Top 13 things to do and attractions in Queenstown

A cold and wet day was chosen for this walk with my dog from the Oval so it was. It of a longer walk vs driving up to the car park. The track from the car park starts off easy, and has a couple of displays to read about, and then gets very steep. Good job there’s a hand rail. The view from the top would be way better in sunny weather but it was still impressive with the hills in mist and cloud. Interesting info boards at the top so I learned a bit while there.

The signage to Spion Kop Lookout is unclear, however, we managed to find our way to the small car park at the foot of the hill. The path up is clear and well maintained, but very steep in sections. Little grids have been embedded in the concrete to prevent slipping. The 360 degree views from the summit are magnificent and well worth the climb. The famous Queenstown oval, "The Gravel", can be clearly viewed. We enjoyed the South African connection to the Boer War which was explained on the informative display boards.

Great spot to go find and enjoy..a little effort to reach the top but fantastic reward. We saw some resting curled up Tiger snakes on our walk up.. be careful, as always. Snakes and all wildlife common in Tassie.

Locals recommended to visit. I only recommend to go if you have a good heart and good legs. A very steep walk up. A view of Queenstown to be found.

Great place to see the views of Queenstown. It is an extremely steep climb, but well worth it.

Good workout to get to the top where there are excellent views over Queenstown.

Great look out but very steep on the last leg about 5 minutes of calf pain if you have any issues walking don’t go

What a wonderful experience. We prebooked the tickets online and went on the Heritage carriage. It was awesome from start to finish. Shown to our seats we started with a choice of drink followed by canapes. Stooping at another station on the way gave us the opportunity to pan for gold - unfortunately we did not make our millions as no gold was found that day. We then boarded the train again for the next leg through some unbelievably beautiful Tasmanian bush. We were allowed to get out on a little platform as the train moved which gave another experience with the trip. We were then served scones with hot drinks and some wonderful blackberry jam. We then arrived at our destination where we got off for around 40 minutes to go for a walk in the bush and watch the engine being drive to the back of the train for the journey home. You can go up stairs and watch all this from a bridge looking down - quite the experience. We then all boarded the train for the trip back. Again we were served some tasty treats finishing with a gorgeous chocolate that are specifically made for the trainline. We also got to fill in postcards that will be sent by the trainline to anyone in Australia - a lovely touch I thought. The commentary on the journey was great and gave a really interesting perspective on this part of the world. Staff were fantastic and made the journey even more wonderful. Totally recommended and if it's in your budget, would recommend the Heritage carriage experience.

We visited Tasmania this long weekend and everyone told us there was nothing to do in Queenstown. Well...I am glad I didnt listen to them. There are other things to do/see there, but because of the short stay we decided to do the West Coast Wilderness Railway only and be on our way. We were seated with another lovely couple which made the journey more comfortable. The food was very yummy and served at the perfect time. Now... the actual journey. The ride was nice, relaxing and educational. We had a couple of stops before returning back and each stop was fun. I must thank the staff for being very approachable, understanding and helpful. Special thanks goes to Bec...OMG she is the best! We laughed soooo much while learning about the history of the trains and the tracks. She made the journey so much more special. This trip is highly recommended!

Spent a great morning on the train travelling up the beautiful hills. Nice food and great commentary. One section is the steepest in the southern hemisphere and they have to engage the rachett "third wheel" to get up and then down the 1 in 16 incline. Fantastic experience

We took the Rinadeena Rack & Rainforest trip, in the Premium Carriage feom Queenstown. We had some great drinks and light snacks along the way. Dietary requirements were met with no issues at all. The staff were very attentive and friendly. The ride was slow and comfortable, with some history read aloud over the speakers as we went through the forest. There is heating, so it is warm, and toilet stops along the way. It's definitely worth the experience and is a must on the west coast. To wear coast wilderness railways: We would suggest getting a more confident and articulate reader, or even just pre recorded playback for the onboard historical readings. It was a bit painful listening to our guide. It was hard to keep up with the stuttering and mispronunciations, and didn't really get into the stories, which are super important.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience on the West Coast Wilderness Railway. Bec’s commentary was excellent as was Jeni’s attention to detail in the service of food and drinks in the premium carriage. The only thing that detracted from our experience was other passengers standing on the outside balcony of the premium carriage. They blocked our view forward on the return journey to Queenstown from Rinadeena. Only one passenger came out to take photos. The others just stood there, one or two for the whole return trip. I t would be good if signs were put up with a maximum of 5 minutes standing time on the outside balcony on both the outward and return journeys from Queenstown.

Absolutely fantastic tour of the rainforest in a fully restored diesel train. The carriages are beautifully restored also, Highly recommend this tour. We did the Premier Service and the staff were amazing

This was by far a fantastic trip yes the weather was not the best but the service was top notch I don’t hardly ever give 5 stars but you can’t help it on this trip we were lucky enough to get the first class carriage and it was amazing. Thanks team we had a wonderful day

There are several attractions east of Queenstown that you will find along Lyell Highway including Horsetail Falls. There is a fairly large roadside carpark at the Iron Blowhole Rd turnoff. From there you take take the boardwalk track which gently ascends the mountainside until the Horsetail Falls comes into view. The falls were rather gentle during our recent visit but you could make them out from the boardwalk and designated viewpoint around halfway to the falls. The trail continues all the way to another platform just above the falls on the other side of the valley. We opted to not make the complete walk given the falls seemed rather light at the time of our visit. Best to allow around 45+ minutes for the full walk in and back out. If you are only going to the first viewpoint, 20-25 minutes is sufficient.

Such a beautiful waterfall & location. Short walk, mostly boardwalk the whole way, a little bit tough but manageable. Kid friendly with supervision of course. Visited late September.

From the Iron Blowout we hiked to Horsetails Falls. probably about a 30 min walk, and both spots were interesting - with stark, windy, moon-like landscapes.

Didn't get to the Falls as had my first attack of the fear of heights. Got to this point for the photo. 😊 If there was more rail to hold on the inside of the mountain I may have made it. The fear was holding the outside rail.

Amazing waterfall. Walkway makes it easy to get closer as well.

A short walk that would suit small children to the elderly well maintained paths to the falls with a viewing platform, walk will take approximately 20/30 minutes one way there are various other walks that can take you to the top of the mountain range, these walks are not for children or the elderly though. Would highly recommend stopping by & taking this walk in, great views that overlook Queenstown itself plenty of parking @ the base, unfortunately there are no toilets on site.

Absolutely a must. Easy walk. Lots of stairs though

Nelson Falls is located along the Lyell Hwy 27 km east of Queenstown. There is a fair sized carpark and toilets available at the trailhead. In addition to the falls, this is also one Tasmania's 60 Great Short Walks. The track is 700 metres through thick and lush forest lined with impressive ferns, other vegetation and trees until you reach Nelson Falls which you can enjoy for a few minutes before heading back. During our recent visit, the Falls were very light but the forest environment rich in colour, making for a very nice walk. If you are here to see the falls, it wasn't an impressive showing this time around but if you just want to get out and stretch your legs, the trail itself was beautiful, easy and convenient if making the drive between Queenstown and Hobart and looking for interesting stops to make along the way.

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park is truly wild and remote. Most of it is only accessible via walking tracks, which makes it perfect for anyone looking to escape crowds. I explored the Nelson Falls Nature Trail and was blown away by the Franklin River — powerful, clear, and surrounded by dense forest. Even a short visit here gives you a real sense of Tasmania’s untouched wilderness.

A must see waterfall and nature walk if you’re passing this Nelson Falls on your way to your next destination. It’s majestic when raining as the falls will turn on its full might. The nature walk (flat easy 20 mins walk) is so serene and refreshing.

On the way past we stopped at the river. Not sure what to expect but the walk was very well maintained and ended up being very pleasant. Everything was green and the waterfall at the end fairly spectacular. Worth the short walk and visit.

Outstanding. Super accessible. Toilets close by also. Great pit stop and short walk. 20 minutes return. Beautiful spot. A real gem.

This stunner is only a short flat walk to a big gorgeous waterfall! I definitely recommend this stop! Especially for the ones that don’t like walking!

Great stop! There are toilets onsite. Path is easy, gravel and beautiful. It feels like stepping onto a Jurassic Park movie set.

Nice railway and mining machinery open air museum and memorial. And overall a nice park to stroll around in Queenstown.

Our stopover for photo taking - June 2023

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You must look at the history in the park with all the plaques along the water feature

(Translated by Google) Interesting historical place (Original) Interessant historische plek

Nice and quiet place to stay. Was $5 per night. There's a box from the lions club, place your money in the slot. Open the top and fill in your receipt. The AFL Oval was made of gravel as grass can't grow grass as when it snows the frost underneath kills any grass that wants to grow. We went to the railway station but it wasn't working that day.

The famous gravel oval!! The only gravel oval in the world?? It gets played on. It’s not just a thing of the past. It’s gravel because when the gold/copper mine was going,the sulphurs in the air with wild wet weather conditions made growing grass on the oval near impossible. So decision to make to gravel. Gravel it is😁😎🤣

We camped the night here ...$5 per night fee. You need to be fully self contained as there are no facilities. Gravel oval is interesting.

My partner and I stayed in the camping area. The cost was a donation. A dump point was located next to a roadway not far from the camp. The town is within walking distance and is friendly. The gravel oval is unique. No water, toilets or rubbish bins.

We enjoyed our stay. Walking to town is easy. All attractions nearby. Telstra, TV, good reception. At $5 a night, dump point close, what can you say?

Queenstown Lions Club RV Parking. $5. per night. Mobile Phone Service. Must be self-contained. T.V.

Flat gravel spot $5.00 night self contained vehicles,honesty box

This look out is a little rough, but the view is undeniably spectacular. Limited parking off Lyell Highway, adajacent the steel Quenstown sign and a small shelter. Interpretive panels explain some of the history of the site.

You'll find the Queenstown Steel Road Sign along Lyell Hwy east of Queenstown. It is located at a small pullover with enough space for 2-3 vehicles and along a winding stretch of the highway overlooking the town of Queenstown. In addition to the steel sign and views, there is information about the history of mining around Queenstown available to see here.

Interesting place as back in days was very challenging to local residents to build a railway for mining and today its remain well maintained for tourist its train trip burn 300 litres of oil to boil the water to keep the locomotive in action

"Scenic spot with breathtaking views of the town nestled amidst majestic mountains. The evening sun transforms the rocky walls into a captivating golden spectacle. A must-stop for nature lovers!"

If you are in Queenstown I would definitely advise a quick trip up to this sign. Not only do you get a great view but there is some really interesting history to read about - def worth the very short drive up there.

A decent viewpoint of Queenstown and surrounding areas. Stop-off is next to the steel Queenstown sign, with limited parking at the side of the road. A worthwhile stop to stretch the legs, take some photos and continue the drive on the winding path into Queenstown. No facilities nearby, and it's a simply a stop-off point of interest.

Nice little viewing point, you can see Queenstown from above

I undertook this walk on 18 June '23. Only a short drive from Queenstown. A beautiful short walk, with lots of ferns and tall trees. You walk for a short distance before the track separates and you can go either left or right and the track loops around. The steeper walk/stairs are on the right. It is a slow walk, given the uneven and wet surface. Seeing the two rivers merge, with beautiful clear water and the 'brown' water is so interesting. I have loaded some photos too. My camera is not the best though.

The start of the hike is not signposted save for a tin man cut out. Some parts of the hike were a bit treacherous (we went in between rain showers) and the path is marked by ribbons tied to a few trees. Unfortunately, we could not see the confluence clearly because access to the river banks was roped off. Only Queen River is clearly visible, King river not so much.

A fantastic hidden gem, well worth the short drive from Queenstown. I have attached a screenshot to show where the walking entrance(s) are, as we well and truly missed the tin man as we thought it was closer to the bridge than it is. The track from the Tin Man (red circle) is easier although steep in places, and there’s a small bit gravel to park, you can also get there from the bridge (yellow circle, very hard to see as per images) this track would be better suited to people with good footing but follows the King river to the main attraction.

Well worth a look. Underrated

Lovely walk with lots of rainforest features. Follows the river and see where the King and Queen River meet. Understand it is maintained and set up by a local who has been very resourceful in the items used to establish a safe track. Some difficult parts for those unsteady on feet. Lovely spot. Takes return about 40 min. 8.5km out of town 300m before bridge.

A must do, if you are visiting Queenstown, Tasmania. If you do visit this walk, drive further down the road to Mount Jukes Lookout. The walk is a medium-hard grade with many uneven steps and tree roots. Track would be unsuitable during the rain and snow. The walk starts at cleared gravel pit, with a man shaped from tin at the entrance. The walk follows pink and orange markers through the rainforest, then down uneven steps to the river. The Confluence is the meeting of King and Queen rivers.

Great short rainforest walk to where the King and Queen Rivers meet. This shows the environmental pollution story from Queenstown mining operations in real life!

This is a small memorial park located Driffield Street shortly past the West Coast Rail Station in Queenstown that commemorates the North Mount Lyell Disaster in 1912 which took the lives of 42 local miners. The memorial was designed by Ivan Stringer and erected by the Lions Club in 1973. What you see is a harp shaped a bit like the flames of fire with en embedded miners pick axe centred into a subtle pool and surrounded by a short rock wall and plaques including the name of individual miners who lost their lives during the disaster. It is a touching tribute worth a moment or two if visiting Queenstown and interested in monument viewing.

Like nothing iv ever ridden! This is real mountain biking! Got the shuttle with Roamwild tasmanian as you can't self shuttle to the top. Great chat with our friendly driver going up a pretty gnarly 4x4 track. But wow those views! As you drop into the trails you are greeted with gnarly rocks and rubble. Loose as but still grippy somehow. Incredible technical trails definitely blue/black so pick your lines well and be prepared to flick turn those steep short berms. Epic stuff. Highly recommend it's like nothing else in Australia!

Amazing location for some mountain bike trails. Views for days from the shuttle drop off. The shuttle trails are certainly for the experienced rider but there are pedal up to trails to suit a less experienced rider. Be prepared for riding on loose gravel and rock, have some good brake pads installed before heading out, it's a long way down from the top. The Waterfall Trail is a standout ride

Spectacular scenery, mostly fun to exhilarating trails but be prepared for very loose/gravely surfaces and sketchy traction. Natural Selection is a true double black diamond trail. Go and challenge yourself and your skills !

Incredible views on a clear day and also a great big mountain experience in all conditions. Some rugged, technical stuff on offer but also some smoother, flowing trails too.

Incredible views! Unbelievably beautiful and the trails are wicked! Can highly recommend! Will definitely be returning!

A very special place. Beautiful

Historic monument commemorating the opening of the Queenstown -Strahan Road, worth a stop. However please be aware that there is no designated parking space, only a decommissioned turning lane that could be used to park 2-3 cars.

Nice monument