts a wide variety of multi-disciplinary events celebrating everything winter.
  • Snow Machine Festival: A mix of snow and sounds, festival-goers are invited to enjoy the slopes and then hit the town for a line-up of international music artists and DJs.
  • Wakatipu Music Festival: The area’s premier classical music festival takes place in early June.
  • Lighting Up Bazaar: A sensory dining experience under the bright lights of LUMA happens the first weekend of June.
  • Framerate Film Festival: Get on your bike and film! Combining filmmaking and mountain biking, this event is just one cycling events organised by the Queenstown Mountain Bike Club.

How to move around in Queenstown

Walking and cycling are strongly encouraged with places to hire bikes and plenty of trails with fabulous views. The public bus service runs throughout the town, and you can get a 7-day visitor transport card. There are plenty of taxis, and many of the cheap hotels in Queenstown offer free shuttle services to the town centre. Flights go into Queenstown International Airport.

The climate in Queenstown

The oceanic climate gives the town warm summers and very cold winters with frequent snowfall. January and February are the warmest months with an average daily temperature of 22°C. Temperatures in June to August regularly fall below freezing. December through February is the best time to visit for outdoor activities and June to September for winter sports.

Queenstown today 59°F
61°F | 36°F

In Queenstown we will have clear sky, nice temperatures expected throught the day.

    • Wednesday
    • 66°F | 41°F
    • Thursday
    • 61°F | 41°F
    • Friday
    • 59°F | 48°F
    • Saturday
    • 61°F | 41°F

210 Accommodations in Queenstown

Filters

Filters
Property type
Stars
Novotel Queenstown Lakeside

Novotel Queenstown Lakeside

270 yd from city centre Excellent location
from126
Hotel Mipad Smart

Hotel Mipad Smart

103 yd from city centre
Hotel Heartland Queenstown

Hotel Heartland Queenstown

270 yd from city centre Excellent location
Hotel Peppers Beacon Queenstown

Hotel Peppers Beacon Queenstown

959 yd from city centre Excellent location

Frequently asked questions about Hotels in Queenstown

The most centrally located hotels in Queenstown with the best ratings are: Hotel The Dairy Private, Hotel Queenstown Park Boutique and Hotel The Spire.

It depends on the category of the hotel. If you want to stay at a 4-star hotel in Queenstown, the average price per night is 78 , while you will pay an average of 67 for a 3-star hotel, and in a more luxurious 5-star hotel, you'll pay around 1.229 .

You can make reservations at Hotel Matakauri Lodge, Hotel The Spire and Hotel St Moritz Queenstown Mgallery if you"re looking for a hotel with valet service for your visit to Queenstown.

If you need a hotel with disabled access in Queenstown, we recommend Hotel Arrowfield Apartments, Hotel The Dairy Private and Hotel Villa Del Lago.

The best hotels in Queenstown for adults only are Hotel Base Backpackers Queenstown and Hotel The Dairy Private.

According to our clients, if you´re travelling with children, the best hotels in Queenstown are Hotel Esplanade Queenstown By Staysouth, Hotel Crowne Plaza Queenstown and Hotel St Moritz Queenstown Mgallery.

If you want to save time, the hotels in Queenstown with express check-in and check-out are Hotel Kamana Lakehouse, Hotel St Moritz Queenstown Mgallery and Motel Bella Vista Queenstown.

Some of the options for hotels with non-smoking rooms in Queenstown are Hotel The Dairy Private, Hotel Arrowfield Apartments and Hotel Villa Del Lago.

In Queenstown, Hotel The Spire, Hotel Kamana Lakehouse and Hotel St Moritz Queenstown Mgallery offer 24-hour front desk service.

If you're bringing a vehicle, we recommend that you book a hotel with parking in Queenstown, like Hotel Arrowfield Apartments, Hotel Villa Del Lago or Hotel Queenstown House Boutique Bed & Breakfast And Apartments.