1. Ride the Gondola and the Luge
Queenstown may be known as the adventure capital of the world but that doesn’t mean future adventures can’t enjoy what Queenstown has to offer. Scratch under Queenstown’s adrenaline-seeking surface, and you will find plenty of things to do in Queenstown for young kids under 3 years old. We put together nine things you can do with a young family.
The Luge is a fun go-cart like experience located at The Skyline Queenstown, 450 metres above Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu to the top of Bob’s Peak. To get to the Luge, you take a scenic gondola ride to the top of peak. Children much be at least 6 years old to ride on their own, however children under 6 years old can ride tandem with an adult on the blue track. Night Luge has also just been introduced so for the first time ever in Queenstown, you can Luge under the lights until 8 pm daily. The Skyline Gondola Base entrance is a 13-minute walk from Koura Apartments.
2. Cruise Lake Wakatipu and visit a farm
Cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Enjoy afternoon tea, feed the farm animals, and watch a sheep shearing display during the farm demonstration. The wharf where the steamship departs from is an 11-minute walk from Koura Apartments.
3. Explore the ski fields
Even if you’ve never hit the snow, this will always be a fantastic choice. All of the ski fields in and around Queenstown have beginner slopes for kids. The entire family will be eased into the snow by guided instructors so you and your little ones be skiing in no time. There are a number of ski fields in Queenstown. Coronet Peak is a 20-minute drive and The Remarkables Skifield is a 36-minute drive from Koura Apartments.
4. Visit the Glenorchy Animal Experience
Drive along one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives to Glenorchy and visit the Glenorchy Animal Experience. The kids (and adults) can pat, fed and watch lambs, Clydesdales, Guinea Pigs, Llamas, pigs and much more. The Glenorchy Animal Experience is a 48-minute drive from Koura Apartments.
5. Visit the Underwater Observatory
The Underwater Observatory is a small room a few meters under the surface of Lake Wakatipu. It costs $10 to visit and there are glass walls so you can watch the fish, the ducks diving, and anything else swimming in the lake. The Underwater Observatory is a 10-minute walk from Koura Apartments. Note: As of the time of writing, the observatory is temporarily closed for maintenance.
6. Hydroslide at Alpine Aqualand
Alpine Aqualand is perfect for all ages. There is a 25m lap pool, a leisure pool, lazy river, two hydro slides, a toddlers’ area and adult hot pool (16+ years). Alpine Aqualand is a 10-minute drive from Koura Apartments.
7. Eat out for lunch or early dinner
The website First Table offers 50% off restaurant bookings if you book their early sittings (around 5pm to 7:30pm). There are 78 restaurants in Queenstown listed on first table so plenty to choose from for those early toddler dinners.
8. Visit the The Kiwi Birdlife Park
The wildlife park offers a family-friendly experience. With an all-day admission ticket, you can explore the park at your own pace. See New Zealand native birds and other animals like the kakariki, kereru, pateke, buff weka and Antipodes Island parakeets. Step into specially designed nocturnal enclosures for optimal viewing of kiwi birds, New Zealand’s national bird. Witness kiwi feedings and learn about their underground burrows. Take a forest walk past trout-filled streams and head to the Tuatara Encounter. The Kiwi Birdlife Park is a 13 minute walk from Koura Apartments.
9. Stay in for a family meal & a movie
Tired from travel or just want to enjoy a “home-cooked” family meal. A mere 400m up the road from Koura Apartments, is the legendary Pedros House of Lamb. Made with locally sourced New Zealand lamb, their lamb shoulders are slow cooked to perfection and served with scalloped potatoes drowning in a garlic and rosemary sauce. The perfect family meal for those much needed nights in so you can turn on a Netflix movie and relax. Pedros House of Lamb is a 4 minute walk from Koura Apartments.
Koura Apartments are equipped with everything you need to make your stay eaier with young children. Children under 3 years who sleep in a cot stay for free. We supply travel cots, high chairs, and have strollers avaialble upon request so you can travel more lightly with peace of mind knowing we have you covered. We also have free Netflix and free wifi for those times you need a movie break.