What to do in Kingston

Activities, attractions and tours
Photo by Mel Fekto

Kingston Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Kingston has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Kingston is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Kingston to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Kingston Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Kingston.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Kingston attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.


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Top places to visit

1. The Remarkables Ski Area

Enjoy 543 acres (220 hectares) of slopes less than an hour’s drive from central Queenstown at the Remarkables. Test yourself at the terrain parks or watch the action from the warmth of a café while sipping a hot chocolate.
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The Remarkables Ski Area showing a gondola and snow as well as a small group of people

2. Skyline Gondola

Winding up the side of Bob’s Peak is the steepest cable-car line in the Southern Hemisphere. Since 1967, the Skyline Gondola has been taking visitors to the summit of Bob’s Peak for views across the Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu area. Skyline also operates a number of adventure activities on the mountain. The gondola is the best way to access the mountain biking, hiking and paragliding that takes place on Bob’s Peak.
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Skyline Gondola featuring a bay or harbour and a coastal town

3. Kiwi and Birdlife Park

The national symbol of New Zealand, the kiwi, is a timid and elusive bird that few have the chance to see in the wild. The Kiwi Birdlife Park in Queenstown offers visitors the opportunity to get up-close with this at-risk species, and to learn about the birds in the process. The Kiwi Birdlife Park’s grounds are leafy and expansive, and are a popular destination for visitors to Queenstown for the peaceful escape they provide.
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Kiwi and Birdlife Park which includes bird life and zoo animals

4. Lake Wakatipu

Lake Wakatipu is a lightning bolt-shaped lake set in the shadow of dramatic mountain peaks and alpine forests. The lake is the ideal setting for outdoor pursuits such as biking, fishing, kayaking and walking. Lake Wakatipu is 84 kilometres (52 miles) long and extends for 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) at its widest point. Māori legend states that the lake formed after a giant was burnt to death and thus scorched a huge hole by melting the ice of the nearby mountains.
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Lake Wakatipu showing mountains and a lake or waterhole

5. Queenstown Gardens

The Queenstown Gardens occupy a small peninsula on Lake Wakatipu, on the outskirts of Queenstown. Since 1867 the gardens have been a central feature of the town, and provide a tranquil break from the busy streets. Visit the gardens to see historic, heritage-listed trees, marvel at the views of The Remarkables mountain range, or enjoy sporting and leisure activities.
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Queenstown Gardens showing forest scenes

6. TSS Earnslaw Steamship

This historic steamboat has been servicing the people of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu for more than 100 years. Commissioned by New Zealand Railways at the beginning of the 20th century, the ship’s parts were built in Dunedin before being transported by train to the lake, where it was assembled and has remained ever since. Today the ship operates 11 months of the year ferrying passengers between Queenstown and Walter Peak High Country Farm, as well as giving scenic cruises on Lake Wakatipu.
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TSS Earnslaw Steamship featuring a sandy beach, picnicking and a bay or harbour

7. Moke Lake

The quiet, secluded Moke Lake often goes unseen by visitors to the Queenstown area who are drawn to the much more prominent Lake Wakatipu. However, just 4 miles (6 kilometers) from Queenstown lays the picturesque Moke Lake hamlet, surrounded by mountains. It’s an excellent destination to swim, kayak, horse ride and hike.
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Queenstown which includes picnicking, a lake or waterhole and mountains

Recommended things to do in Kingston

Number of things to do
1
Things to do from
CA $183
Cheapest thing to do
Private Self Drive Xtreme 30 and X Track Activity
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

Discover the most popular places to visit in Kingston