Photo: Ad Imtiaz
Photo: cencier simon
Photo: Kia
Queenstown Mall
★4.4(1,180 reviews)Shopping
🕑 1 to 2 hours👶 Best for all ages. Young children enjoy watching street entertainers and grabbing ice cream, while tweens and teens appreciate the outdoor gear shops and casual eateries. The pedestrian-only zone makes it safe and stress-free for families with strollers or active toddlers.🧡 Saved by 16 families
About
Queenstown Mall serves as the vibrant heart of this adventure-packed New Zealand town, offering families a pedestrian-friendly shopping and dining hub perfect for a leisurely stroll between outdoor activities. With its mix of souvenir shops, outdoor gear stores, family restaurants, and street performers, it provides a convenient basecamp for exploring Queenstown with kids while offering plenty of spots to refuel and recharge.
Highlights
- ✓Pedestrian-only streets perfect for kids to explore safely
- ✓Regular street performers and buskers providing free entertainment
- ✓Multiple ice cream and treat shops popular with children
- ✓Outdoor gear stores where families can stock up on adventure equipment
- ✓Central lakefront location with easy access to Queenstown's waterfront
Pro Tips
- 1.The mall is fully pedestrianized, making it stroller-friendly and safe for kids to walk around without worrying about traffic.
- 2.Visit in the early evening to catch street performers and buskers who provide free entertainment that kids love.
- 3.Use the mall as a meeting point if you're splitting up for different activities, as it's centrally located and easy to find.
- 4.Most shops accept international credit cards, but have some NZ dollars cash on hand for street food vendors and ice cream carts.
- 5.Public restrooms with baby changing facilities are available at the Information Centre near the mall.
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings (10:00 AM to 12:00 PM) are quietest for relaxed browsing. Evenings between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM offer the best atmosphere with street performers and cooler temperatures in summer, though it gets busier then.
What to Know
The mall itself is free to explore and window shopping costs nothing. Note that Sunday hours are limited (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM) compared to other days. Several family-friendly restaurants offer high chairs and kids' menus, and there are multiple public seating areas for rest breaks.
Seasonal Notes
The mall is open year-round and particularly festive during summer months (December to February) when outdoor dining and street performances are most active. Winter visitors will find it decorated for the ski season with a cozy atmosphere, though it can get chilly in the evenings.
Nearby Eats
Fergburger (a Queenstown icon serving massive burgers that kids love, expect queues but they move quickly) and Patagonia Chocolates (perfect for a sweet treat with hot chocolate options) are both located right on the mall and highly family-friendly.
More Activities Near Queenstown
Activity
TSS Earnslaw Cruise with Glenorchy Walk
The TSS Earnslaw Cruise with Glenorchy Walk combines a voyage on a beautiful vintage steamship across Lake Wakatipu with a gentle nature walk, creating an unforgettable family adventure. Kids will be captivated by the historic vessel's working engine room and stunning mountain scenery, while the easy walking portion lets families explore New Zealand's remarkable landscapes at a relaxed pace perfect for young explorers.
Activity
TSS Earnslaw Vintage Steamship
Step aboard the TSS Earnslaw, a beautifully restored 1912 coal-fired steamship affectionately known as the 'Lady of the Lake,' for an unforgettable cruise across the stunning turquoise waters of Lake Wakatipu. Kids will be mesmerized watching the engine room in action with its gleaming brass and working pistons, while the whole family enjoys breathtaking views of Queenstown's dramatic mountain scenery. This authentic vintage experience combines history, engineering wonder, and natural beauty into one magical journey.
Adventure
Arrowtown
❤️10
Arrowtown is a delightful historic gold rush village just 20 minutes from Queenstown, offering families easy riverside walks, gold panning activities, and charming streets to explore. Kids love the old-world buildings, the Arrow River trail perfect for spotting fish and skipping stones, and the sense of adventure that comes with exploring a real 1860s settlement with restored miners' cottages and heritage sites.
Trampoline Park
Sticky Fingers Trampoline Park
$$
Sticky Fingers Trampoline Park is an indoor wonderland for bouncing, jumping, and burning off energy, rain or shine. With dedicated zones for different activities including dodgeball courts, foam pits, and multiple trampoline areas, this Queenstown attraction keeps kids active and entertained while parents can relax knowing their children are safe in a supervised environment.