Destination guide

Car hire in Queenstown for crew on a break

Last reviewed August 2026 by the NonRevCars editorial team · about a 4-minute read

Queenstown is small enough to walk around, but it sits in the middle of some of the best road-trip scenery in the world — Milford Sound, Glenorchy, and the wine country of Central Otago are all within reach, and a car is genuinely the best way to see any of it properly.

Why bother with a car here

The town centre itself doesn't need a car. But New Zealand's South Island is built for driving — the road to Glenorchy along Lake Wakatipu is stunning in its own right, and the full-day trip to Milford Sound through Fiordland is one of the great scenic drives anywhere, tour buses included but a car gives you far more freedom to stop.

What to know about driving here

• Driving side: left-hand side.
• Mountain roads can have sharp bends and steep drops — go slower than you might elsewhere, especially on the Milford road.
• Winter conditions (June-September) can require snow chains on some routes — check conditions before heading out in that season.
• Fuel stops are sparse on the longer scenic routes — fill up before setting off, not when you're getting low.

Good use of a day off

The drive to Milford Sound is the classic — allow a full day, since it's around 4-5 hours return plus time at the sound itself. For something shorter, the road out to Glenorchy along the lake is a stunning half-day and much easier going.

Frequently asked questions