Visiting Queenstown? Get the Best Queenstown Gondola Deal

One of the best things you can do to get your bearings and take in the EPIC sights of Queenstown is to hit the Skyline Gondola, and we've got the best Queenstown gondola deals right here.

The Skyline Gondola takes you on a 450-metre ride on the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere, and goes right to the top of Bob’s Peak for panoramic views of Queenstown, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables mountain range and across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peak.

The views up here are simply spectacular so if you do manage to close your dropped-jaw and turn away, you'll notice there's also so much to do at the top too! We take you through the 10 best things to do at the Skyline Gondola - think Luge rides, bungy jumping, hiking, dining and more! But first... the essentials.

Finding Skyline Gondola is easy as it can be spotted from downtown Queenstown. It runs from the top of Brecon Street and heads straight up to Bob’s Peak.

The terminal is an easy five-minute walk from the town centre. 

Address: 53 Brecon Street, Queenstown

The opening hours of the Skyline Gondola vary throughout the year, so it's best to check the website for the opening hours for your specific dates. In general, the Gondola starts operation around 10am and runs until after sunset. 

You don't need to book in a specific time when you organise your Gondola tickets, but if you're planning to eat at Stratosfare, booking a timeslot is essential (and you'll be prompted to select this when you book).

The price varies depending on what you'd like included. You can add on a luge ride or two, a lunch or dinner buffet and more.  

There are views on every side on the way up the Gondola, giant trees line the route, and shy local fauna peeks out from the bushes to see what’s happening. Don’t worry if you miss anything on the way up; there's ample opporuntity for epic photos at the top, and you can always try and get a shot on the way back down too!

At the top, head to the viewing platform which provides a 180-degree view over Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and looks over towards The Remarkables. The views from this location are iconic and are plastered over thousands of postcards throughout New Zealand. OK, it won’t be original, but that doesn’t mean this famous shot shouldn’t be on your bucket list. 

From the top of the luge run is the best view looking south over Lake Wakatipu. It is especially beautiful at sunset as the light dances across Cecil Peak. 

Take the driving seat in a purpose-built Luge cart that puts you in complete control over 1600 metres of banked corners, tunnels and dips. Once at the bottom, hop on the chair lift and give it another zip down. 

At night, the luge tracks are brought to life with stunning white and multi-coloured LED lights. Take time to appreciate the sight of the vibrant tracks against the night sky before your exhilarating ride. 

When you book your Skyline Gondola ticket, simply add on a Luge ride or two so you're all set once you get to the top! 

Explore the hidden world of the night sky with a stargazing tour at Skyline Queenstown. Stargazers are taken to a specially constructed area above the Gondola for an unbelievably clear view of the night sky. 

Top-of-the-line telescopes provide an amazing array of stunning sights, from the iconic Southern Cross to nebulas, planets, the Milky Way and other galaxies. A professional Stargazing Guide will tell you fascinating tales of Maori starlore while you feast your eyes on far away galaxies and our neighbouring planets.

Note: The stargazing tours have been temporarily halted due to COVID-19 but keep an eye on the website for when they start up again. 

Take on the legendary challenges of the Queenstown Bike Park – New Zealand’s first-ever Gondola assisted bike park. The crew will help attach and detach your bike from the Gondola, and then the rest is up to you. Incidentally, your bike will have the best view dangling on the outside! 

There are over 30 world-class downhill mountain bike trails totalling over 30 kms of riding including 450 metres of vertical descent. 

You can choose to glide along six kilometres of a mellow downhill trail for an easy cruisy ride or choose a hair raising fast paced technically challenging trail featuring monster jumps, doubles, and drops. Not for the faint of heart!

You'll need to organise Bike Park Access Passes - you can choose a single ride, four hour pass, day pass etc it's up to you!

Hikers are spoiled for choice with a range of short, long and leisurely trails for all levels to enjoy from the top of the Gondola. Make sure you grab a copy of the Skyline trail map from the Information Desk at the top.

One of the great 'easy' hikes is the 30-minute Skyline Queenstown Loop Track which goes from the base building (at the top) up past the Luge to the reservoir and meanders through the trees before descending back to the Skyline building. There is plenty of time to stop and enjoy the views and the leafy bushland. 

For a much more challenging trail, you can tackle the eight-hour Ben Lomond summit walk. One of the highest peaks in the Wakatipu basin, it provides stunning views of the region. This can be a full day walk so take extra clothing, drinks and food!

Did you even go to Queenstown if you didn't bungy jump? Jokes! ...but seriously, did you?

AJ Hackett operates The Ledge Bungy and Swing high up on Bob’s Peak, where you can twist, flip, spin and dive to your heart’s content. It’s also the only place that you can jump over the bright lights of Queenstown by night!

Over at G Force Paragliding, experience the excitement of tandem paragliding and soar over the town before landing at the bottom of Bob’s Peak. 

If you are feeling peckish, there are two restaurants at the top of the Gondola - the Stratosfare Restaurant & Bar and the Market Kitchen Café. 

The Stratosfare offers a sit-down buffet dining experience of locally sourced wild meats, vegetarian fare and lavish sweets.  You can book your lunch or dinner buffet meal at Stratosfare when you book your Skyline Gondola ticket - just select the option that suits you!

The more casual café includes a state-of-the-art pizza oven for gourmet pizzas, a specialist tandoor oven for gloriously hot curries, and serves up delicious coffees if you're looking for a little something to warm you up.

This Jelly Belly Store has the best views in the world! You can choose from an entire wall of Pick’ n’ Mix beans, take your chances on the Bean Boozled winning wheel and select a delicious or revolting-tasting bean, and marvel at the replica edible artwork such as the 17,000-bean American Gothic and Frodo from Lord of the Rings boasting over 11,500 beans. 

Finish your visit to the Skyline Gondola by indulging in some retail therapy at the Skyline gift shop. 

Grab mementos of your visit to Skyline Gondola and browse through a wide selection of New Zealand-made Alpine Silk skincare products, beautiful merino possum knitwear accessories, paua shell jewellery and genuine New Zealand greenstone. 

While the Skyline Gondola is a highlight of any trip to Queenstown, the city offers a huuuge range of incredible experiences that are a must-do!  

If you are after an adrenaline rush, then try out a Queenstown skydive deal. The 60-second free fall in one of the most scenic places in the world (not that you’ll have time to see it!) reaches speeds of 200km/h for a thrilling adventure of maximum velocity. 

From the air to the river, speed over the Shotover River by jet boat. It’s a 30-minute thrill-ride as you zip around at 85kph between towering canyon walls and doing the occasional heart-stopping 360-degree spin. 

 

After all that excitement, treat yourself to a soak at the Onsen Hot Pools. Situated on a cliffside overlooking the Shotover River, the soothing cedar hot pools offer comforting immersions amid amazing alpine scenery. It’s a moment of peace and serenity you will never forget.  

Go back in time for a 90-minute cruise onboard the historic TSS Earnslaw Steamship on Lake Wakatipu. The 107-year-old steamship is the only hand-fired passenger-carrying steamship in the Southern Hemisphere, and there is plenty of time for you to take envy-inducing selfies of The Remarkables, Walter Peak and Cecil Peak as the steamship glides past. 

So get ready to marvel at the sight of the stunning surrounds of Queenstown from the Skyline Gondola, thrill at the Luge or simply take a deep breath and exhale at the top of Bob’s Peak. Whether you see it from the air, the river or from the comfort of your Onsen Hot Pool, Queenstown is one of the best cities in the world to visit.