- Length
- 5 days
- Season
- Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Base
- Town Centre
- Car
- Not needed
- Pace
- High energy
- Budget
- Mid to high
- Best for
- Adrenaline & the outdoors
Five days of Queenstown at full throttle — bungy, jet boat, skydive, rafting and biking — balanced with lake swims and long summer evenings. Built around a central base with day-trip transport laid on, so you can go big without a car.
Quick decisions
Stay here
Stay central so you're minutes from the adventure pick-up points and the après scene.
Book ahead
Adventure operators sell out in summer — lock in your skydive, bungy and rafting slots first.
Best if
Best if you want to stack the big-ticket thrills into one trip.
Swap if
Weather turns? Swap an outdoor thrill for iFly indoor skydiving or the Shotover Canyon Swing (runs in most conditions).
Map & route
Days are hub-and-spoke from a central base: the Kawarau bungy and rafting are a short drive east, the Shotover activities just north, and Glenorchy an hour up the lake for Day 5.
Day by day
Arrive & first thrill
Land, settle in, and get straight into it.
Morning. Check in centrally and grab lunch on the waterfront.
Afternoon. Warm up with the Skyline Gondola and a few luge runs, or a jet-boat blast if you're in early.
Evening. Dinner and a craft beer in town.
Stay. Central base for the whole trip.
Swap: Late arrival? Just do the gondola at sunset and save the adrenaline for tomorrow.
Bungy & rafting
The classic double — jump then get wet.
Morning. AJ Hackett bungy at the historic Kawarau Bridge — the original.
Afternoon. White-water raft the Shotover or Kawarau river.
Evening. Refuel with a big dinner in town.
Swap: Prefer air to water? Swap rafting for the Shotover Canyon Swing.
Skydive & lake
Freefall, then a mellow lake afternoon.
Morning. Tandem skydive over the lake and mountains.
Afternoon. Kayak or paddleboard Queenstown Bay, or swim off the beach.
Evening. Sunset drinks on the waterfront.
Swap: Cloudy for the jump? Move the skydive to your best-weather day and kayak now.
Bike & canyon
Two wheels and a canyon rush.
Morning. Ride the Queenstown Trails by the lake, or shuttle up for a Skyline bike-park lap.
Afternoon. Shotover Canyon Swing or Canyon Explorers canyoning.
Evening. Casual dinner; rest up for the Glenorchy day.
Swap: Legs tired? Swap the bike for a Segway or e-bike tour.
Glenorchy & farewell
Big scenery to finish.
Morning. Head up the lake to Glenorchy — jet boat the Dart River or a paradise zipline.
Afternoon. Scenic drive back; final lakeside lunch.
Evening. Depart, or one last night in town.
Swap: Short on time? Skip Glenorchy and do a half-day heli alpine landing instead.
Where to stay
Stay central for the whole trip — every pick-up is close and you'll want the après on foot. See where to stay by area on the accommodation page.
Browse accommodation →Getting around
Operators run transfers to the Kawarau, Shotover and Glenorchy; in town you're on foot. A car isn't needed. See the Getting Around guide.
Getting around guide →What to book first
Skydive, bungy and rafting first — summer slots go fast. Keep one flexible day for the best weather window.
Browse activities →Cost guide
Indicative per person: skydive NZ$300–500, bungy NZ$150–260, rafting NZ$200–260, canyon swing NZ$200+. Multi-activity combos save. Prices change — check operators.
Variations
Cheaper: Lead with luge, biking the lakeside trails, kayaking and a single big-ticket jump.
Luxe: Add a heli-canyoning or heli-biking day and a lakefront suite.
Family: Swap solo thrills for tandem/family options — luge, iFly, gentle rafting, the Dart wilderness jet.
No-car: Everything here runs with operator transfers — you don't need to drive.
FAQ
Can I do all these without a car?
Yes — adventure operators include transfers from town, and everything in the centre is walkable.
What if the weather's bad for the skydive?
Skydives and scenic flights are weather-dependent. Keep a flexible day and book air activities early in your trip so there's room to rebook.
Make it yours
Save the stops you like to My Queenstown, open the Trip Planner to reshape the days, or ask Will to customise this itinerary to your dates.