How To Get To Queenstown

Queenstown is located in the southern region of New Zealand’s South Island and is easy to get to if you’re coming from Australia. There is an international airport in Queenstown which makes it easily accessible with direct flights available from major east coast Australian cities. The airport is around 10-15 minutes from the centre of town and you have a few ways to get here, including a shuttle bus, taxi or hiring a car. 

In Queenstown the nearest mountains of Coronet Peak and The Remarkables are 25 and 45 minutes away, so you’ll also need to decide how you’d like to get to the mountains each day. You have the option of hiring a car or taking the mountain transfers from the centre of town.

Shuttle Bus + Mountain Transfers

A shared super shuttle is available from Queenstown Airport directly to your Queenstown accommodation and return. This is a cost effective option for individual travellers and small groups that are staying in the town centre.  We recommend booking in advance via our reservations team for a reliable and stress free experience. The journey can take up to 30 minutes at peak traffic times or when there are several drop-offs along the way, please allow plenty of time to reach the airport for departing flights.

For getting to the mountains each day you can then take the mountain transfers provided by Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. These depart regularly from the Snow Centre in town or depending where you are staying there may be hotel pick ups available. The more days you book the cheaper the pass becomes so we recommend booking in advance. We can pre-book your Ski Bus pass with any of our Queenstown packages so you can rock up and be ready to go! There are also mountain transfers available to Cardrona but they’re more expensive so it’s often more affordable to hire a car.

Car Hire

If you’re travelling with your family or a group of people, hiring a car is often the most convenient and cost effective way of getting around Queenstown and to the mountains. We can pre- book your rental car for you so it’s ready to pick up when you arrive. Hiring a car also gives you the flexibility to visit other areas when having a rest day. 

The car rentals we book through GO Rentals offer super simple pick up and drop off as well as offering outstanding on-road support and roadside assistance. Depending on your family or group size there are a variety of vehicles to choose, from small cars to large SUVs and 4WDs. We also recommend upgrading to ‘All Inclusive’ which provides you insurance cover, tyre and windscreen cover, snow chains and Apple Carplay/ Android Auto, giving you complete peace of mind. If you’re under the age of 21 you may not be eligible to hire a car, so a shuttle bus option may be more suitable. If you’d like to arrange car hire, speak to one of our travel consultants for a quote. 

Taxi

If you’re travelling with a family or a group of people and looking for the most convenient and cost effective way to get to your accommodation, we recommend taking a taxi through companies such as Queenstown Taxis. The taxi ride from the airport takes around 15 minutes depending on traffic and costs around $35-45. If you’re travelling to the airport by taxi, make sure you allow plenty of time. 

For getting to the mountain each day your best option without a car is to take the mountain transfers provided by Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. Read all the details above under shuttle buses + mountain transfers.