Mountain town in Otago, New Zealand
Queenstown for solo travelers
Is Queenstown good for solo travel?
New Zealand's adventure capital by Lake Wakatipu: bungy, skiing, hiking and wine in a very scenic setting. Great for active solo trips; prices are among the country's highest, housing is tight and summer is crowded.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 5/5 · Excellent for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women. Usual care with drinks and with hitchhiking or isolated hikes. |
How to meet people in Queenstown
Social hostels with trip desks, ski season share houses, adventure tours, Ben Lomond hikes with other travelers and bar crawls on Queenstown's central streets.
Good things to do alone
- Hike Ben Lomond for panoramic views
- Ride the Skyline Gondola at sunset
- Bungy jump at the Kawarau Bridge
- Walk or bike the Arrow River trails to Arrowtown
- Drive to Glenorchy for lake views
Where to stay in Queenstown
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Queenstown Central | Short stays: bars, hostels, tour offices, lake walks |
| Frankton | Cheaper rentals, supermarkets, airport nearby |
| Fernhill–Sunshine Bay | Quieter hillside stays with lake views |
| Arrowtown | Historic village 20 minutes away; long stays |
Solo travel across New Zealand
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Queenstown | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Auckland | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Wellington | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Christchurch | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Rotorua | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Wanaka | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Taupo | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Bay of Islands | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Coromandel | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Tauranga | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Dunedin | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Nelson | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Kaikoura | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Milford Sound | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Lake Tekapo | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Waiheke Island | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Franz Josef | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is Queenstown good for solo travelers?
Excellent for solo travel (5/5). New Zealand's adventure capital by Lake Wakatipu: bungy, skiing, hiking and wine in a very scenic setting.
How do you meet people in Queenstown?
Social hostels with trip desks, ski season share houses, adventure tours, Ben Lomond hikes with other travelers and bar crawls on Queenstown's central streets. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Queenstown?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is Queenstown safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women. Usual care with drinks and with hitchhiking or isolated hikes.
More about Queenstown
Going to Queenstown solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Queenstown meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.