How to make the most of a few days in stunning Queenstown

Queenstown is a stunningly beautiful little part of the world that's well worth a visit – even if you can only go for a few days.

The jaw-dropping views of Lake Wakatipu and New Zealand's dramatic Southern Alps make any time spent around Queenstown feel extraordinary.

But there's no shortage of things to do in the town that's been dubbed 'the world's adventure capital'. It offers activities for all types of travellers – from those after an adrenaline rush, to those looking to relax and unwind amongst the amazing scenery.

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My husband and I enjoyed an ideal combination of action and relaxation during our four-days exploring Queenstown. Here's how we made the most of our visit.

A self-guided bike riding tour

Queenstown is surrounded by a 130-kilometre bike network that offers extraordinary views that can't be seen by car.

We went on a brilliant half-day self-guided tour with Around the Basin. The guides drove us about 20 minutes out of Queenstown to Arrowtown, a quaint gold rush village by the Arrow River, which is a worth a visit regardless of whether you're up for a bike ride.

From there, we rode along a 16 kilometre off-road trail to Gibbston Valley Winery, winding alongside the river gorge and past picturesque farms and wineries.

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We also went over the iconic Kawarau Bridge, which is home to the world's first ever bungy jump site, and watched daredevils take the plunge.

The whole journey was so beautiful we had to keep stopping to take it in and to take photos. As with all the activities we did, it can actually be booked using Afterpay.

A visit to the Onsen hot pools

The Onsen hot pools were the perfect place to sit and relax while enjoying Queenstown's natural wonders.

The private cedar hot tubs overlook the Shotover River and the mountain ranges, offering a different but equally mesmerising view to what can be seen from the town centre.

The spas standard package allows two people to enjoy one hour in a private tub, which has a retractable roof that meant it didn't matter that it was raining during our visit, with snack and drinks.

A quad biking tour

We thought a quad biking tour seemed like the tamer pick of Queenstown's thrill-seeker options. Adrenaline-junkies might prefer to opt for the famous bungy jumping, ziplining, or a ride on the popular shotover jet.

The quad biking tours are definitely not for the faint-hearted, though.

We soared up and down steep tracks with mega potholes, and had to pass a skills test before being allowed on the mountainside.

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The breathtaking views were well worth any nerves we had about the ride.

Before the tour, we were wrong in thinking that we couldn't be more 'wowed' than we already had been by the sights of Queenstown.

It felt absolutely surreal to speed over the mountain while looking out over the town with sheep grazing in the snow beside us.

Wining and dining at some of the picturesque vineyards

Queenstown is the gateway to the Central Otago wine region, and only a short flight away on airlines like Jetstar (flights can also be booked using Afterpay!).

There are 133 different wineries, with about 50 cellar doors to be visited.

Many of them are not only known for their amazing wines, but also their remarkable outlooks and delicious food.

We went on a winery tour to get the best snapshot of the wine country, and were taken around by a local who was very knowledgeable about the region's history and the best spots to marvel at the views.

One of favourites was Carrick Winery and Restaurant in Bannockburn.

We also loved Mount Rosa, which is only about 20 minutes' drive from Queenstown.

Whether you've been to Queenstown before, or are planning your first visit there's no doubt there is something to do for every kind of traveller.

The writer was a guest in New Zealand thanks to Afterpay.