One lovely old relic of the gold rush days is still in use: The TSS Earnslaw. Now in service as a cruise ship, this classic old steamer–she was built in 1912 and is the oldest still-operating passenger steamship in the Southern Hemisphere–offers excellent 90-minute scenic cruises on Lake Wakatipu. It's a great experience, with the occasional whiff of coal and the blast of steam whistle adding a true authenticity to the experience.

A highlight of the journey is heading down to the boiler room area, where you can watch the stoker in action feeding coal into the furnace. Along the way, you'll also be rewarded with spectacular views over the lake toward the surrounding mountains, as well as the attractive shoreline setting around Queenstown.

One of the most scenic journeys you can take in the Queenstown area is the drive through Skippers Canyon, about 20 kilometers north of Queenstown. This 22-kilometer-long canyon now leads to Coronet Peak but was once home to thousands of prospectors after gold was discovered in 1892 in the Shotover River, which winds through the gorge.

Today, the winding and narrow road through the canyon–known as Skippers Canyon Road (often shortened to just "Skippers Road")–is bordered by breathtakingly vertical drops on one side and high cliffs on the other. This dramatic scenery makes for an incredibly beautiful road trip, and traversing the high suspension bridge known as Skipper's Bridge (built in 1901) is a major highlight along the way.

If you have a day to spare in Queenstown, you should take a day excursion to Milford Sound, one of New Zealand's most breathtaking sites that will make you feel little and humble as you travel through these enormous mountains. The Milford Sound, a fjord, not a sound as the name suggests, is considered to be one of the most visited places in the world. It is located in the stunning Fiordland National Park and sees over 250 days of rain but even in the rain, the place still looks incredible.

There are many operators running day trips to the Milford Sound from Queenstown that includes a shuttle bus from Queenstown to Te Anau and back, a cruise along the Milford Sound, and several photo stops along the way to the Milford Sound which is one of the most scenic roads in the country. A trip to the Milford Sound from Queenstown costs about 126 USD per person including lunch and it will take about 9 hours so you can expect to spend the entire day there.

If you were to only ever experience a single bungee jump in your life, Queenstown would be the best place to do it. Queenstown's AJ Hackett Bungy is the company that first started this worldwide adrenaline craze, and their Kawarau Bridge bungee jumping experience is the original location where it all began in 1988.

The 43-meter jump is on a platform on the historic suspension bridge itself, which was built over the Kawarau Gorge with the Kawarau River below in 1880. For further thrills, you can also bungee jump from their Nevis Point location. At 134 meters above the Nevis River, the Queenstown Nevis Highwire Bungy Jump is the highest bungee in New Zealand, and the world's third highest.

Ben Lomond Trail is one of the best hikes that you can do straight from Queenstown for free and you are already halfway there if you hiked to the top of Queenstown Hill. This hiking trail will take you up to the top of Ben Lomond Mountain, a mountain standing at 1,728 m above sea level. It will take you another 2 hours from Queenstown Hill before you reach the summit of Ben Lomond Mountain.

Along the way, you will arrive at Ben Lomond Saddle where you will be able to get an even more impressive view of Queenstown and the lake than from Queenstown Hil. Hiking Ben Lomond is a great way to get yourself acquainted with the nature around Queenstown and you will be able to witness just how adventure-oriented this town is as you walk through the thick forest on mountain bike trails and under all the zip lines and zip line stations.

Just a few minutes walk from central Queenstown are the tranquil Queenstown Gardens. Perfect for a morning stroll or an evening picnic with friends, the gardens are an excellent place to take in views of Lake Wakatipu. Along with bowling and tennis, there’s also the option of ice skating in the winter at the Queenstown Arena.

The gardens were originally laid out in 1867 and now contain a vast array of both native and international plant species, including a large sweep of Douglas fir trees, which provide shady retreats on a scorching hot Otago summer day. The gardens are most famous for their historic oak and fir trees, which were planted by Queenstown's first mayor in 1866. There is also a lovely rose garden here and a restored band rotunda dating from 1891.

New Zealand's flightless kiwi bird may be a national icon, but it's difficult to see due to its nocturnal nature and remote native forest habitat. Queenstown's Kiwi Birdlife Park allows a rare opportunity to view this much loved creature in specially designed nocturnal kiwi houses. There is also a chance to see tuataras, New Zealand's endemic reptile, up close.

If you're traveling with little ones, this park offers some great activities, including daily animal conservation talks and kiwi feeding encounters, plus there's a five-acre forest where plenty of other native birdlife can be spotted. Useful audio guides are provided with admission.

Before you head down from Queenstown Hill, one of the things you should do is to drive the Luge down from Skyline Queenstown. For this activity, you will be driving the Luge cart down a 1,600 meters long road of banked corners, tunnels, and dipper while the stunning view of Queenstown and Mount Aspiring loom behind.

If you plan to do this, make sure you have your GoPro with you and capture this thrilling ride while you ride down the road as a souvenir, and show your friends at home just how beautiful Queenstown is. Skyline Queenstown Luge opens from 11 AM - 6 PM and the price is 46 USD per person and includes a ride on the Gondola.