✦ Top pick
Arrowtown is the best all-rounder and closest escape (20 minutes by car); choose Glenorchy for jaw-dropping wilderness scenery, Wanaka for a laid-back lakeside base, or Te Anau if you want to be at Fiordland's doorstep.
Queenstown is thrilling, but its best-kept secret is how quickly it drops away. Within 20 minutes you can be walking a gold-rush high street under yellow poplars; within an hour you can be tasting Pinot Noir in Central Otago or standing on the shore of a mirror-still lake. The towns that ring the Wakatipu basin and spill into the Southern Lakes each offer a distinct flavor of the South Island.
These picks are ordered roughly by ease and reward from Queenstown itself, from the closest heritage village to a full Fiordland gateway two hours south. For each I've noted how to get there, roughly how long it takes, and who it suits best, so you can match the town to the kind of day you want.
Most are doable as day trips with a rental car, and several justify an overnight if you want to slow down and beat the tour buses. Distances are short but roads are winding and scenic, so build in time to stop.
Planning a trip to Queenstown?
1Arrowtown Google
This impeccably preserved 1860s gold-mining town is the easiest and most rewarding escape from Queenstown. Buckingham Street is lined with more than 60 heritage buildings now housing cafes, galleries, and shops, and the restored Chinese Settlement along Bush Creek tells the story of the miners who worked the diggings. In April the avenue of poplars and oaks turns gold and crimson for the Autumn Festival, drawing photographers from around the country. Rent a pan and try your luck in the Arrow River, or walk the flat riverside trail before lunch at one of the town's long-running bakeries.
- Heritage Buckingham Street and the Lakes District Museum
- The restored Chinese Settlement on Bush Creek
- Gold panning in the Arrow River
- Autumn colour in April
Best for first-time day trippers, history and photography
Getting there 20-minute drive northeast, or the regular local bus from Queenstown (about 40 minutes)
2tours from $101.04Glenorchy Google
The drive to Glenorchy along the head of Lake Wakatipu is one of the great scenic roads in New Zealand, and the tiny lakeside settlement at the end of it feels like the edge of the map. This is Middle-earth country: the surrounding Dart and Rees valleys and nearby Paradise stood in for Lothlorien and Isengard in the Lord of the Rings films. The red Glenorchy wharf and its wooden shed are among the most photographed spots in the region, especially at dawn. Beyond photos, it's the launch point for jet boat safaris and hikes into Mount Aspiring National Park.
- The iconic red Glenorchy wharf shed
- Lord of the Rings filming locations at Paradise
- Glenorchy Lagoon boardwalk
- Dart River jet boat safaris
Best for scenery, film fans, wilderness adventures
Getting there 45-minute drive on the lakeside Glenorchy-Queenstown Road
3Wanaka Google
Wanaka is Queenstown's mellower cousin: a lakeside resort town with the same alpine backdrop but a slower, less frenetic pace. The lakefront promenade leads to #ThatWanakaTree, the lone willow standing in the shallows that has become one of the country's most photographed sights. Serious walkers tackle the steep climb up Roys Peak for a postcard view over the lake and Mount Aspiring, while quirkier stops include Puzzling World and a strip of relaxed cafes and craft breweries. It makes an excellent overnight or a base for exploring the northern lakes.
- #ThatWanakaTree on the lakefront
- The Roys Peak Track lookout
- Puzzling World illusion rooms
- Lakeside cafes and breweries
Best for a relaxed overnight, hikers, families
Getting there 1-hour drive over the Crown Range (New Zealand's highest sealed road) or via the Kawarau Gorge
4tours from $150.10Cromwell Google
Cromwell sits at the heart of Central Otago's fruit and wine country, marked by the giant sculpture of apples, apricots, and a pear at the town entrance. Its Old Town, a cluster of restored heritage buildings on the shore of Lake Dunstan, was rebuilt after the original was flooded by a hydro dam. The real draw is the wine: the nearby Bannockburn sub-region produces some of New Zealand's finest Pinot Noir, and cellar doors are an easy drive apart. In summer, roadside stalls sell just-picked cherries and stone fruit.
- Bannockburn wineries and cellar doors
- The historic Old Cromwell Town on Lake Dunstan
- Roadside cherry and stone fruit stalls
- The Lake Dunstan Cycle Trail
Best for wine lovers, cyclists, foodies
Getting there 1-hour drive east through the Kawarau Gorge
5Clyde Google
Clyde is a beautifully intact stone-and-schist village that many travelers miss, tucked below the huge Clyde Dam on the Clutha River. Its short main street has become a surprising food destination, with acclaimed small restaurants and cafes housed in 19th-century buildings. It's also the western terminus of the Otago Central Rail Trail, the country's original great cycle ride, and the newer Lake Dunstan Trail passes nearby. Come for a long lunch and a wander among the historic cottages.
- Historic stone buildings on Sunderland Street
- The start of the Otago Central Rail Trail
- Award-winning small restaurants
- The Clyde Dam lookout
Best for cyclists, a leisurely food-focused day
Getting there About 1 hour 15 minutes by car via Cromwell
6Te Anau Google
Te Anau is the gateway to Fiordland and the natural base for anyone visiting Milford Sound or walking the great tracks. It sits on the shore of the country's second-largest lake, backed by the mountains of Fiordland National Park, and the lakefront walk is calm and scenic. Highlights include the Te Anau Glowworm Caves, reached by a short boat trip, and easy access to the start of the Kepler and Milford Tracks. Staying overnight here shortens the long Milford Sound day considerably.
- Te Anau Glowworm Caves boat trip
- Lakefront walk and Fiordland National Park visitor centre
- The start of the Kepler Track
- A staging point for Milford Sound
Best for Fiordland trips, trampers, breaking up the Milford drive
Getting there About 2-hour drive southwest on State Highway 94
7Cardrona Google
Little more than a bend in the road high on the Crown Range, Cardrona is famous for the Cardrona Hotel, a photogenic 1863 gold-rush pub with a facade that appears on countless postcards. Its garden bar is a beloved stop for a drink or a meal on the drive between Queenstown and Wanaka. In winter it's the access point for the Cardrona Alpine Resort ski field, and year-round you'll pass the fence hung with thousands of bras (the Bradrona) nearby. It's a quick, characterful stop rather than a destination in itself.
- The historic Cardrona Hotel and garden bar
- Cardrona Alpine Resort (winter skiing)
- The scenic Crown Range drive
- Old St Patrick's Church
Best for a scenic pit stop, skiers, a memorable pub lunch
Getting there About 50-minute drive over the Crown Range toward Wanaka
8Kingston Google
At the quiet southern tip of Lake Wakatipu, Kingston is a tiny lakeside village that feels a world away from Queenstown's bustle. It's best known as the historic home of the Kingston Flyer vintage steam train, and the long shingle beach offers calm, uncrowded lake views back toward the mountains. There's little in the way of shops or crowds, which is exactly the point. Stop for a swim in summer or a peaceful picnic on the way south toward Te Anau or Invercargill.
- The historic Kingston Flyer steam railway
- Uncrowded southern Lake Wakatipu beach
- Quiet lakeside picnic spots
- Mountain views along the shore
Best for peace and quiet, a scenic detour south
Getting there About 45-minute drive south along the lake on State Highway 6
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✦ Good to know
Before you go
Getting aroundA rental car gives you the most freedom, as public transport beyond Arrowtown is limited. Arrowtown is reachable by regular local bus; Glenorchy, Wanaka, Cromwell, and Te Anau are best driven or reached by day tour.
When to goAutumn (April) is spectacular in Arrowtown and Central Otago for foliage, summer (December to February) is best for lake swimming and cherries, and winter brings snow and skiing around Cardrona and Wanaka.
Book aheadMilford Sound cruises, wine tours, and glowworm cave trips fill up in peak season, so reserve popular tours and any Te Anau or Wanaka accommodation in advance during summer and school holidays.
Driving the Crown RangeThe Queenstown-to-Wanaka route over the Crown Range is stunning but steep and winding; in winter carry chains and check conditions, or take the gentler Kawarau Gorge route via Cromwell.
The towns around Queenstown pack an astonishing amount of variety into a short drive, from gold-rush heritage and world-class wine to lakeside calm and Fiordland wilderness. Pick one for a half-day escape or string several together into a Southern Lakes road trip, and you'll see a quieter, richer side of this corner of New Zealand. Rent a car, allow time for the views, and let Queenstown be just the beginning.
Frequently asked questions
Which small town near Queenstown is best for a quick day trip?
Arrowtown, just 20 minutes by car, is the easiest and most rewarding day trip, with a preserved gold-rush main street, a good museum, and riverside walks. It's also reachable by regular local bus in about 40 minutes.
How do you get from Queenstown to Glenorchy?
Glenorchy is a 45-minute drive northwest along the scenic Glenorchy-Queenstown Road at the head of Lake Wakatipu. There's no regular public bus, so drive or join a guided tour, many of which combine it with Lord of the Rings filming sites.
Is Wanaka worth visiting from Queenstown?
Yes. Wanaka is about an hour away over the Crown Range and offers a calmer lakeside atmosphere, the famous #ThatWanakaTree, the Roys Peak hike, and good cafes. It works well as a day trip or a relaxed overnight.
Where should I base myself for Milford Sound?
Te Anau, about two hours southwest of Queenstown, is the natural gateway to Fiordland and Milford Sound. Staying overnight there significantly shortens the long day trip and puts you close to the Milford and Kepler Tracks.
Which town near Queenstown is best for wine?
Cromwell and the nearby Bannockburn sub-region, about an hour east through the Kawarau Gorge, sit at the heart of Central Otago's celebrated Pinot Noir country, with cellar doors an easy drive apart.
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