- 1Queenstown Hill, the Tiki Trail and the Ben Lomond Track all start in town, with no fee listed by DOC or Destination Queenstown.
- 2The 18 basket disc golf course in Queenstown Gardens is free to play, and DOC lists no entry fee for Arrowtown's Chinese Settlement.
- 3Orbus adult fares are $2.50 with a Bee Card, or $4 cash in town and $10 cash to or from the airport.
- 4Some add-ons cost money, such as the gondola ride down and Lakes District Museum entry, so check current prices first.
01 / Short answer
wander the town walks, lookouts and history, with no fee listed
What can you do in Queenstown for free? Mostly, walk. Three tracks climb from the town centre, with no fee listed by DOC or Destination Queenstown. Queenstown Gardens has a disc golf course that Destination Queenstown says is free to play, Arrowtown has a heritage settlement and two trails, and the Glenorchy and Crown Range roads have lookouts. The gondola ride down and museum entry cost money. For the lake walks, see our short walks guide.
02 / At a glance
Which free thing suits my day?
| Free thing | Where it starts | Plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Queenstown Hill Time Walk | Belfast Street, central Queenstown. | 2 hours return, plus 30 minutes for the summit. |
| Tiki Trail | End of Cemetery Road, off Brecon Street. | About 1 hour up, 2.1 km one way; moderate. |
| Ben Lomond Track | Skyline Gondola base, Brecon Street. | 6 to 8 hours return to the summit; high fitness. |
| Frankton Track | Queenstown Gardens or Frankton Beach. | 10 km one way, about 3 hours; a detour runs through 2026. |
| Disc golf | Queenstown Gardens. | 18 baskets; bring or hire discs. |
| Arrowtown Chinese Settlement | Top of Buckingham Street, Arrowtown. | A short walk; the main path suits wheelchairs and buggies. |
| Glenorchy road lookouts | Glenorchy Road, west from Queenstown. | 45 km to Glenorchy, about 45 minutes, by car. |
03 / Walks from town
Which free walks start in central Queenstown?
- Queenstown Hill Time Walk
Starts on Belfast Street. Destination Queenstown gives 2 hours return to the Basket of Dreams sculpture by Caroline Robinson, plus 30 minutes for the summit, mostly under pine forest, with 360-degree views to Cecil Peak, the Frankton Arm and Queenstown Bay. Destination Queenstown lists no fee or booking.
- Tiki Trail
Climbs 2.1 km from the end of Cemetery Road, off Brecon Street, steeply through trees to the Skyline Gondola building: about 1 hour, moderate. DOC lists no fee for the walk, but riding the gondola down costs money, so check current fares with Skyline.
- Ben Lomond Track
DOC gives 6 to 8 hours return, 14 km, from the gondola base to the 1,748 m summit, or 5 hours return, 10 km, to the saddle. DOC lists no track fee and rates the fitness needed as high; carry your own water, and in winter you need alpine equipment.
- Frankton Track
10 km one way, about 3 hours, easy and relatively flat, from Queenstown Gardens or Frankton Beach. Destination Queenstown says upgrade works put a detour on the Frankton Road footpath throughout 2026, so check current status.
04 / Near town
What else is free close to Queenstown?
Play
Queenstown Gardens disc golf
Lake walks
Gardens, Sunshine Bay and Lake Hayes
Further out
Moke Lake and Bobs Cove
05 / Arrowtown
What can I do for free in Arrowtown?
Destination Queenstown puts Arrowtown 19 km from Queenstown, 20 to 30 minutes by road. The Lakes District Museum in Arrowtown charges for entry, so check current prices if you plan to go in.
Heritage
Arrowtown Chinese Settlement
River
Arrow River Trail
Climb
Tobin's Track
06 / Drives
Which scenic drives and lookouts can I do from Queenstown?
These need a car; fuel aside, they cost nothing.
- Glenorchy Road
45 km from Queenstown to Glenorchy, about 45 minutes, according to Destination Queenstown.
- Bennett's Bluff Lookout
25 km from Queenstown on the Glenorchy road, with views of Mount Earnslaw/Pikirakatahi.
- Paradise
16 km north of Glenorchy at the head of the Dart River, where Destination Queenstown says the beech forests doubled for Lothlórien in The Lord of the Rings.
- Crown Saddle lookout
At the highest point of the Crown Range Road, which Destination Queenstown calls New Zealand's highest sealed alpine pass, with panels on local history and geology. Bring snow chains in winter.
07 / Getting around
How much does the bus cost in Queenstown?
Orbus, run by the Otago Regional Council, charges adults $2.50 with a Bee Card or $4 cash for travel anywhere in the Queenstown network, which is one zone. To or from the airport, adults pay $2.50 with a Bee Card or $10 cash. With a Bee Card, a second bus within 45 minutes of tagging off is free. Buses take cash or a Bee Card only, not bank cards.