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Queenstown New Zealand

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Guide

Food and drink in Queenstown without a car

Photo: Stratosfare Restaurant

Travel by foot, bike, bus, steamship or gondola to dinner in Queenstown.

With walkable restaurants, Queenstown's trail network, and public transport, there's no need to drive for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Start on foot in central Queenstown, where cafés, bars and restaurants sit close to the lakefront. Further afield, you can follow the trails, catch a bus or book a shuttle to lunch among the vines. A gondola or boat trip opens up more places to eat with a view, and getting there becomes part of the fun. This guide groups your options by how you get there. Hills make some walks longer than they look, so check the route, and check the last bus before an evening out. For Gibbston wine country without driving, see Gibbston by bike and shuttle.

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Showing 21 places

Follow your appetite through central Queenstown

Stroll out of your hotel and follow your nose. Central Queenstown is close-knit, so a burger by the lake, a cabinet lunch near the town beach or dinner in a lakefront cottage on Marine Parade are all a short walk away. Carry takeaway into Queenstown Gardens for a picnic with a view. There are many more: see every place an easy walk from the town centre.

5 places

Pedal or stroll to lunch at the marina

Walk or ride the flat lakeside track from town to Queenstown Marina, about seven kilometres each way. It's a lovely way to work up an appetite, with a taproom, a bakery & bistro, a wine bar and a cellar door all located at the marina. Expect a detour onto the Frankton Road footpath during 2026 track upgrades. More are listed under Frankton.

5 places

Restaurants & bars on Queenstown's public bus routes

Queenstown's public buses run the same timetable every day except Christmas Day, and they go further than you might think. Route #1 runs to a gastropub at Remarkables Park and lake view fine dining at Fernhill. Route #2 stops beside cellar doors on the way to Arrowtown. Route #3 reaches a sunny deck at Kelvin Heights, and Route #4 takes you to a fireside pub at Arthurs Point. Plan each trip with the Orbus journey planner, allowing for traffic.

6 places

Travel by gondola, steamship or water taxi to dinner

Here's where getting there is half the fun. Ride the gondola up to a buffet with the town spread out below, take a steamship across the lake to dinner at a high country farm, or hop on a water taxi from town to a lakeside terrace. Book ahead, and check return times so you're not stuck on the other side of the lake.

3 places

Countryside dining by shuttle or tour from Queenstown

Settle in for a countryside meal with your transport arranged. Some restaurants offer complimentary shuttles from central Queenstown or Arrowtown, while evening wine tours collect you from your hotel. Confirm pick-up points, any transport costs and return times when booking, then turn your attention to the menu and the views along the way.

2 places

Food and drink in Queenstown without a car: good to know

Which of these are walkable from the town centre?

Some of the places in this guide:

Which of these list wheelchair access?

Some of the places in this guide:

Which of these take bookings online?

About half of the places in this guide:

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