Looking for things to do on a rainy day in Queenstown? Look no further. We have a comprehensive list of rainy day activities in Queenstown that are perfect, no matter what time of year you are visiting. Whilst the winter months tend to produce more wet weather days throughout New Zealand, the good news for you is that Queenstown caters for those that love indoor and outdoor activities. If you are down there for the ski season and you are not into skiing, then these wet weather activities in Queenstown are perfect for those days when you can’t face hitting the slopes and you want to try something a bit different.
As you will already know, Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s most popular tourist destinations and is also known as the adventure capital of the world. Whilst for many, this is one of the biggest reasons to visit Queenstown, for others, the idea of strapping a giant rubber band to your leg and throwing yourself off a bridge is not their idea of a fun weekend, but fear not!
As well as a whole bunch of adventure activities that you can read more about here, there are plenty of activities for those looking for something a bit more laid back or something to do on a rainy day. Queenstown is full of amazing indoor activities with a bit of something to suit everyone. From thrill seekers to relaxation seekers, we’ve got you covered in our comprehensive list below.
1.     Ice Skating
View this post on Instagram
Summer or winter, there is never a bad time to dust of your skates and head to the rink. The Queenstown Ice Arena is the coolest place in town. And it’s not just ice skating that you can get involved with. The Ice Arena is also home to ice hockey leagues for adults and kids as well as the amazing ice bumper cars. And if you’ve ever seen curling in the Winter Olympics and fancied giving it a go, you can do that too!
2.     Go Karting
View this post on Instagram
For thrill seekers out there who want something to do on a rainy day, then go karting is definitely a must-do. Game Over is one of New Zealand’s best indoor kart racing and the 290-metre track in Queenstown has it all; a bridge, an LED-lit tunnel, challenging turns and long straights. Their electric go karts also make for a much more pleasant experience, with no fumes compared to gas-powered rivals – a big difference at an indoor track. Single kart races start from $49 with deals for multi-race tickets.
3.     Spa and Hot Pools
View this post on Instagram
If you really want to treat yourself and kick back in total relaxation, Onsen Retreat and Day Spa is perhaps one of the best places in the country to experience the full spa and hot pool experience. Located high on a cliffside overlooking the magnificent Shotover River canyon, their world-renowned cedar hot pools are hot and steamy on cold and rainy days and simply magical in the evenings. Relax and unwind with breath-taking views of alpine scenery.
4.     Cinema
View this post on Instagram
Nothing screams rainy day activity more than the cinema. No matter where you are in the world, when the rain starts to pour, we all love to flock to the cinema. The most popular cinema in Queenstown is Reading cinemas located right in the middle of town. If you are looking for something a bit more boutique, take the short drive to Arrowtown and check out Dorothy Browns.
5.     Wine Tasting Tour
View this post on Instagram
OK, so this one is a bit of a cheat as the wine tasting tour will take you out of downtown Queenstown, however you can get picked up in town so we’re sticking with it! Queenstown is located in the Otago region, one of New Zealand’s best wine growing regions and home to some of the tastiest pinot noir wine on the planet. You can visit a number of wineries on a self-drive tour, however this would stop you from enjoying the wine, so we recommend booking on a tour and enjoying the full sampling experience.
6.     Thrill Zone
View this post on Instagram
Thrill Zone does exactly what it says on the tin – thrills by the bucket-load! Located right in the heart of downtown Queenstown, Thrill Zone is the perfect spot for thrill seekers on a rainy day or anyone looking to try some pretty cool activities for the first time. Thrill Zone has a whole raft of activities for you to try – escape adventures, VR gaming, 12D motion theatre, laser tag, paintless paintball, bazooka ball, and drift karting. If you can’t make up your mind on what you want to do, head on over to Thrill Zone – there’s bound to be something to tickle your fancy.
7.     Mini Golf
View this post on Instagram
Ah minigolf – a New Zealand institution and a popular ‘sport’ the world over. Typically played outdoors, Queenstown is definitely onto something with their indoor mini golf course at Caddy Shack. The Caddy Shack course is a gem with some really cool holes including a ski lift, a timber mill, a mountain river and many more cool holes. It’s a great way to spend an hour or two so give it a whirl the next time you’re in town.
8.     The Fear Factory
This one is not for the feint hearted. We repeat. This is not for scaredy cats. Fear Factory is New Zealand’s scariest haunted house complete with live actors and impressive special effects. Guests at the Fear Factory dare to walk the halls of the old Lockhart Hotel – will you make it or will you call ‘chicken’ and join the 21,000+ people that have already failed to make it to the end? It’s lots of fun for the whole family – especially the photo gallery showing some pretty scared people out there!
9.     Trampolining
View this post on Instagram
If you though trampolining was just for kids, then think again. Site Trampoline in Queenstown is perfect for people of all ages and all fitness levels. Perfect for those who are working on their fitness, freestyle training, or if you simply love to trampoline. Practice freestyle tricks, improve your aerial awareness and confidence, get fit or just hang out with your mates. As well as trampolining, you can also nail your tricks in the foam pit or super soft air bag. Super cool fun.
10. Sensory Maze
View this post on Instagram
Odyssey Sensory Maze is a maze like no other! Journey through a multitude of rooms with a variety of different sensory effects that will leave you amazed! Based right on the busy Shotover Street, only a block away from the Queenstown lakeside, Odyssey Sensory Maze is a pretty unique experience where you will get to find your way out of a maze whilst experiencing darker challenging spaces, quirky physical obstacles and challenges, illusions, lighting effects, scents, sound effects and strange sensations that all together provide you with a unique experience that you will never forget!
11. Skydiving
View this post on Instagram
No, it’s not a typo. On a list of the best indoor activities in Queenstown, we have indeed listed skydiving. iFLY offer some serious skydiving fun from the comfort of their city centre indoor arena. Your entire iFLY experience will last over an hour and the time does tend to fly! Your session will include a brief orientation with coaching from a highly trained flight instructor, plus your time in the air which includes up to 4 opportunities to ‘fly’. This is a pretty cool (and very safe) alternative to actual skydiving and a great way to spend a rainy day in Queenstown.
Summary
So, there you have it. 11 of the best indoor activities in Queenstown for a rainy day or even taking yourself out of the summer sun for a few hours. Wet weather activities in Queenstown are not your typical wet weather activities. As the adventure capital of New Zealand, you can get your daily dose of adrenalin indoors as well as out so make sure you check out some of these amazing indoor activities the next time you are down in Queenstown. Rain or shine, these activities are up there with some of the best things to do in Queenstown. Need a car to keep yourself out of the rain? Check out our Queenstown car rental options.
You can read more about Queenstown and all the great activities down there in some of our other posts:
