Queenstown
Queenstown: packing for day hikes among mountains and lakes
NZeTA in advance, a waterproof jacket and layers for fast-changing mountain weather, and clean, declarable hiking boots.
Queenstown
Queenstown: packing for day hikes among mountains and lakes
NZeTA in advance, a waterproof jacket and layers for fast-changing mountain weather, and clean, declarable hiking boots.
- Year-round
- Adventure
Editor-picked essentials
- Waterproof jacket and warm layers
Mountain weather changes quickly; carry rain gear and warm clothes even in summer.
Sources
- Department of Conservation: know before you go Department of Conservation
- Clean hiking boots
Used outdoor equipment is declarable on arrival; remove soil before packing.
Sources
- Ministry for Primary Industries: what to declare when travelling to NZ Ministry for Primary Industries
- Daypack, water and snacks
Match them to the route; there are few places to resupply.
Recommended packing
Apps that can help at this destination
Google Maps
Editor's pickFind and save trailheads and tour meeting points in Queenstown, and check locations and routes.
Before using: Save key places. While connected, download the required area through Offline maps → Select your own map.
Things to know: Offline walking, cycling and transit directions are unavailable. Offline driving has no live traffic information and requires the entire route to lie within the downloaded area.
Sources
About this guide
An editorial guide for day hikes and a Milford Sound trip from a Queenstown base. New Zealand’s Department of Conservation advises checking weather and track conditions before you go and carrying rain gear and warm clothing, as mountain weather changes quickly. Biosecurity is strict: food and used outdoor equipment are declarable on arrival, so clean the mud off your boots before you pack them.
Trip photos
Local travel notes
How to read this guide
Editorial recommendationAn editorial packing guide for day hikes and scenic trips from a lakeside base in Queenstown, written from the cited sources rather than a first-hand trip. Dates, costs and party size are not set. Entry rules and venue rules change, so confirm official information before you travel.
Photo credits and licence notes
Photo 1: credit and licence
Travel tipLake Wakatipu from the top of the Queenstown gondola. Avenue / Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported. Resized and converted to WebP. No endorsement by the original photographer is implied. This adaptation is available under the same licence.
Sources
- Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons
- Photo 1: original and author Wikimedia Commons
Photo 2: credit and licence
Travel tipQueenstown and Lake Wakatipu from the lookout. Floreana at German Wikipedia / Public domain. Resized and converted to WebP. No endorsement by the original photographer is implied.
Sources
- Photo 2: original and author Wikimedia Commons
Photo 3: credit and licence
Travel tipThe TSS Earnslaw steamship on Lake Wakatipu. Genet / Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International. Resized and converted to WebP. No endorsement by the original photographer is implied. This adaptation is available under the same licence.
Sources
- Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International Creative Commons
- Photo 3: original and author Wikimedia Commons
Photo 4: credit and licence
Travel tipLake Wakatipu from the Glenorchy road. Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand / Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Resized and converted to WebP. No endorsement by the original photographer is implied.
Sources
- Photo 4: original and author Wikimedia Commons
- Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons