Length of stay: 2 days
Visited: April 2025
Queenstown is where nature meets thrilling adventure. It’s situated on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, the longest lake in New Zealand, with the Remarkables mountain range rising dramatically in the background. It’s known as the adventure capital of the world and boasts of offering a range of activities including hiking, skydiving, paragliding, bungee jumping, white water rafting, jet boating, mountain biking and more.
Day 1: Downtown
When doing research on a place to stay in Queenstown we read that despite being a small city, the traffic is terrible due to ongoing construction, poor urban planning, and that it’s constrained geographically. So we booked a place close to downtown where we could walk everywhere. And after doing a lot of driving these past few days, we were all eager to take a break from being in the car. After eating breakfast we set off on foot to explore the Queenstown Gardens.
Located along the shore of Lake Wakatipu, the Queenstown Gardens is a botanical garden that’s open year round and is free to the public to visit. It contains a few walking paths to enjoy the landscape and manicured gardens. We started along the outer perimeter which wraps along the shoreline, admiring the views of the mountains. Afterwards we walked through the middle of the park where there is a collection of roses and other perennials, many of which were still in bloom.
We walked back to our accommodations to put M down for a proper nap. She’s mostly been napping in the car while we drive, so it was a bit of an adjustment and it took her longer to get settled. After she got up, we ate lunch, then walked to the Kiwi Park. It’s a wildlife centre that contains over 20 species of wildlife native to New Zealand, including kiwis, the famous flightless bird that is endemic to New Zealand. We booked tickets online and reserved our spot for the Kiwi Encounter which is reputed to provide a good chance to see a kiwi up-close.
As soon as we entered the park we made our way to the Kiwi Encounter House. We were joined by a fairly large group. After handing over our tokens, we entered a dark room. One of the main reasons kiwis are incredibly hard to spot in the wild is because they are nocturnal. It took a few minutes for our eyes to adjust. But within a few minutes we saw our first kiwi run by the glass enclosure.
A kiwi is more like a mammal than a bird. They can’t fly, they live on the ground and they don’t have a sternum. They are extremely vulnerable and are unable to defend themselves against predators like stoats, dogs and cats. It also doesn’t help that 50% of kiwi eggs fail to hatch. And of those that hatch, only about 5% of wild kiwi chicks reach adulthood. Their population has been rapidly declining and an estimated 68,000 kiwis are left. Many conservation areas have taken significant steps to protect kiwis by not allowing dogs on the trail and through predator control measures such as trapping.
Most people stayed for about 5-10 minutes. Not us though. As soon as the room cleared out, we had a much better view and opportunity to check out both glass enclosures. The kiwis moved surprisingly quickly and they are much bigger than I expected.
After leaving the Kiwi Encounter House we checked out the other birds and creatures in the Kiwi Park. And we couldn’t resist picking up a kiwi stuffie at the gift shop for little M.
The clouds from earlier had cleared and we took our time walking back, which included wandering around the waterfront. There were lots of restaurants and shops open. And people were out and about. There was a constant stream of paragliders sweeping through the sky and boats were zooming by across the lake. We were perfectly content to explore on foot.
Dinner was calling so we made our way back to our accommodations.
Day 2: Deer Park Heights
It was overcast and cool the next morning(10°C). It was time to leave Queenstown and head towards the West Coast. On the drive out of the city we planned to visit Deer Park Heights. Similar to when we arrived, the traffic to get out of the city was brutal. We inched our way towards the park.
Deer Park Heights is an enclosed deer farm that features a scenic drive with a bunch of animals scattered throughout. It also provides stunning views of Queenstown and was used as a filming location for Lord of the Rings. Visitors are required to reserve their tickets in advance as there is no ticket office on site. You can only enter by passenger vehicle and there is a special license plate scanner that allows access through the gate.
Once through we had the option to buy pellets to feed the animals. We were then free to explore the grounds at our own pace from the comfort of our car. We saw sheep, horses, donkeys, cows, pigs, ducks, deer, goat and bison.
Even if you’re not interested in seeing (or feeding) the animals, it’s worth visiting for the views of Queenstown alone.
But for us one of the main draws to visiting Deer Parks Heights is that it was featured in the Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers in a few different scenes. The most famous of which is the ambush of wargs where Aragorn gets dragged over the cliff.
Our visit lasted an hour and a half. It was then time to get going as we still needed to stop for groceries. We hit the road and headed to Wanaka.
L
Wow, what an incredible journey … The photos and story make Queenstown look like pure magic 🌄✨. From walking the gardens to seeing the kiwis up close, it feels like every moment was full of wonder 🐦💚. Deer Park Heights looks amazing too. Those views and animals, plus the LOTR connection, are unforgettable 🦌🎬.
Thanks for your lovely comment. Queenstown is very picturesque. It was a bit pricey to see the kiwis, but we figured there was slim chance we’d see one on our own, so why not. We certainly got our money’s worth. Same with at Deer Park Heights. It combined many of our favourite things – animals, scenery and LOTR.
Wow, this is such a beautiful area! The Kiwi is bigger than I thought it was, I hope it will not go extinct. I thought there were little houses in the ground where the movies were made. 🤭
The clouds hanging over the inlet are very beautiful, that big black cow looks like he’s gonna charge you! Thanks for sharing the beauty, guys! 😎
It was so fascinating to see the kiwis up close. I’m amazed that they were able to balance themselves well and move so quickly considering they don’t have wings. It seems NZ is taking kiwi conservation very seriously and we saw that on most of the trails we hiked. Dogs weren’t permitted and there were traps placed in strategic places along the path.
I know what you mean about that cow! She was staring very intently at us. All I can say is that I’m glad she was standing near the edge of the cliff instead of us!
😂😂😂
What beautiful views you experienced and to see deers against that stunning background must’ve been so thrilling. I can smell the fresh air and breeze from those photos!
Kiwis are so cute! I’m trying to figure out how they are mammals if they hatch out of an egg – that’s an interesting one. Nature is so very diverse and keeps on surprising us!
I’m not sure who enjoyed Deer Park Heights more – little M or us. We got to see farm animals, beautiful scenery and a filming location for LOTR. The only thing missing was some hiking.
I’m obsessed with kiwis now. They are so fascinating and unusual. And they just look so strange with that long beak and no wings. I ended up buying multiple kiwi stuffies to take home later on our trip. And they may not all be for M!
Stuffies are a good souvenir to remind you of your trip. I don’t think we have kiwis over here in the zoos.
This was our first (and I’m sure it won’t be the last) time we bought a stuffie while on holidays. I think you’re right, we don’t have kiwis in our zoos in Canada. I guess this means you just have to travel to NZ to see one!
Wow, I didn’t know anything about the kiwi, apparently. I hope they’re able to avoid extinction. It’s kind of a wonder they’ve survived this long, to be honest, given how ill-equipped they seem to be.
Great views from the drive!
Oh I know! And you can’t help but feel sorry for them given how cute, unusual and awkward they look. It’s hard to believe that there was once estimated to be 12 million kiwis in NZ. It’s a shame to hear how much their population has declined. It seems like they are taking kiwi conservation very seriously though and we saw signs of it on many of the trails we hiked.
The Deer Park Heights is worth it, for sure. I can imagine that baby M enjoyed the animals. Seeing the lake utterly amazed me “wow” due to its majestic scenery. The clouds on the mountains are so good to see. Queenstown looks like a paradise, knowing you can do many things there. I enjoyed the photos, Linda. Thanks for sharing. Looking for your another adventure.
She sure did. It was a great spot to enjoy the animals and beautiful scenery. It was also a great way to get a different perspective of Queenstown from further away. It really is a lovely city, minus the heavy traffic of course. Thanks for reading Hazel. Enjoy the rest of your day. Linda
My pleasure, Linda. It’s almost bedtime here.
The Kiwi is such an unusual looking bird. I wonder if it was able to fly millennia ago, or if it always has been flightless.
There is some research to suggest that kiwis once were able to fly, but the theory is not conclusive. You’re right, it’s such a strange and unusual bird.
Beautiful photos, Linda, and thank you for including all the information about the kiwis. I didn’t know they are nocturnal or that they are s large. It seems that you enjoyed your visit to Deer Park Heights, too.
Thanks for your kind words Lynette. It was fascinating to learn more about kiwis and to see one up close. They are awkward and adorable. It seems we got our wildlife fix while visiting Queenstown. Deer Park Heights was a bit pricey, but worth it for the views alone.
The photo you posted of the kiwi I see was not yours. Were you allowed to take photos of them. If so I presume it was without flash, which would be challenging. Queenstown looks like a very compact town. I can image it would be crowded but walkable.
Unfortunately photos weren’t permitted. And you’re right, even if they were, I doubt I would have gotten a good one, especially considering how quickly the kiwis move! Queenstown’s compactness is both a good thing (for walking) and bad thing (for driving). I’m glad we did our research in advance and stayed somewhere we could explore most of the city on foot.
Wow, what a truly beautiful place, Linda! It is quite obvious that the scenery in Queenstown and the surrounding area is drop-dead gorgeous, especially as you can go from high mountain peaks to lush forests and idyllic lakes. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 I hope your week is off to a good start 🙂 Aiva xx
Thanks for reading and for leaving a comment Aiva. Queenstown is such a lively city and had a very different vibe different compared to the other places we visited in the South Island. It was much busier and full of adventure and beautiful scenery.
Today I learned that a kiwi is not just a fruit 🙂 I imagine it was nice to take a break from all the driving. Road trips are a lot harder with little ones. Deer Park look like a great stop!
Kiwi birds are very cute and unusual looking. And yes, after all that driving we did over the past few days, it was really nice to just walk around and explore on foot. I think our little one appreciated a break from her car seat as well.
Nocturnal rare birds!
What a wonderful travel log; thank you!
Thanks for your lovely comment. There’s no way we’d have been able to find a kiwi on our own considering they’re nocturnal. It was a bit pricey to visit the Kiwi Park, but we figured it was the only time we’d probably ever see one.
Queenstown is indeed the adventure capital of NZ. We enjoyed our time there on 3 of our 4 visits and had not planned to visit on this trip, but our friends persuaded us. We hope to do a bit of bike riding along Lake Wakitipu and perhaps drive to Glenorchy before we drop them at the airport and head for Tekapo. We enjoyed the Wellington Gardens and the Kiwi experience on various trips but have never been to Deer Park Heights. Thanks for sharing Linda. Happy Monday. Allan
It seems Queenstown’s plan to be branded as the world’s adventure capital is working. We enjoyed our time there (minus the driving), but had no interest in participating in any of the adventure thrilling activities, even if we weren’t travelling with our little one. We had planned to take a day trip to Glenorchy, but had to cut it out of our itinerary after spending an extra day in Milford Sound. I’ve heard it’s very charming. Thanks for reading Allan. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. And looking forward to hearing about your travels when you head to NZ shortly!!
It must have been fun knowing that you were on a filming set location for lord of the rings. You probably tried to imagine the particular part of the film compared to the actual surrounding.
Absolutely. It’s one of the reasons why we visited Deer Park Heights. And you’re right, I couldn’t help but imagine the scenes that were filmed here as part of the Two Towers. I was half expecting a warg to pop up around the corner.
Absolutely stunning scenery; wow! It’s interesting to learn about kiwis. I’m surprised that they’ve survived this long given their poor odds. I hope they continue to survive.
Queenstown is worth visiting for the scenery alone, even if you aren’t into adrenaline adventures (which we aren’t). The kiwis are so awkwardly adorable. You’re right, it’s surprising they are still around considering how poorly equipped they are at defending themselves. They are surprisingly quick though!
I didn’t know that Kiwis don’t have a sternum! How have they managed to survive?! Remarkable. The views from Deer Park are wonderful, I don’t think I would have gone otherwise, (haven’t seen Lord of the Rings) but maybe now I would. Maggie
I know! Kiwis seem very poorly equipped at defending themselves. But they are remarkably fast though! And I guess it helps that they come out at night and can use the cover of darkness to hide.
Hold on … you haven’t seen Lord of the Rings!?! How is that possible!? You definitely should watch it. It’s held up well over the years and is still one of my all-time favourite movies (and books).
Great to read about Queenstown and for the warnings about it’s snarled up traffic issues. How wonderful to see a kiwi up close and the views from the wildlife park are stunning too
Queenstown traffic is brutal. It seems like such a poorly designed city in some ways, but that’s in large part it’s because of all the geographic constraints of building. I’m so glad we stayed in the city and were able to walk everywhere. It was really neat to see a kiwi up close. There’s no way we would have seen one otherwise given that they are nocturnal.
Aww, I loveI love how you captured both the adventure and tranquility of Queenstown — from strolling the gardens along Lake Wakatipu to spotting kiwis up close. Your visit to Deer Park Heights sounds especially magical, with the views and Lord of the Rings connection. It’s wonderful how you balance travel with family time – M must’ve loved the kiwi stuffie! 🙂
Thanks for your kind words. We couldn’t resist exploring the Queenstown Gardens, especially considering they were free. The kiwis are such unusual birds. It was a bit pricey to see them, but we figured there was no way we would have stumbled upon one in the wild on our own given that they only come out in the dark. Deer Park Heights was worth visiting for the views alone. But the main reason we went was because it was featured in LOTR. How could we not!? We ended up buying a few more kiwi stuffies later in our trip that were too adorable to pass up.
As always, great to journey with you thru your journeys 🙏🏽🙂🙏🏽
Thanks for your lovely comment Dawn. We had a wonderful time exploring Queenstown even if we’re not into any pulse-racing adventure besides hiking!
The trip is the adventure, as I see it. You’re living your best life!!!! Keep enjoying 🙂🤗🙂
You bet! It was a trip of a lifetime!
These are three wonderful experiences. Kiwis are such cute birds. I am glad that more is being done towards their conservation and protection. The deer park is magical: lovely scenery, amazing views, animals running around… Being on the set of one of your favourite movies is always very special.
Queenstown is known for its thrill of adventure, but we were perfectly content to explore on foot and see some of the quieter attractions. It was neat to see a kiwi up close. There’s no way we would have been able to come across one in the wild as night hiking isn’t really our thing. They are adorably awkward. They are also very beloved. We saw signs of predator control at most of the conservation areas we visited, which is one of the measures they’ve taken to try to save the kiwis. And yes, it was pretty awesome to visit one of the filming locations featured in LOTR, one of our all-time favourite movies (and books)!
Alice in wonderland like that I’m now 🌷🙏😯 incredible beauty can view throughput your Journey are beautiful earth landscapes 🌏👍🏻🤩 gorgeous mountains , beauty of the lake, lovely flowers garden , the adorable Kiwi bird, awesome animals living , Deer park, the sea shore all together breathtaking view my dear friend, thank you for sharing 🌷🙏🖖🥰🌷
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. Queenstown is very picturesque with all those mountains and that massive lake. We really enjoyed wandering around the gardens. It was also really neat to see a kiwi. They were surprisingly much bigger and faster than I imagined. And much cuter too. Thanks for reading. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Thank you so much for likes my feedback and dear your beautiful reply message 🌷🙏👍 wishing you and your lovely family that many Travel achievements in life and all dreams come true my friend 💖🙏🌷
Oh man !!!, that botanical garden looks incredible!!! I love botanical gardens. We’ve discussed our shared interest in them. The lily pads are an amazing finishing touch. Kiwis are so cool but they make a really scary call. You have to look it up. They sound as if they’re screaming. I love looking up different bird calls. Birds are so awesome. The first photo you have is an awesome panorama. It’s nice to see so many places to explore in New Zealand.
I’m such a fan of botanical gardens too and seeing all the pretty colourful flowers. Makes me wish I had a green thumb! You’re absolutely right about the sounds that kiwis make. We ended up staying in a cabin in one of the national parks a few nights later and could have sworn we heard a kiwi during the middle of the night. They are loud!
They are !! It’s still so cool you got to see/hear them !!!! I love birds . You should look up a shoebill. They really wild and look Jurassic.
You weren’t kidding about the shoebill. It totally looks like a dinosaur! Not sure I’d want to come across one of them in the wild. But then again, I probably wouldn’t be out on my own in Africa in the wild!
Right ?!I would love to come across one but at a distance. They’re big! I think they don’t mind humans but I’m not sure. A lot of dinosaurs has feathers . I was surprised when I found that out
I didn’t realize that many dinosaurs have feathers either. How interesting!
Your lake shots with the line of trees and mountains in the background is really awesome. That scene from Lord of the Rings had a lot of action in it. It’s amazing to see the actual landscape and to see how neatly the graphics captured the land and the fight.
Thanks for your kind words. I know what you mean, it’s interesting to see the difference in landscape between when they were filming and what it normally looks like. It’s pretty amazing how they’re able to piece it all together.
Deer Park Heights looks lovely… we’d a very short visit to Queenstown earlier this year – I’d have loved a chance to include it..
Deer Park Heights wasn’t initially on our list, but we had to rearrange our plans a bit since we spent an extra day in Milford Sound. It ended up being a fun activity and a great way to enjoy the scenery. And our little one loved seeing all the animals.
Bad traffic is definitely not what I have in mind when I think of Queenstown, but you made a good decision to stay close to downtown. The Kiwi Park sounds interesting, especially with the sighting of the country’s emblematic bird. Deer Park Heights also sounds like a place one should not miss when visiting this city. I vaguely remember the scenes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy where they were filmed at this place. I guess I should rewatch the movies.
It’s incredible just how terrible the traffic was considering Queenstown is a relatively small city. I guess it doesn’t help that there isn’t good transit, the population has grown rapidly over a short period of time and there are a lot of tourists.
It was neat to see a kiwi. It was a bit expensive, but we figured there would be slim chance of us seeing one on our own considering they only come out at night. They’re so strange looking yet very adorable at the same time.
We ended up rewatching LOTR when we got home. It was neat to see a few of the landscapes that were used for filming. After visiting NZ I can totally see why the movies were all filmed there. It really is a special place.
Adventure Capital of the World? I’m sold!
I love your advice for staying downtown and walking everywhere. I will store that away.
Kiwis!!! I share your fascination. Good on ya for sticking it out and enjoying these interesting birds. Must be hard to get a good photo of them.
Love the gardens. What a tropical paradise all of NZ is. Amazing what they can grow.
After doing a lot of driving the previous few days I think we all needed a break from being in the car, especially our little one. I’ve always enjoyed a city that’s walkable though. While we weren’t looking for a thrilling adventure, it was neat to be surrounded by the action. Queenstown is very lively.
Kiwis are so unusual and adorable at the same time. Photography wasn’t permitted, but even if we could pictures, I doubt they would have turned out given that it was dark and the kiwis move quickly!
Gorgeous pics and write up! New Zealand has suddenly moved to the top of my bucket list destinations 😎
Thanks for your kind words. We had a fabulous time in New Zealand and would return in a heartbeat … if we could take another chunk of time off work. Highly recommend.
Wow – Hi Linda! I really enjoyed these pictures from your visit to Queensland. I didn’t know much about the Kiwi bird – Once I finish leaving this comment, I’m headed right over to the Internet to learn more! And we’re going to have to put New Zealand on our travel list even though we are trying to see as much of the U.S. and Canada as possible first. We have a lot of deer here in PA but we mostly see the females. It’s always dramatic to see an antlered deer – love that picture!
Thanks for your lovely comment. The kiwis are such fascinating and strange looking birds. I can see why they’re very beloved in New Zealand. I know what you mean about wanting to explore what’s in or near your own backyard first. New Zealand is on the other side of the world and involves a very long flight (or flights). It’s not the sort of place you can visit for a week or two. I hope you’re able to make it there someday though as it’s such a beautiful country.
When I was in high school, my best friend’s brother and his wife moved to New Zealand and they hiked (and boated/flew when necessary) all the way home to New Hampshire. It took a year. I was at their house when they walked in unannounced!
Wow! Sounds like an incredible adventure! That must have been quite the surprise when they returned home!
Haha – it really was! That was a long time ago but I still think about it. 🙂
It’s funny how some memories and moments stay with us for so long. A good sign that it was a nice but unexpected surprise.
What a beautiful area! I love the mix of city and landscapes. But also, kiwis for the win 🙂
Kiwis are very strange and adorable. I can see why they’re so beloved and popular in New Zealand. Queenstown had a fun energy to it and the surrounding scenery was nothing short of spectacular.
This looks like such a gorgeous area to explore, and very cool that it was in “Lord Of The RIngs”!
Queenstown seemed lively and was buzzing with excitement adventure. I’m such a huge LOTR fan so it was neat to visit a few of the places that were featured in the film, including Deer Park Heights. Our little one had such a blast seeing all the animals.
The views are amazing. I’m glad you got to see some of the LOTR locations. It’s also great you saw lots of wildlife.
Totally. It combined many of my favourite things – beautiful views, Lord of the Rings and animals. It was well worth a visit for the entire family.
I’m always happy to find a botanical garden in a city – the colours are beautiful at the Queenstown Gardens. The second day’s photos are particularly beautiful – the views are stunning. Oh, and by the way: The only kiwis we saw during our visit to NZ were of the stuffed kind in shops 😏.
Me too, especially when the botanical garden is free! One of the things we really enjoyed about New Zealand was that many of the cities had their own botanical garden and they were typically free to visit. It was a bit expensive to go to the Kiwi Park, but we figured there was no way we’d see one on our own in the wild, and we may only be here once. They were surprisingly bigger than I thought. We found a few stuffed kiwis as well and ended up bringing a bunch home with us. My favourite were these handmade ones some lady makes with recycled wool blankets. We ended up buying four (and I wish I bought more)!
I didn’t stay long when I crossed the South Island, not one for adventure travel, but I see you found lots of interesting things to keep you there. I do remember a loud, crowded hostel. That was when I decided I was done with hostel stays!
Queenstown seems like a town where adventure meets party. So I’m not surprised to hear that your hostel was loud and crowded. That’s not really my scene either. I’m glad we stayed for a couple of days, which more than enough to see some of the sights and enjoy the scenery.
During my stay in Queenstown, I found that the town was really full of travellers looking for activities related to nature in one way or another. This is certainly a strong point in a region where other towns are quite far away. Its pleasant setting around the lake and hills makes you want to stay longer, but there is still a long way to go.
You’re right. All the adventure activities we came across involved being outdoors and taking advantage of the beautiful mountain scenery in some shape or form. We were just passing through and were with our little one, so the extent of our activities just involved our own two feet and walking around. This actually worked out well as traffic was terrible so we were thankful we stayed downtown and didn’t have to do much driving.