Queenstown Airport — Attraction in South Island

Queenstown Airport - A Scenic and Smooth Gateway to Adventure

Queenstown Airport is undoubtedly one of the most scenic airports in the world, offering passengers a breathtaking introduction to New Zealand’s stunning landscapes. Whether you're arriving or departing, the snow-capped mountains and beautiful lake views make for an unforgettable experience.

Location and Views: Situated just 10 minutes from Queenstown’s town center, the airport’s location is highly convenient for travelers. The drive is short and easy, making it a breeze to get from the airport to your hotel or accommodation. What sets Queenstown Airport apart from most others is the incredible scenery that surrounds it. As you fly in or out, the panoramic views of the Southern Alps, Lake Wakatipu, and Remarkables Mountain Range are simply awe-inspiring. It’s a unique experience that sets the tone for your entire Queenstown trip.

Facilities: While relatively small compared to international hubs, Queenstown Airport has all the necessary facilities for a comfortable journey. The terminal is modern, clean, and well-maintained. The layout is straightforward, and everything from check-in to boarding is efficiently organized. There are plenty of seating areas, and the large windows in the departure lounge provide amazing views while you wait for your flight.

The airport offers a good range of amenities, including a café, bar, and several shops where you can pick up last-minute souvenirs or grab a bite to eat. There’s also free Wi-Fi, which is fast and reliable—perfect for catching up on emails or posting your stunning travel photos while waiting.

Check-In and Security: Check-in at Queenstown Airport is generally smooth, with friendly staff and well-organized counters. Even during peak travel times, the lines tend to move quickly. Security screening is efficient and hassle-free, with the staff being both professional and courteous. Due to the airport’s manageable size, you won’t experience the long wait times common in larger international airports.

Transportation Options: Getting to and from Queenstown Airport is incredibly easy. There are several transportation options available, including shuttle buses, taxis, ride-sharing services, and rental cars. If you’re planning to explore the area, renting a car directly from the airport is a convenient choice, with a range of well-known rental companies operating on-site. Alternatively, shuttle services are available to and from the town center and other popular destinations.

Domestic and International Flights: Queenstown Airport operates both domestic and limited international flights, primarily to and from Australia. The domestic flights connect to New Zealand’s major cities like Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, making it a convenient hub for travelers exploring the country. Despite being a small airport, customs and immigration for international travelers are handled efficiently, and the staff are helpful in guiding passengers through the process.

Weather Delays: Due to its mountainous location, Queenstown Airport can occasionally experience weather-related delays, particularly in winter. However, this is well-managed by the airport and airlines, with clear communication and assistance in place if delays do occur. If flying in winter, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on the weather forecast and allow for some flexibility in your travel plans.

Parking: The parking at Queenstown Airport is plentiful and reasonably priced compared to other airports. There are short-term and long-term parking options available, and the parking lots are located close to the terminal, making it easy to get in and out...

Extremely frustrating experience with the baggage team, whose absolute nonchalance and lack of attention to detail delayed my getting my lost bag back for days. To be clear, the bag being missing was not in any way their fault, that's on Virgin Australia, however after filling out an extensive form on site at the airport, I called Virgin Australia and the airport baggage team about 6 hours later to add my New Zealand phone number to my file (after buying a sim card), and was informed that the form was missing large swathes of information that I absolutely filled out (and have photo evidence of doing so). No forwarding address for the luggage, no description of the bag, etc. So despite having given all of this information, no one had even begun looking for my bag. I was then informed that it was in melbourne, and they would call me when they had found it. They did not, I had to call the virgin australia baggage line to get that information. I was told they would call me when it had arrived at the airport. They did not, though they did email me. They told me the bag would be delivered to me that evening, and they would call me when they arrived at my hotel. They did not. I called them multiple times throughout the evening trying to determine the location of the bag, before finding it in the dark, locked reception room of my hotel. The luggage was labeled by their team with my old phone number- not the NZ phone number I called them to provide them with on the day of my arrival. All in all, I landed on December 17th, and was not reunited with my luggage until December 20th. Furthermore, I asked at the desk about financial compensation/reimbursement for purchase of necessities, and was told that that was not possible- however upon doing more research myself on Virgin Australia's website it most...

Queenstown International Airport is quite nice considering that Queenstown isn't even big enough to be called a city. This town has an urban population of less than sixteen thousand people according to my telephone. And my telephone sees all and knows all.

The arrival is quite scenic. We flew down next to some very scenic mountains (see the pictures I included with this review). The runway is a bit short. Our Boeing 737 / 800 needed the entire runway to come to a stop.

We deplaned via a movable stairway, but I didn't expect a jetway at a small town airport.

There were efficient procedures at immigration so that process went reasonably quickly. The terminal was clean and nicely designed. I was impressed.

Four days after I wrote the stuff above, I am sitting in the Queenstown Airport because my flight out was canceled. Why? Because the aircraft that was going to take me and my group to Rotorua was unable to land here.

Remember, four paragraphs ago, I mentioned that our aircraft needed the entire length of the runway to come to a stop? It appears that when the weather is windy and gusty, as it often is in Queenstown Airport which sits at the confluence of three valleys and is surrounded by very high mountains with rocks in them, it's very difficult to land and take off.

I looked it up. Queenstown has only one paved runway, and it's the minimum length possible for commercial passenger aircraft. Queenstown is a popular tourist destination. They can't do much about the mountains, but they should consider lengthening and widening the runway. Tourism is a major industry in New Zealand. I hope that the government isn't waiting for a crash of an airliner before investing in improvements to...