Queenstown Gardens

Play a round of disc golf, or join a touch-rugby match at these historic botanic gardens on the banks of Lake Wakatipu.

The Queenstown Gardens occupy a small peninsula on Lake Wakatipu, on the outskirts of Queenstown. Since 1867 the gardens have been a central feature of the town, and provide a tranquil break from the busy streets. Visit the gardens to see historic, heritage-listed trees, marvel at the views of The Remarkables mountain range, or enjoy sporting and leisure activities.

Primarily functioning as a botanical park, the Queenstown Gardens are home to a number of native and introduced species of trees, flowers and shrubs. The Queenstown area is well known for its Douglas firs, a species introduced to the area throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Walk through boulevards lined by some of the oldest examples of the Douglas fir in New Zealand, alongside other species of fir and oak. The English oaks were the first trees in the gardens, planted in 1866 by the first mayor of Queenstown.

Enjoy a game of tennis, or take the kids to the Queenstown skate park, both located within the gardens. Watch a game of ice hockey at the Queenstown Ice Arena, home to the Southern Stampede ice hockey team. Strap on some skates and glide across the ice yourself, as the rink is open to visitors when training and matches are not in progress.

The most unusual of the leisure activities in the Queenstown Gardens is also its most popular. Disc golf, or Frisbee golf, has been played in the gardens since the early 1980s and today you will find a complete 18-hole course. Bring along a disc and try it out for yourself. You can buy discs, maps and scorecards from a number of stores in town.

The Queenstown Gardens are located just outside the town center, on the banks of Lake Wakatipu. You can easily reach the gardens on foot from downtown, but there is free parking available if you come by car. The gardens are open every day and entry is free. Fees apply to use the facilities of the various sporting clubs within the gardens, although the disc golf course is free