Nighttime in Queenstown is just as lively as the day. It’s home to plenty of attractions that stay open ’til late on a daily basis — from family-friendly activities to bars and pubs with constant parties.
Whatever you’re into (and however late you go to bed!), find some fun things to do in Queenstown at night with our handy guide.
1. Take on the Skyline Queenstown Night Luge
Image credit: Skyline
In winter, the Skyline Queenstown Luge comes to life with stunning multi-coloured LED lights. Zip around the twists and turns, traversing over 1.6 km of colourful tracks in total. To enjoy the full intensity of the vibrant tracks against the dark night sky, make sure you check the sunset hour for your chosen booking date.
Address: 53 Brecon Street, Queenstown
Monday – Sunday: Hours vary, see current Skyline attraction hours
Prices: See Luge pricing and packages
2. Dine over aerial views of Queenstown at night
Image credit: Skyline
After your exhilarating Night Luge race, reward your tastebuds and settle into the evening with some of New Zealand’s finest cuisine. Skyline Queenstown’s Stratosfare Restaurant works with local producers to bring fresh, high-quality ingredients from pasture to plate.
Indulge in a buffet of seasonal specialties, flame-grilled meats, delicious vegan dishes, decadent sweets, and more. Your dinner is accompanied by panoramic views of central Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, and the Remarkables. Upgrade to Premium Dining for the best seats by the windows.
Address: 53 Brecon Street, Queenstown
Monday – Sunday: 11:45 AM – 8:45 PM
Prices: See Stratosfare Restaurant pricing and packages
3. Discover the night sky with a Stargazing tour
Image credit: Skyline
At 480m above Queenstown, Bob’s Peak is an excellent location to scour the stars. Head up the Skyline Gondola and join a Stargazing tour, where an expert guide will take you through the night sky in an engaging 60-minute tour.
With state-of-the-art 11” Celestron telescopes, you’ll watch for elusive shooting stars, discover constellations found only in the Southern Hemisphere, and search for distant planets invisible to the naked eye. This is a Queenstown night activity you won’t forget!
Address: 53 Brecon Street, Queenstown
Monday – Sunday: Hours vary, see current Skyline attraction hours
Prices: See Stargazing pricing and packages
4. Board an evening cruise on a vintage steamship
Image credit: queenstown-tickets.com
Spend a leisurely evening on a lake cruise aboard the TSS Earnslaw. Lay your eyes on spectacular alpine scenery during a 90-minute cruise across Lake Wakatipu. Riding this century-old vessel — an iconic piece of New Zealand’s living history — is one of the most relaxing things to do in Queenstown at night.
Peek inside the engine room, the mini-museum, and the captain’s bridge before grabbing a delicious cold drink and snack at the onboard Promenade Café and Bar. You can book this iconic cruise as a standalone experience or include a visit to the Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet BBQ dinner.
The TSS Earnslaw undergoes annual servicing around May to June. During that time, you can instead take the Spirit of Queenstown, a modern catamaran.
Address: RealNZ Visitor Centre, Steamer Wharf, 88 Beach Street, Queenstown
Monday – Sunday: Dinner cruises start at 5:00 PM
5. Have a drink at the coolest bars in town
Image credit: Miles Holden
Like your drinks cold? How about everything else? Queenstown offers an après ski atmosphere all year long with three different ice bars — Minus 5° ICE BAR, Below Zero Ice Bar, and Queenstown Ice Bar.
Marvel at the hand-crafted ice sculptures as you sit back on the ice furniture and sip wintry cocktails from your ice cup. Don’t worry about frostbite — all of the bars provide thick, cosy coats and gloves before you step in. Each one is completely family-friendly and offers fun mocktails the kids will love.
Minus 5° ICE BAR address: 88 Beach Street, Queenstown
Monday – Sunday: 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Below Zero Ice Bar address: Searle Lane, Queenstown
Wednesday – Sunday: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Queenstown Ice Bar address: 35 Brecon Street, Queenstown
Monday – Sunday: 1:45 PM – 10:00 PM
6. Immerse yourself in Instagrammable interactive art
Image credit: The Dreamery
Step into an otherworldly experience of colour and light. The Dreamery and Odyssey Sensory Maze both offer one-of-a-kind interactive rooms for you to discover. Engage your senses with physical installations that bring you into the art, or snap some pics in front of digital displays that transform with your movements. The Dreamery and Maze each provide around 30-45 minutes of adventure.
The Dreamery address: 24 Camp Street, Queenstown
Monday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Odyssey Sensory Maze address: 57 Shotover Street, Queenstown
Sunday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
7. Join a twilight wine tasting tour around Gibbston
Image credit: Altitude Tours NZ
With the Altitude Twilight Wine & Craft Beer Tour, you can feast on the best local wine or craft beer, complemented by antipasto platters to share with your friends and family. Uncover the magic of one of the world’s premium wine-producing regions in Gibbston. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or simply love a good glass, take a tour to learn more about the history and production process of Queenstown’s world-class wineries.
Monday – Sunday: Tours start at 3:00 PM
8. Battle it out with an epic laser tag session at Game Over
Image Credit: Game Over
Looking for a Queenstown evening activity that’ll amuse the kids, the parents, or your most competitive mates? Challenge them to an action-packed game of laser tag!
Gentler than paintball — but with all the challenges of accuracy, coordination, teamwork, and speed — this dynamic game will deliver laughs and great lasting memories. The exciting dinosaur-themed laser tag arena at Game Over provides an extremely enjoyable and safe way for anyone to get active.
Address: 14 Red Oaks Drive, Frankton, Queenstown
Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
9. Dip into the Onsen Hot Pools or Bathe Hot Pools
Image credit: onsen.co.nz
Ready to unwind in a hot pool with some of Queenstown’s most stunning views? The luxury Onsen complex overlooks the Shotover River and alpine ranges, with a unique spa experience inspired by Japanese bathing traditions. Its evening spas, high-quality facials, and body treatments are the perfect way to relax and revitalise your body and mind.
For an option located closer to town, head to the newly established Aluume Bathe hot pools. Enjoy a modern stone-paved spa pool with a poolside monsoon shower for contrast therapy. Choose from a fully enclosed pool to bask in utter privacy under the stars. Or opt for semi-enclosed to enjoy excellent views of Ben Lomond and Coronet Peak.
Onsen Hot Pools address: 160 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point, Queenstown
Monday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Bathe by Aluume address: 34 Brecon Street, Queenstown
Monday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
10. Party your way through downtown Queenstown with a pub crawl
Image credit: bignightout.net.nz
When night falls, what’s better than kicking off your evening adventure with a pub crawl? Enjoy the liveliest nightclubs in town with The Big Night Out Pub Crawl — hosted by New Zealand’s finest party experts.
With the Big Night Out, you’ll explore hidden laneways filled with some of the city’s best and liveliest drinking holes. Discover talented local cover bands and visiting DJs in Queenstown’s very best bars, clubs and pubs. Happy hour, here we come!
Friday – Saturday: Check website for starting times
11. Queenstown Night Ski in the winter
Image credit: Coronet Peak
Winter in Queenstown means racing down the trails of one of the four nearby ski fields. The closest to town, Coronet Peak, extends the alpine action into the night on Wednesdays, Fridays and select Saturdays. From 4 PM to 9 PM, you can ski down spacious, flood-lit trails under the stars. Once you’re hungry for dinner, head to the base building to dig into gourmet pizza and local craft beer.
Wednesday, Friday: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM (winter only; ski field is also open for daytime access)
12. Brave the Queenstown Fear Factory
Image credit: queenstownnz.co.nz
Explore darkened hallways filled with monstrous surprises at every corner. The Queenstown Fear Factory invites you to a classic haunted house experience set in an eerie hotel with a tragic past. Live performers await in the shadows while automated animatronics keep you on edge, wondering every moment when the next fright will come.
If you prefer a calmer experience to explore at your own pace, the Fear Factory also offers a haunted tour without live actors. But armed with only a UV torch, the atmosphere is just as spooky.
Address: 59 Beach Street, Otago, Queenstown
Monday: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday – Friday: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
13. Catch an award-winning film in a vintage cinema
Image credit: arrowtown.com
For that old-time film buff experience, head to Dorothy Browns in Arrowtown. This cute little movie theatre looks straight out of the last century with its plush red chairs and intimate environment. It showcases arthouse films and blockbuster movies alike, with special events regularly running throughout the month. After the film, head to the curated bookstore to grab a read for back home.
Address: 18 Buckingham Street, Arrowtown
Monday – Sunday: Check website for screening hours
14. Test your skills at Golf Federation, an indoor golf simulator
Image credit: golffederation.co.nz
Experience all-weather golfing in Queenstown at Golf Federation. Their state-of-the-art simulator lets you enjoy over 250 world-renowned courses.
Utilising cutting-edge TrackMan tech, it provides precise shot analysis and AI-integrated feedback, perfect for refining your swing. With a range of golf-centric games, it’s a fun destination for all, be it family outings or corporate gatherings.
Address: 10 Athol Street, Queenstown
Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
15. Glide and slide at the Queenstown Ice Arena
Image credit: Queenstown Ice Arena
Set in the Queenstown Gardens, the Queenstown Ice Arena offers plenty of cool things to do at night for families, couples, and groups alike.
Hire skates, grab a helmet, and jump into the rink — or book ice bumper cars if you’d rather slide, spin, and bump your way around the ice. Down to boogie? Join in on the Night Skate Ice Discos on select Saturday evenings, where you can enjoy free song requests and play fun games to win sweet prizes.
Address: 29 Park Street, Queenstown Gardens, Queenstown
Monday – Sunday: Check website for opening hours
Frequently asked questions
What can I do in Queenstown at night with kids?
Queenstown has plenty of family-friendly evening attractions, including:
- Skyline Queenstown Night Luge
- Ice skating and bumper cars at Queenstown Ice Arena
- Tenpin bowling at Kingpin Queenstown
- Odyssey Sensory Maze
- Game Over arcade, go-karting, and laser tag
What are some free things to do in Queenstown at night?
Some free nighttime activities to enjoy around Queenstown include:
- Walking along the Lake Wakatipu waterfront
- Exploring Queenstown Gardens after sunset
- Listening to live music around downtown bars and Steamer Wharf
Where can I park at night in Queenstown?
In Queenstown, council-managed parking spaces are free to use from 6:00 PM onwards. You can also choose from a couple of private, covered parking lots that are open 24/7 — read our guide on Queenstown parking for more info.
Find more things to do in Queenstown
This little scenic New Zealand town has an unbelievable amount of adventure to offer after dark! From skiing to pub crawls, haunted houses to the iconic Night Luge, you’ll find plenty of cool things to do in Queenstown at night.
Get inspired with more of Queenstown’s great attractions in our travel blog. Check out our full Queenstown 5-day itinerary or explore the best things to do in Queenstown with kids.