Queenstown Tours & Vacations

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). 

However, we continue to strongly recommend  that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 policy

If you're traveling to Queenstown from a different part of New Zealand then the quickest and easiest way to do it would be via taking a flight into Queenstown airport with daily flights landing from destinations such as Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. However driving to Queenstown is also an option as all major highways are clearly marked with directions and offer easy transportation into the town with a scenic view along the way. 

Getting around Queenstown is fairly easy with a bunch of different transportation options. If you traveled to Queenstown by car or want to hire one on your arrival then getting around Queenstown is quick and efficient with generous parking available in the town center. Alternately, Queenstown has an excellent public transportation system with the local bus network providing fares for $2 to all major suburbs within the town. 

Read more about getting around Queenstown

The weather in Queenstown is very different across the four seasons, from cold and snowy Winters to long and hot Summers. Some days in Queenstown can also feel like a mixture of a few seasons in one! Sitting against the Southern Alps, Summers in Queenstown can see temperatures between 20°C and 30°C, with Winters dropping down to 5°C. Despite these temperatures, Queenstown sees visitors at any time of the year, with lots do across the four seasons. 

Read more about the weather in Queenstown

What to pack for Queenstown largely depends on what time of the year you're going in. As Winters can be quite cold, rainproof jackets, insulated clothing, and thick jumpers and coats are recommended, as well as gloves, socks, and beanies. If you're traveling in Summer then the temperature can be quite hot so dresses, t-shirts, shorts are acceptable. Remember to pack sunscreen to put on before you go outside to protect you against the sun's UV rays. It's also a good idea to bring sensible hiking boots or walking shoes as there are many trails in Queenstown you might want to explore. 

Hiring a car in Queenstown is relatively easy. If you're flying into Queenstown from other parts of New Zealand, then you can hire a car easily from the airport with 9 car rental companies to choose from. The average cost of renting a car in Queenstown is roughly $36 per day and varies on the type of car you rent and how long you need it for. 

For the months between April and September New Zealand uses NZST (New Zealand Standard Time) and from October to March, New Zealand observes daylight savings and so switches to NZDT (New Zealand Daylight Time). During NZST, New Zealand is 2 hours in front of the time in Australian cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, and 19 hours in front of Los Angeles time. 

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. Queenstown prides itself on providing accessible and inclusive adventures so everyone's able to experience the many activities that this town has to offer, and have a whole heap of accommodation with disabled access for ultimate convenience.