- 1Five days covers an arrival day, an adventure day, Arrowtown and Gibbston, one long Milford Sound day and a flexible last day.
- 2Milford Sound is the long one: DOC says the drive takes about 4.5 hours one way without stops, and there is no fuel between Te Anau and Milford Sound.
- 3Book the Milford Sound day and the adventure day first, and keep Day 5 loose in case weather moves a trip.
- 4Check seasonal closures: DOC closes Roys Peak Track from 1 October to 10 November each year for lambing.
01 / Short answer
plan five days in Queenstown, with one day for Milford Sound
How should you spend 5 days in Queenstown? Base yourself in town and give each day one job: arrive and walk on Day 1, an adventure ride on Day 2, Arrowtown and Gibbston on Day 3, Milford Sound on Day 4, and a free choice on Day 5. Milford Sound is the longest day, so book it first, and leave Day 5 loose so a weather change has somewhere to go. If you want Doubtful Sound as well, our 10 day itinerary adds a night in Te Anau.
02 / The plan
What does a 5 day Queenstown itinerary look like?
| Day | Plan | Getting there |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive, settle in and walk the Queenstown Gardens Trail. | Orbus adult fare from the airport: $2.50 with a Bee Card or $10 cash. |
| Day 2 | Adventure day: Shotover Jet, the Shotover Canyon Swing, or both. | Shotover Jet says its base is less than 10 minutes' drive from town. |
| Day 3 | Arrowtown and the Chinese Settlement, then Gibbston. | Arrowtown 19 km, about 20 minutes; Gibbston 25 km, about 25 minutes on SH6. |
| Day 4 | Milford Sound. | About 4.5 hours each way by car without stops, DOC says, or a coach day. |
| Day 5 | Choose: a walk, a lake cruise, Wānaka, or a second ride. | Wānaka is 70 to 80 minutes over the Crown Range. |
03 / Days 1 and 2
What do I do on Day 1 and Day 2?
Day 1 is for arriving and a flat lakeside walk. Day 2 is for one adventure ride close to town, or both.
- Day 1, arrive
Orbus adult fare from the airport: $2.50 with a Bee Card or $10 cash. Buses take no bank cards, so check the route to your accommodation before you land.
- Day 1, walk
Destination Queenstown says the Queenstown Gardens Trail is a few minutes from central Queenstown, flat and wheelchair accessible, 3.1 km return and about an hour.
- Day 1, in town
Fergburger is at 42 Shotover Street, The Sundeck is on the top floor of 4 The Mall, and Botswana Butchery is at 17 Marine Parade. Our burger and restaurant guides list more places to eat.
- Day 2, Shotover Jet
A 25 minute ride at up to 90 km/h from 3 Arthurs Point Road. Shotover Jet says to allow about an hour if you drive yourself, or about 1 hour 45 minutes on its return shuttle.
- Day 2, Shotover Canyon Swing
The Shotover Canyon Swing is a canyon swing, not a bungy. It says it is about 10 minutes from the town centre and has been locally owned and operated since 2002. For bungy facts, read our bungy guide.
- Day 2, if weather stops a ride
Move the ride to Day 5, which this plan keeps free for exactly that.
04 / Day 3
How do Arrowtown and Gibbston fit into one day?
Both are east of Queenstown, on or off SH6.
Morning
Arrowtown
History
Chinese Settlement
Lake Hayes Road
Amisfield
Afternoon
Gibbston
05 / Day 4
How does the Milford Sound day work?
- 01Leave early
RealNZ's self-drive plan leaves Queenstown at 6.30 to 7am. DOC says to leave from 9am in winter.
- 02Fuel in Te Anau
DOC says there are no fuel stations or shops between Te Anau and Piopiotahi Milford Sound, and mobile coverage is patchy.
- 03Short stops
DOC lists Mirror Lakes as 400 m return, about 10 minutes, and the Lake Gunn Nature Walk as a flat 1.4 km loop of about 45 minutes. RealNZ names the Avenue of the Disappearing Mountain as a stop.
- 04Homer Tunnel
A 1.2 km tunnel through solid rock, opened in 1954. DOC says tunnel signals can add up to 20 minutes.
- 05The Chasm
DOC lists a 400 m return walk of about 20 minutes. Check DOC's page for current status, because the walk has changed since a 2020 storm.
- 06The cruise
RealNZ's cruise lasts 1.5 to 2 hours and runs the length of the fiord, past Mitre Peak (1,692 m) and Stirling Falls. DOC says to allow an hour to park and walk to the terminal.
- 07Home
RealNZ's self-drive plan returns around 7.30 to 8pm, roughly 13 to 14 hours in all. RealNZ also offers a scenic flight back, weather permitting.
06 / Day 5
What can I do on the last day?
Pick one, based on the weather and how much energy you have left.
- A big walk
DOC lists the Ben Lomond Track as 6 to 8 hours return to the 1,748 m summit, with high fitness needed, or 3 to 4 hours return from the gondola top to the saddle. DOC warns the weather changes rapidly and hypothermia is a risk even in summer.
- A shorter walk
Destination Queenstown gives the Queenstown Hill Time Walk as 2 hours return, plus 30 minutes for the summit.
- The lake
RealNZ's Walter Peak farm tour crosses on the TSS Earnslaw or the Spirit of Queenstown, with a sheepdog demonstration and afternoon tea, in about 3 hours 30 minutes.
- Wānaka
70 to 80 minutes over the Crown Range Road, New Zealand's highest sealed alpine pass, Destination Queenstown says. Federal Diner is at 47 Helwick Street.
- Roys Peak
DOC closes Roys Peak Track for lambing from 1 October to 10 November each year and suggests Isthmus Peak Track during the closure. Check DOC's page for current status.
- A second ride
Do whichever of Shotover Jet or the Shotover Canyon Swing you skipped on Day 2, or a tandem paragliding flight from Coronet Peak.
07 / Getting around
decide whether you need a car for five days
Do you need a car for 5 days in Queenstown? Not for every day. Orbus adult fares are $2.50 with a Bee Card, or $4 cash in town and $10 cash to the airport; buses take no bank cards, and Shotover Jet runs a return shuttle. RealNZ runs coach days to Milford Sound, about 5 hours each way with stops. A car helps most on Day 3 and the Wānaka option on Day 5. We have not checked bus timetables for this guide, so check routes against your accommodation.