Where to Stay in Queenstown (incl. map)
You cannot visit New Zealand without stopping in Queenstown. I don’t make the rules! But in all seriousness, Queenstown is probably one of my favourite places in the world.
It’s the most beautiful mountain town right by Lake Wakatipu – which is the 3rd largest lake in the country – and despite its small size, there’s a million things to do.
From excellent coffee and brunch to hiking and adventure to visiting historic sites like Arrowtown and Walter’s Peak Farm nearby, you can spend weeks here and still have more to explore!
Back when we lived in New Zealand, we’d come to Queenstown all the time on our days off, so we’ve stayed in many different neighbourhoods and all sorts of accommodation, from hostels to private apartments and nice hotels.
We’ve put together this blog post to help you plan your trip to this awesome little town in the heart of Ontago. We hope it helps!
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Best areas to stay in Queenstown
As we mentioned, Queenstown is a fairly small town, but as it’s increasing in popularity amongst Kiwis as well as tourists, the general Queenstown area is expanding.
For the best location, you want to stay in Queenstown CBD (Central Business District) right by the lake. This is the heart and life of the city, where all the fun stuff happens.
For convenience, we’ve split the CBD into two sections in this post: “Lakefront” and “Queenstown Central Backstreets” (which is still central but not in the very heart of it).
Staying in the CBD is often the most costly, but 9/10 times we still decide to stay in this area as it’s our personal favourite. You can see the other areas in the map above and read more about them below.
We’ll go more into detail with the other areas and neighbourhoods in this guide, but if you don’t have time to read the entire post, our top recommendations are:
- 📍 For the best location, stay in Queenstown CBD (Absoloot Hostel for budget or Crowne Plaza for the best bang for your buck)
- 💵 If you want a more affordable alternative close to town, stay in Frankton (Driftaway is our go-to with epic lake views and a hot tub)
- 🏡 Lastly, if you’re looking for a private apartment for a longer stay, Jacks Point is a good option (20-minute drive). This is the apartment we stayed in.
⚠️ An important thing to know about Queenstown is that it’s one of the most popular places to visit in the entire country, and since it’s pretty small, accommodation sometimes does completely sell out.
We were staying in Kinloch, Glenorchy (71km away) over Lunar New Year a few years ago, and a lady showed up in a taxi (!) because she couldn’t find any accommodation in Queenstown.
If you’re visiting during peak season, you HAVE to book your accommodation in advance, or it will get very expensive, or you might have to change your plans.
Now, let’s get into the different areas and neighbourhoods!
Lakefront Queenstown (CBD)
| Pros 💚 | Cons ❌ |
| Most central | Most expensive |
| Lots of things to do | Can be noisy at night |
| Beautiful views | Limited parking |
When people talk about visiting Queenstown, this is the area they’re referring to. It’s the bustling town centre full of cute cafes, clothing & souvenir shops, and right by the water.
It’s where the famous Ferg Burger is located and where you’ll go out for brunch (Vudu Cafe & Larder is a great option), dinner and drinks – and it’s also where all the fun adventurous tours start from!
To keep it short, this is the most central and best location to stay in. Unfortunately, that also means it’s the most expensive area to stay.
And due to the fact that this is in the town center and nightlife, it can sometimes get noisy, depending on which hotel you stay at. Parking is also limited, so if you have a rental car, we suggest booking a place with parking (Crowne Plaza and Novotel both have this).
As we mentioned before, this is our favourite area to stay when we come to Queenstown.
Budget $: Absoloot (Hostelworld | TripAdvisor) – This is a quiet hostel perfectly located in Queenstown CBD with a beautiful lake view from the kitchen!
Mid-range $$: Novotel (Booking | TripAdvisor) – One of the best-located hotels in Queenstown, really close to the lake and right by the Queen’s Gardens. Novotel has valet parking included in the price as well as a great breakfast buffet!
High-end $$$: Crowne Plaza (Booking | TripAdvisor) – Just around the corner from the CBD along the water, you’ll find this beautiful hotel with a stunning view of the lake and the Remarkables mountains!
Luxury $$$$: Eichardt’s Private Hotel (Booking | TripAdvisor) – If you’re in Queenstown to celebrate and want the best of the best, Eichardt’s Private Hotel is a great option! Just look at that hot tub view! It is one of the most expensive hotels in Queenstown, but the guest reviews speak for themselves.
Also read: The Best 3 Days in Queenstown (Full Itinerary) ⛰️
Queenstown Central (Backstreets)
| Pros 💚 | Cons ❌ |
| Still central, about a 5-10 minute walk | No up-close lakeviews |
| More affordable than the lakefront | Still more expensive than outside the CBD |
| Often quieter than the CBD | A little uphill (Queenstown has steep hills) |
The other part of Queenstown CBD is what we call the “backstreets”. You’re still very much in Queenstown, but you’re not on the main shopping streets or right in front of the lakes.
This area is basically anything that’s on the other side of Highway 6A, which makes it sound further than it really is. You’re still only a 5-10 minute walk from the heart of town, and you can still get places with a beautiful view.
This area includes the Queenstown Skyline and the Tiki Trail, Bespoke Kitchen (amazing brunch), and the Queenstown Hill Track.
We stayed at Tahuna Pod Hostel a few times when we lived in Milford Sound in 2017, and it was great! Once, we upgraded to the 4-bedroom suite, and the view from the top floor is unreal!
In this area, we’ve also stayed at Haka House Queenstown, and it was completely fine with a spacious and clean kitchen, but the bedrooms were extremely small, so personally, we’d go with Tahuna Pod Hostel if that fits your budget.
If you’re looking for something nicer than a hostel, mi-pad Queenstown is a really nice option. It’s got small rooms but a great rooftop terrace with incredible views at an affordable price (for Queenstown standards).
Budget $: Tahuna Pod Hostel (Hostelworld | TripAdvisor) – This is a great pod hostel, perfect if you’re looking for privacy while also being social and sticking to a budget. We’ve stayed here twice (before they renovated) and really enjoyed it.
Mid-range $$: mi-pad Queenstown (Booking | TripAdvisor) – mi-pad is a great option if you’re looking for something that’s private, affordable, and comfortable. The rooms are pretty small, but there’s an incredible shared rooftop with an outdoor gas fire, and it’s perfect for sunsets!
Luxury $$$: The Dairy Hotel (Booking | TripAdvisor) – If you’re looking for a unique place to stay, this historical hotel might be the spot for you. It’s built around the original dairy and corner store (from the 1920’s), and the rooms are beautifully decorated. It’s actually rated #1 small hotel in Queenstown on TripAdvisor!
Private house: The Queenstown Bothy (Only available on Booking) – This private house is perfect if you’re travelling with a bigger group. It’s nice and spacious (250m2) with 4 bedrooms & 3 bathrooms, and a big balcony overlooking all of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.
📍 Want to know about all the best spots in Aotearoa New Zealand?
Then check out our New Zealand Maps with +200 locations around the country that we have visited during our 10 months of living and travelling in NZ! 🗺️
Frankton
| Pros 💚 | Cons ❌ |
| More affordable | A bit outside of the town (6 km) |
| Right next to the airport | Sometimes hear noise from the planes |
| Close to cute cafes and breweries |
I love this little area of Queenstown! It is located right next to Queenstown Airport, on the “corner” of Lake Wakatipu.
It’s a bit quieter compared to the CBD (with the exception of the flights), and most accommodations will have a great lake view.
You’ll have easy access to go swimming in the lake, and you’ll be just 10 minutes away from the center of town (go by bus or take the boat with a Beecard). Alternatively, you can also walk along the Frankton Trail, which is about 6 km (one way).
One of our favourite breweries in Queenstown (Altitude Brewing) is also in Frankton, so you can go check that out on one of the evenings. It’s got great vibes, great beer, and there’s often a pizza food truck parked out in front with some awesome pizzas!
Frankton also has some really cute lakefront cafes (The Boat Shed is great!).
Out of all the places of accommodation in Frankton, our favourite is Driftaway. It’s right by the lake with beautiful views, AND it has a private hot tub you can book for a fraction of the price of the famous Queenstown Onsen Hot Pools.
We’ve tried to book a stay here a few times, but unfortunately haven’t managed yet, as every time, it’s been booked out. So if you see availability on the dates you want to go (you can check here), make sure to book it right away!
Budget $: Driftaway (Booking | TripAdvisor) – Driftaway is a great holiday park in Frankton and one of the places we’d love to stay next time we come to Queenstown! It’s right by the water and the hot tubs look incredible!
Mid-range $$: Sudima Queenstown Five Mile (Booking | TripAdvisor) – If you’re looking for a nice, modern hotel with comfortable beds and beautiful views, Sudima is a great option. They also have free parking and an amazing breakfast buffet.
High-end $$$: The Rees Hotel (Booking | TripAdvisor) – This hotel has floor-to-ceiling windows with the most incredible view! It’s located about halfway between Frankton and Queenstown CBD, so it’s a nice-and-quiet location and it’s close to both the airport and the town centre.
Jacks Point
| Pros 💚 | Cons ❌ |
| Close to nature & incredible mountain views | 20-minute drive from the city |
| Local feel & fewer tourists | You need a car to get around |
| More privacy & less noise |
We noticed a lot of guides haven’t even included this neighbourhood (it’s relatively new), but we’ve stayed here and it’s great if you’re looking for a private apartment with beautiful mountain views (this is the one we stayed in).
It’s about a 20-minute drive from Queenstown without traffic and only 6 minutes from the nearest grocery store (in Frankton, which is also where Queenstown Airport is located).
Because of the distance to the town centre, it’s a nice, quiet and local neighbourhood. There are beautiful views of the Remarkables, and you’re close to some good hiking tracks (like Lake Alta and Wye Creek), and also just around the corner from Farmhouse Coffee Shop.
Since we slow-travel and work remotely, this was a great option for us when we stayed in Queenstown for 14 days. There are a bunch of great options in Jacks Point, such as this family retreat or this studio with mountain views.
That being said, if you’re only in Queenstown for a few nights, you might want to stay in the CBD instead to make the most of your trip.
🚘 Note: If you’re staying in Jack’s Point, you’ll need a rental car. You can read our guide on renting a car from Queenstown Airport here or check out the rental options here.
Arrowton (historic town)
| Pros 💚 | Cons ❌ |
| Historical town with lots of heritage buildings | 20 minutes from Queenstown |
| Great for foodies & coffee lovers | Fewer accommodation options |
| Close to nature and hiking trails | Less ideal for guided day tours |
| Amazing fall colours (March-May) |
Arrowtown is a super cute historical mining town located just 20 kilometres East of Queenstown.
While it’s not the most typical place to stay while visiting Queenstown (it’s more common to visit just for a few hours), it’s still worth mentioning here.
The town centre is full of charming, historical buildings, and along the tree-lined streets you’ll find lots of restored cottages and gold mining sites.
Arrowtown is a great place to stay if you’re looking for a quieter stay during your time in the Queenstown area.
While accommodation is somewhat limited, there are some really nice boutique hotels, and just minutes from your door, you’ll find lots of good food places (Slow Cuts is a local’s favourite!) and great coffee shops. Wolf Coffee Roasters is worth a visit!
If you want to stay in Arrowtown, our top recommendation is to stay at Settlers Cottage Motel. It’s the most charming little stay, just a few minutes’ walk from the historic downtown. It’s also one of the top-rated accommodations in Arrowtown (check out their reviews here).
If you’re looking for a more affordable stay, Arrowtown Motel Apartments or Arrowtown Holiday Parks are two great options.
Or for a really unique experience, you can consider staying at Stoneridge Estate. It is probably one of the most beautiful accommodations we’ve ever seen, with views of the vineyards and the mountains, and we would LOVE to stay here one day!
People who visit Queenstown also ask:
When is the best time to visit Queenstown?
Queenstown is a great destination to visit year-round. In the summer (Dec-Feb), you’ll be able to go hiking, swim in the lake, and enjoy the long summer days.
A good time to avoid Queenstown, though, is during the Lunar New Year. It usually gets really busy, prices are more expensive, and places and activities tend to book out super fast.
During the fall, you’ll be able to watch the leaves change colour and cozy up in one of the many hot tubs or onsen pools nearby. Fall is also a great time for last-chance adventures before the ski season starts in the winter!
Winter is perfect if you’re into skiing or snowboarding, as it’s one of the best places in New Zealand to go skiing.
How many days do you need in Queenstown?
If you’re into outdoorsy activities, brunching at cute cafes, and nightlife, you could spend weeks in Queenstown and still have more to do. That being said, we suggest spending at least 3 days in Queenstown to make the most of it!
What is the best hostel in Queenstown?
Absoloot is the absolute best hostel I’ve stayed at in Queenstown (no pun intended).
The location is literally perfect, right in the centre of town in front of the lake, close to Patagonia Ice Cream (must-try!), and the kitchen in the hostel has the best lake view of all the places we’ve stayed at in Queenstown (which is probably over 10 different places of accommodation at this point).
Not only that, but it’s a noise-free hostel, which means it has to be quiet from 10 pm, and to my surprise, it actually was! I knew I couldn’t go wrong with a 9.5 rating on Hostelworld.
We also have a full guide on the best hostels in Queenstown here.
Final thoughts on where to stay in Queenstown
We hope this guide helped you in planning your trip to Queenstown. We absolutely love this little mountain town and hope you will too!
Whether you decide to stay in the CBD or outside of the city in Jacks Point or Arrowtown, we hope you have the best time here.
If you have any questions about Queenstown or New Zealand in general, feel free to reach out by leaving a comment below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Need more New Zealand inspiration? Check out these guides:
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✈️ The Easiest Ways to Get From Queenstown Airport to Queenstown ✈️
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