Queenstown Tours & Vacations

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers 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 travelers 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.

If you're going to Queenstown from a different part of New Zealand, the quickest and easiest way to do it would be by taking a flight into Queenstown airport with daily flights from destinations such as Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

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 relatively easy, with many different transportation options.

If you travel 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.

Queenstown also has an excellent public transportation system. The local bus network has routes to all major suburbs within the town.

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 68°F and 86°F, with winters dropping to 41°F.

Queenstown sees visitors at any time of the year despite these temperatures, with lots to do across the four seasons.

What to pack for Queenstown depends on what time of the year you're going in. Winters can be quite cold; rainproof jackets, insulated clothing, and thick jumpers and coats are recommended, as well as gloves, socks, and beanies.

Summer temperatures can be hot, so dresses, t-shirts, and shorts are acceptable. Remember to pack sunscreen and put it on before you go outside to protect yourself 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 at Queenstown Airport is relatively easy. There are nine car rental companies. The average cost of renting a car in Queenstown is roughly NZ$37 per day and varies depending on the type of car you rent and how long you need it.

For the months between April and September, New Zealand uses NZST (New Zealand Standard Time)

New Zealand observes daylight savings from October to March and 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.

We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. 

We are always happy to talk to travelers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.