Queenstown Events, Things to Do and Festivals

(Queenstown, Otago, South Island, New Zealand)



Photo of local town procession and marching bandThroughout the year, there is always a lot going on in Queenstown, with some big seasonal festivals and other similar things to do and enjoy, ranging from summer New Zealand hiking (tramping) to winter skiing. For the latest events listings and nightlife information, refer to Queenstown's free community newspapers and flyers, which are published in the middle of the week and named 'The Mirror', 'The Source' and also the 'Lakes Weekly Bulletin'.

The Queenstown Winter Festival is one of the area's biggest annual events and is held each year from late June to early July, lasting around ten days in total and attracting some 60,000 people. First staged in the mid-1970s, those attending these celebrations can expect a string of live concerts, dancing, comedy gigs, plenty of food and drink, drag racing, mountain bike races and skiing at the Coronet Peak resort.


Picture of tourists exploring the local market

Queenstown Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015: General Information

Another very exciting event for Queenstown visitors to look out for is the Silverstone Race to the Sky, which is an exciting motorsport hill climb held annually during the Easter weekend, in the nearby Cardrona Valley. Other notable highlights include the: