10 of the Best, Most Adventurous Things to Do in Queenstown

Queenstown has a special little place in our hearts. Sitting on the edge of Lake Whakatipu (you’ll also see it spelled Wakatipu, both are in common use), it’s known as the adventure capital of New Zealand, and it earns that reputation. We first visited in 2009 and went back four times after that, and it’s one of the few places in the country that genuinely got our hearts pounding.

Every activity on this list is something we’ve done ourselves. All of it is Instagram-worthy, all of it is heart-poundingly good fun, and a couple of these will make you feel like you’ve come alive for the first time.

In this article we cover:

• The 10 most adventurous things to do in Queenstown, fact-checked and updated
• What to expect from each activity
• A few extra Queenstown highlights worth knowing about
• Your questions answered

1. Shotover Canyon Swing

Get up to 109 metres above the Shotover River, look straight down into the canyon, hop into the harness and let go. It’s the biggest thing your five-year-old playground-swinging self could never have imagined, and your heart genuinely thumps against your ribs on the way down. If a straight drop feels like too much (or not enough), the same operator, Shotover Canyon Swing, also runs the Canyon Fox, a two-line zipline across the same canyon. It was brilliant in 2009 and it’s still every bit as good now.

2. Nomad Safaris quad biking

There’s nothing quite like your own personal roller coaster around Queenstown Hill. Nomad Safaris supply the quad, the protective gear and a proper briefing before you head out onto private high-country trails with full panoramic views over Queenstown. We were complete beginners, so we were grateful for the lesson before being let loose solo.

3. NZONE Skydive

How many people do you actually know who’ve jumped from 15,000 feet? NZONE Skydive is New Zealand’s original tandem skydive operator and still offers the country’s highest jump, with 9,000, 12,000 and 15,000 foot options depending on how much freefall you want. At the top end you’re falling at close to 200 kilometres an hour with views over Lake Whakatipu and the Remarkables. There’s genuinely no other feeling like it.

4. Canyoning

Think abseiling down waterfalls, sliding through rock chutes and doing your best imitation of a superhero, minus the cape. Canyoning New Zealand runs half-day, full-day and multi-day canyoning trips through the gorgeous canyons around Queenstown (Canyon Explorers is the other well-established local operator, if you want a second option). Book online for the current rate, as trip length and season both affect pricing.

5. Tandem paragliding

If you’ve ever been asked what superpower you’d want and said flying, this is the closest you’ll get. GForce Paragliding has been flying tandem over Queenstown since 1991, launching from the top of the Skyline Gondola. You’re strapped in with an experienced pilot, so it feels wild and free without ever feeling unsafe, soaring above the mountains and Lake Whakatipu like the only bird in the sky.

6. HeliBike NZ

If mountain biking is your thing and you want to reach trails you’d never find on your own, HeliBike NZ will fly you into private high-country farmland across several Central Otago ranges. The company is owned by Henry van Asch, a former downhill mountain bike champion and co-founder of AJ Hackett Bungy, so they genuinely know what they’re doing when they drop you into the middle of nowhere with a bike.

7. AJ Hackett Bungy: the Nevis

There’s something oddly compelling about strapping yourself into a harness that promises nothing except to drop you and let you swing like the world’s biggest childhood playground set. AJ Hackett’s Nevis Bungy is 134 metres of freefall, around 8 seconds of pure noise before the cord catches, over a stunning canyon setting. If 134 metres feels excessive, the original 43m Kawarau Bridge Bungy, where AJ Hackett started it all in 1988, is a slightly gentler (still terrifying) alternative.

8. Skippers Canyon Jet

Go fast or go home. This was one of our most memorable Queenstown adventures, genuinely like something out of an action film. Skippers Canyon Jet is the only operator licensed to run boats on the protected Upper Shotover River, and the drive in through historic Skippers Canyon is almost as good as the jet boating itself. Expect tight turns, close canyon walls, and a proper 360 degree spin or two.

9. Heli-skiing

If you love fresh powder, Alpine Heliski or Harris Mountains Heli-Ski will fly you up into the Queenstown and Wānaka high country for genuine off-piste, off-lift skiing or snowboarding. Both come with proper safety training, guiding and equipment, and a decent lunch is usually part of the package. It’s a proper treat for skiing friends and family when they visit, and one we still recommend to anyone chasing untouched snow. Season and conditions dependent, obviously.

10. Serious Fun Riverboarding

Take on the white water in a completely different way. Riverboarding, or river sledging, isn’t as well known as rafting or jet boating, which is exactly why it’s worth trying. Serious Fun Riverboarding has been running trips on the Kawarau River since 1989. It starts gently, floating and taking in the scenery on your board, then tips into proper grade three white water where your adrenaline well and truly kicks in.

A few more Queenstown highlights

If ten extreme activities feels like a lot, or you want to fill in gaps between the big-ticket ones, a few other Queenstown regulars are worth knowing about. Shotover Jet is a separate operator from Skippers Canyon Jet and runs its own high-speed jet boat trips through the narrower canyons of the lower Shotover River. The Skyline Gondola and luge is a much gentler thrill, but the views over the lake from the top are genuinely spectacular, and the luge track is good fun for any age. Ziptrek Ecotours runs zipline tours through native forest right beside the gondola, with a strong focus on conservation alongside the adrenaline. A Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown is a long day (expect 12 to 14 hours door to door) but it’s one of New Zealand’s genuine bucket-list experiences. And when your legs and nerves need a rest, Onsen Hot Pools offers private cedar hot tubs with alpine views, which is exactly what you want after a day of throwing yourself off things.

If you’re building a wider South Island route around Queenstown, our New Zealand travel itineraries have some suggestions for what to pair it with, and our guide to travelling New Zealand on a budget has tips for keeping the rest of the trip affordable once you’ve splashed out on a bungy jump or two. If you’re weighing up a longer stay, our guide to moving to New Zealand is worth a read too, plenty of people fall for Queenstown on holiday and start planning a way to stay longer.

Done one of these and think we’ve missed your favourite? Let us know via our contact page, we’re always adding to the list.

Your questions answered

What is the most extreme thing to do in Queenstown? The Nevis Bungy from AJ Hackett is generally considered the most extreme single activity, at 134 metres with around 8 seconds of freefall. NZONE’s 15,000 foot skydive and the Shotover Canyon Swing aren’t far behind for sheer adrenaline.

Is Queenstown expensive for adventure activities? Yes, most of these activities sit at the premium end of New Zealand tourism pricing, and costs shift with season and demand, so book online for the current rate on each operator’s own site rather than relying on an old published price.

Do I need to book Queenstown activities in advance? In peak season (December to March, and the ski season from June to September) the popular operators do sell out, especially skydiving and bungy. Booking a few days ahead, or longer for peak weeks, is a sensible precaution.

What’s the best time of year for adventure activities in Queenstown? Most of the activities on this list run year-round, though jet boating and river activities can pause after heavy rain when river levels rise, and heli-skiing is a winter-only activity (roughly June to September). Spring and autumn tend to have the best combination of good weather and thinner crowds.

Are these activities suitable for beginners or first-timers? Yes, every operator on this list caters primarily to first-timers, with full briefings, safety equipment and guides included. You don’t need prior experience for any of them, just a reasonable level of fitness and a willingness to feel nervous for a few minutes.

Is Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu or Lake Whakatipu? Both spellings are in use. Whakatipu is the correct Māori spelling and is increasingly used on official signage and maps, while Wakatipu (without the “h”) became the common anglicised form after early European settlers dropped the letter. You’ll see both around town.