Where Are the Best Beaches in Queenstown?

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Last Updated on March 14, 2023 by Gia Kristel Algie

Queenstown is best known for its mountain views, adventure sports and nightlife, but it also has some great beaches! Whether you’re visiting in summer and want somewhere to chill out and swim, or you’re there at a colder time of year and want something pretty to look at, these beaches in Queenstown will fit the bill.

Queenstown Bay

This beach in downtown Queenstown is a great place for a stroll, skimming stones or some sunbathing. It’s a picturesque spot and it gets busy when the sun is out. You’ll see some ducks playing in the water, boats come and go from the piers and there is plenty of shade and places to sit. Queenstown Bay is also the perfect spot to bring takeaways (most likely Fergburger) and eat them by the water. You can also walk around the gardens to see some more bits of beach on the other side (looking towards the Remarkables).

Sunshine Bay

It’s a short drive (or a still manageable walk) from downtown Queenstown to Sunshine Bay. There are sections of beach in between too but good luck getting a park there! Sunshine Bay is just far enough from town for it to be quieter than Queenstown Bay, and you’ll likely get a park easily. This is another good spot to bring some takeaways or relax after a long walk.

Wilson Bay

Wilson Bay is a few kilometres past Sunshine Bay and is just as nice. The calm, clear water and the backdrop of mountains makes it a special spot, and you can easily visit when doing the scenic drive between Queenstown and Glenorchy.

READ MORE: Lake Wakatipu is one of our top 12 lakes in the South Island — check out our post to see the others.

Bob’s Cove

This is one of the most famous beaches in Queenstown, and for good reason. The beach at Bob’s Cove is incredible (our favourite beach in Queenstown), but walk up the hill to the viewpoint above it and you’ll be blown away. It’s one of my favourite viewpoints in Queenstown and it lets you see a far different angle of things than hikes like Queenstown hill and the Ben Lomond Track.

Beaches Closer to Glenorchy

The road to Glenorchy passes by heaps of viewpoints, and along the way you can occasionally get down to the water. I can’t remember exactly where the below photos were taken but they are from somewhere along this road — go for a drive and explore!

Walter Peak Station

If you want to catch a boat to a beach in Queenstown, check out the TSS Earnslaw. It’s an old steamboat which travels between Queenstown and Walter Peak Station. You can have a delicious buffet lunch while there and explore the farm. The beach where you pull up is stunning — it looks cool with an old boat in it too (if you can ignore the emissions!).

Kelvin Heights Beach

This low-key Queenstown beach is located on a small peninsula just across the lake from downtown Queenstown. There are some decent sections of beach as well as a couple of piers, which always look good in photos. It’s a bit of a drive over there but you could tie it in to a visit to the Remarkables Ski Area (definitely go up there for the Lake Alta hike if you’re visiting in summer).

Beaches on the road to Kingston

The road between Queenstown and Kingston is home to some wonderful beaches. You’ll drive this way if you’re travelling between Queenstown and Te Anau — there are plenty of places to pull over and enjoy the views, and you can also get down to the beach at several points along the way. It’s one of the most scenic stretches of road in New Zealand!

READ MORE: 15 of the Best Things to Do in Queenstown

Kingston Beach

Situated at the end of Lake Wakatipu, Kingston is a cute little town featuring a nice beach and an old train station. It’s worth a stop when driving between Queenstown and Te Anau — Kingston beach is a the place to go with some takeaways or a coffee!

READ MORE: Queenstown Itinerary: How to Spend Three – Seven Days in Queenstown

Morning Star Reserve

The Morning Star Reserve is home to some of the best river views in Queenstown. There’s a short track which takes you from the car park along the river to a beach area — a beautiful spot, especially in autumn!

Are these the best beaches in Queenstown? Do you have a hidden favourite? Let us know in the comments below!

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Jon Algie

I'm a South Island local -- born in Timaru and raised in Dunedin. I left the island in 2006 and returned 10 years later. Having seen a good chunk of the world I realised how special this place is -- the most beautiful island in the world! Seven years (and almost 400 posts) later I'm still helping locals and tourists alike plan their trips around the South Island.