Visit the Queenstown Gardens

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.