Top Queenstown Private Sightseeing Tours

New Zealand’s fantasy landscapes have long enchanted photographers and filmmakers, and now’s your chance to capture your very own postcard-worthy shots. Accompanied by a professional photographer, this private full-day tour from Queenstown offers spectacular views of natural wonders like Skippers Canyon, Lake Wakatipu, and the Remarkables Range, as well as Lord of the Rings filming locations, historic gold mines, and heritage sites.

Milford Sound is a fjord that’s surrounded by impressive cliffs, waterfalls, and areas of natural beauty. Get the most out of your experience by going on a personal tour and boat cruise. By opting for a private tour, you won’t have to worry about navigating as your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby. You’ll enjoy a scenic ride—stopping off for photo opportunities en route. The highlight of the day is a scenic boat cruise and a picnic on board.

Keen or budding photographers will love the chance to photograph the night’s sky with a photographer. The skies in the lower South Island are among the clearest in the world and you’ll learn how to photograph them on this private tour. As well as getting great shots you’ll have your portrait taken against the sky–a unique souvenir.

Master the art of taking dramatic landscape photographs on this half-day photography tour. Starting your tour in Queenstown, head to the charming settlement of Glenorchy, famous for its beautiful views. Here you will be able to photograph a range of natural scenery, including snow-capped mountains, ancient forests and pristine lakes and rivers.

Depart Queenstown aboard the TSS ‘Earnslaw’ for a cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Travel round-trip by vintage steamship and dig into a gourmet barbecue lunch at the Colonel’s Homestead. Enjoy chef-prepared Central Otago specialties accompanied by salads, desserts, and local cheeses. Don’t miss the sheep shearing demonstration or showmanship by the farm’s sheepdogs.

Cruise Lake Wakatipu on a vintage Edwardian steamship with tickets for a cruise aboard TSS Earnslaw from Queenstown. Watch the stokers feed the TSS Earnslaw’s coal fires and enjoy views of the mountains. This scenic cruise departs from a central location in Queenstown, with multiple sailings throughout the day.

Travel from Queenstown to the much-loved UNESCO-listed Milford Sound. Enjoy live commentary along the way, and many scenic stops to take photos and admire the views. At Milford Sound, you won’t have to worry about waiting in lines as entrance tickets are included. Cruise on the sound and see stunning views of waterfalls and Mitre Peak. Refuel with a tasty picnic lunch in a scenic location.

With waterfalls cascading down mighty cliffs and some of New Zealand’s most impressive natural scenery, Milford Sound is one the South Island’s must-see destinations—but its remote location makes it hard to reach alone. On this tour, spin through the New Zealand countryside in comfort from central Queenstown with your guide. Admire panoramic views from your glass-roof, low-emissions coach, and cruise the calm waters with a picnic lunch included.

Enjoy uninterrupted views of the mountain scenery on the way to Milford Sound in a glass-roofed coach. Your driver will provide commentary along the way, to keep you informed. At Milford Sound, embark on a cruise on the water, all the way out to the Tasman Sea. Interesting commentary is available in several languages. Relax and take in the views as you enjoy a buffet lunch on board.

Experience stunning scenery on an unforgettable day trip to Milford Sound. The pristine Milford Sound is part of the World Heritage Fiordland National Park, in the south west of the South Island, and is famed for its remote atmosphere and rugged beauty. It is New Zealand’s best known fiord and the only one that can be reached by road. Maori are believed to have discovered Milford Sound more than 1,000 years ago, returning seasonally to collect the prized pounamu (greenstone). In the early 1800s John Grono was the first European settler to land in the sound, which he named after Milford Haven in Wales. Described by Rudyard Kipling as the 'eighth wonder of the world', Milford Sound was carved by glaciers during the ice ages. Milford Sound is breathtaking in any weather. Cliffs rise high into the air from the dark waters, mountain peaks scrape the sky and waterfalls cascade downwards, some as high as 1000 metres.

Glenorchy sits at the northern tip of Lake Wakatipu, along a stunningly beautiful stretch of road that runs from Queenstown to the (aptly-named) rural settlement of Paradise further north. Instead of trying to negotiate these unfamiliar, sometimes dangerous country roads on your own, get a driver who knows the region on a half-day trip. Spend time exploring Glenorchy’s shops and cafes, and take advantage of some remarkable alpine photo ops.

Join a Doubtful Sound cruise from Queenstown and discover this alpine gem nestled in the UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park. Traveling by coach, take a ferry across Lake Manapouri and cross over Wilmot Pass for your catamaran cruise. Admire the fiord’s vivid beauty as you search for dolphins, fur seals, and penguins amid a dramatic landscape of soaring granite peaks and crystal-clear waters. 

Soar through the Queenstown forest on the world’s steepest tree-to-tree zipline, 1,500 feet (450 meters) above Queenstown. Choose from three different courses, one with a thrilling 68-foot (21-meter) drop. Or, tone down the adrenaline a notch on a longer course, perfect for families with kids aged six and up. Expert guides supervise your launch so all you have to do is take in the panoramic mountain and lake views.

Learn to take beautiful landscape photos in magical surroundings with this half-day photography tour. Start your tour in charming Queenstown, getting out and taking a range of shots before making your way to the dramatic Skippers Canyon. Here you will be able to take some sunset photos before returning to your Queenstown accommodation.

Photograph spectacular locations around Queenstown and the Southern Lakes on a half-day private photography tour. Your guide is a passionate landscape photographer, who provides creative advice and shows you how to get the most from your camera.

Get off the beaten track while in Queenstown with a scenic off-road tour of Skippers Canyon. Explore the former gold mining region with a local guide who entertains with tales of the gold rush settlement during its heyday. Unveil this hidden gem from the 4WD's forward-facing window seat and see multimedia presentations on an iPad. During your picnic lunch, ask to watch a gold-panning demo!

Journey with us into wild and remote Skippers Canyon. We'll take you on a photographic adventure into some of New Zealand's most spectacular and majestic landscapes and a ride through a window into our colourful gold mining past. This tour is perfect for photography enthusiasts, from beginners to the more advanced. Your guide will bring alive the history and the stories of this rugged region.  Includes take home guide to camera settings and guide to composing great photos. Whatever your level of proficiency they help you find inspirational vantage points and subjects and then work with you, giving you compositional tips and tricks, showing you the camera settings you need to compose amazing images. capturing a vision you'll be proud to take home.

Perfect for photography lovers, enjoy a full-day private photography tour in Queenstown and the surrounding area. Start your day in charming Queenstown and then head further afield. The exact itinerary is up to you, but possible destinations include Arrowtown, Glenorchy, Wanaka, Skippers Canyon and more. Your guide is a local photographer, so will be able to give you lots of advice on how to get the best shots.

After complimentary accommodation pick-up, we will set off for the heart of Gibbston on a small private tour to visit four cellar doors and journey into the ‘valley of the vines’ to discover these vineyards nestled amongst the spectacular mountain ranges and dramatic river gorges. Before we get to the first winery there will be a stop at a scenic location and travellers will learn about wine-tasting techniques and wine aromas while soaking up the fabulous views. In one of the wineries, we will savour a vineyard platter or a cheese board to pair with the wines. There will be time for you to order more food if you think you need (at your own expense). We will visit boutique wineries that are off the beaten path. There is no set routine, so every day is an adventure. The choice of the wineries visited will vary each day based on your individual group's dynamics. The overall focus is on high-quality wines as well as friendly and informative staff.

Most tours of Queenstown offer schedules filled with popular landmarks and well-known attractions; travelers with more niche interests, who want to see a different side of the region, usually have to spend lots of time researching the area. Spend that time doing the things you want to do instead with this tailor-made private tour of the town and its surrounds. Customize the tour’s base itinerary however you want with the help of your guide, who can recommend lesser-known highlights for you to visit too.

The best way over half a day to capture the highlights of this region’s stunning scenery and showcase why this place is an adventurer’s paradise. The beauty in this unique itinerary is the combination of sightseeing and straight out adventure all in one action packed afternoon. Starting in our Landcruiser’s and the capable hands of experienced local guides you will get very personalised tour to visit world famous areas like Skippers Canyon and Arrowtown followed by multiple river crossings up the Arrow River to experience a Lord of the Rings movie location and try your hand gold panning in hopes of taking home some gold. We then take it up a level when you strap in and drive, or be passenger with the guide, our top of the range sports buggies around our exclusive off-road playground through the hills and forests overlooking Queenstown. These forest trails have been designed to thrill and reward with breath taking views only a lucky few get to sample.

• This private photography tour provides a flexible itinerary. • You can choose an astrophotography tour option between February & November. • Your guide holds the public liability insurance, first aid certification and Passenger Service license, which allows to carry and transport clients and are the legal requirements for running this kind of business safely. All of this provides confidence and peace of mind to the clients that this local business offers only the high quality, safe and enjoyable experiences.

Discover Mount Cook, a scenic journey for group or family of up to 4 person. Your day begins with a morning pick-up from your accommodation. As we drive, enjoy flexible stops for breaks, food, and photos. Pass through charming sites along the way. Enjoy a stop at Lake Tekapo for Christchurch pickups or Omarama for Queenstown & Dunedin pickups. Visit Lake Pukaki, a turquoise glacier-fed alpine lake. The drive to Mount Cook is awe-inspiring. Upon reaching Mount Cook Village, explore the scenery. Opt for the Hooker Valley Track with swing bridges, glimpses of ice at Hooker Lake as time permits, and a chance to spot the kea. Choose to finish at Queenstown, Christchurch, Dunedin or end journey at Mount Cook. Make sure to select your preferred option during booking. Our journey concludes as we drop you off at your chosen location. Cherish the memories of a day filled with landscapes and the essence of New Zealand's beauty. Total driving will take approximately 7.5 hours.