- 1Ten days lets you base yourself in Queenstown, add day trips to Arrowtown, Gibbston, Glenorchy, Wānaka and Milford Sound, and spend one night in Te Anau for Doubtful Sound.
- 2Milford Sound is the long day: RealNZ puts the drive at around 290 km and roughly 4.5 hours each way in good conditions, excluding stops.
- 3Book the Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound days first, and keep a spare day in case weather or conditions move a trip.
- 4Check seasonal closures before you fix dates: DOC closes Roys Peak Track from 1 October to 10 November.
01 / Short answer
spend ten days around Queenstown, one day trip at a time
How should you spend 10 days in Queenstown? Stay in Queenstown for most of it and use day trips: Arrowtown is about 20 minutes away, Glenorchy about 45, Wānaka 70 to 80 minutes over the Crown Range, and Milford Sound a full day. Add one night in Te Anau, about 2 hours away, so Doubtful Sound does not become a second very long day. Book the two fiord days first, and keep one slower day in the middle for weather or rest.
02 / The plan
What does a 10 day Queenstown itinerary look like?
| Day | Plan | Getting there |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive, settle in and walk the lakefront. | Orbus from the airport: adult $2.50 with a Bee Card or $10 cash. |
| Day 2 | Adventure day: the Shotover Canyon Swing or a Shotover Jet ride. | Shotover Canyon Swing says it is about 10 minutes from the town centre. |
| Day 3 | Arrowtown, then Gibbston cellar doors. | Arrowtown 19 km, about 20 minutes; Gibbston 25 km, about 25 minutes on SH6. |
| Day 4 | Milford Sound. | Around 290 km, roughly 4.5 hours each way by car in good conditions. |
| Day 5 | A slow day in Queenstown, or the spare day if Milford moved. | On foot, or Orbus at $2.50 with a Bee Card or $4 cash. |
| Day 6 | Glenorchy and the head of the lake. | 46 km, about 45 minutes on the Queenstown-Glenorchy Road. |
| Day 7 | Wānaka over the Crown Range. | 70 to 80 minutes, according to Destination Queenstown. |
| Day 8 | Drive to Te Anau; glowworm caves in the evening. | Around 170 km, roughly 2 hours. |
| Day 9 | Doubtful Sound from Manapouri, then back to Queenstown. | RealNZ's cruises leave the Manapouri Visitor Centre. |
| Day 10 | A last morning in town, then fly out. | Air New Zealand domestic check-in closes 30 minutes before departure. |
03 / Book first
What should I book first for 10 days in Queenstown?
Book these before you fix the rest of the days around them.
- Milford Sound
It is the longest day. RealNZ says its coach day from Queenstown has about 5 hours of coach travel each way and a 1.5 to 2 hour cruise.
- Doubtful Sound
RealNZ's cruises all leave the Manapouri Visitor Centre, with a 45 minute crossing of Lake Manapouri and a 45 minute coach drive over Wilmot Pass before the fiord.
- A night in Te Anau
Book it with Doubtful Sound, so Day 9 starts close to Manapouri.
- Te Anau glowworm caves
RealNZ's trips leave its visitor centre at 85 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau. Book ahead if you want the Day 8 evening.
- The adventure day
Book Day 2, and keep Day 5 free in case the operator calls a trip off for conditions.
04 / Day trips
How far are the day trips from Queenstown?
Times are the official sources' figures, without stops.
Day 3
Arrowtown
Day 3
Gibbston
Day 6
Glenorchy
Day 7
Wānaka
Day 8
Te Anau
Swap
Lake Tekapo
05 / Milford Sound
start early for the Milford Sound day
Why is Milford Sound Day 4 and not Day 2? It is the longest day of the ten, and putting it early leaves Day 5 free if the weather moves it. RealNZ puts the drive at around 290 km and roughly 4.5 hours each way in good conditions, excluding stops. On its coach day from Queenstown, RealNZ says coach travel is about 5 hours each way and the cruise typically 1.5 to 2 hours. If you would rather not drive it, a coach day puts the driving in someone else's hands.
06 / Seasons
What changes in winter and spring?
- Roys Peak
DOC closes Roys Peak Track from 1 October to 10 November for lambing. Outside the closure it is 16 km return, 5 to 6 hours, with over 1,200 m of climbing, and DOC says it needs high fitness. Check DOC's page for current status.
- An alternative
If Roys Peak is closed, check DOC's Isthmus Peak Track page as another option for Day 7.
- Ski days
In winter you can swap Day 5 or Day 6 for a day at Coronet Peak or The Remarkables. Check each ski field's opening dates for your trip.
- Glenorchy in rain
DOC says the lagoon section of the Glenorchy Walkway floods in heavy rain.
- Roads
Check road status before the Crown Range, Te Anau and Milford Sound days.
07 / Getting around
decide whether you need a car for ten days
Do you need a car for 10 days in Queenstown? Not for every day. In town, Orbus adult fares are $2.50 with a Bee Card or $4 cash, and RealNZ runs coach days to Milford Sound from Queenstown. A car makes Glenorchy, Wānaka and the Te Anau night easier to fit around your own times. We have not checked Orbus timetables for this guide, so check routes and times against your accommodation, or hire a car only for Days 6 to 9.