Getting Around, Queenstown Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Queenstown, Otago, South Island, New Zealand)



Picture of the Queenstown Airport (ZQN)There is little in the way of public transportation on offer in Queenstown, and many tourists simply choose to travel around on foot, or catch a taxi for short journeys. Bus transport offers a convenient and affordable way to journey outside of Queenstown, lending itself to all manner of excursions, with the town's handy Connectabus linking the airport, Arrowtown, and also the shopping complex at the Remarkables Park.

However, most tourists will agree that the easiest way to enjoy the spreading attractions of both Queenstown and the Otago region as a whole is to rent your own set of wheels, rather than use the local bus transport. It is quite possible to travel to Christchurch in around six and a half hours by car, with this journey being known for its spectacular countryside views and rolling hills.


Photo of plane at the Queenstown Airport (ZQN)

Queenstown International Airport (ZQN) / Arriving by Air

Address: Kawarau Road (State Highway 6), Frankton, Wakatipu Basin, New Zealand, NZ
Tel: +64 03 441 4870
Serving as the second-biggest of all the airports within New Zealand, Queenstown Airport handles annual passenger numbers now approaching one million and lies just 7 km / 4 miles to the east, in the neighbouring town of Frankton and next to the stunning Remarkables mountain range. Air New Zealand features domestic flights to cities such as both Auckland and Christchurch, as well as some destinations in Australia, including seasonal flights to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Sightseeing flights over Milford Sound are also available. Airport transport comes in the form of the Super Shuttle, which travels to and from central Queenstown and offers various pick ups and drop offs along the way. The Shopper Bus also connects the airport, as do both Queenstown Taxis and Alpine Taxis.

Street view in the town centre

Car Rental

Renting a car when you arrive at Queenstown Airport provides an unbeatable level of freedom, allowing visitors to properly explore Otago and this part of the South Island at their leisure. The roads around the town connect all of the main places of interest, with the winding road through the Skippers Canyon being particularly scenic and leading to Arthurs Point and the Coronet Peak.

WG Car Rental Logo Book your Queenstown Car Rental here.

Image of 'Shotover Jet' bus, catering for tourists

Buses and Coaches

Bus transport provides tourists with an easy and affordable way to travel to many surrounding cities and attractions, such as the westerly coastline of the South Island, as well as tourist destinations such as Christchurch, Dunedin, Haast Pass, Invercargill, Milford Sound, and Te Anau. The outdoor sports Mecca of Wanaka is also well connected by regular buses, as is its nearby Mount Aspiring National Park. Queenstown tourists will find the booking office for InterCity is located within the town's visitors centre, on the corner of Camp Street and Shotover Street. Shuttle buses can also be booked here.