Top 10 Queenstown Photography Locations
I had wanted to open my own landscape photography gallery for a few years, and when we moved to New Zealand I knew the location for my eventual gallery just had to be Queenstown. Everywhere you look there are stunning views, whether you’re up high looking over the town and Lake Wakatipu from the Skyline gondola or the local ski fields, or down at lake level admiring the golden trees in Arrowtown in Autumn or enjoying the views of the Remarkables from the TSS Earnslaw gliding across the lake.
There are endless amounts of great Queenstown photography locations, but I’ve managed to round down to my top 10 easily accessed locations.
1) Coronet Peak
The road up to Coronet Peak ski field is open year-round, with plenty of pull outs perfect to go for a short wander off the road for incredible sweeping views of Queenstown, the Remarkables, the Crown Terrace, Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding farmland.
Getting there: From downtown Queenstown it’s a 12 minute drive past Arthurs Point to the Coronet Peak Road turnoff. Head at least 10 minutes up the road towards the ski field until you get to a safe area to pull over, you won’t even need to head too far from your car to get a great vantage point. Visit Coronet Peak website for more information.
2) Skippers Canyon
There are many great spots along Skippers Road where you can take photos of Skippers Canyon and the surrounding area, but my personal favourite photography location is from Mt Dewar. The cell phone towers at the summit mean that taking photos of Mt Dewar itself isn’t worth it, but the view from the summit is spectacular, especially in winter when there is snow on all the peaks.
Getting there: As for Coronet Peak, to get to Skippers Canyon and Mt Dewar, head up the Coronet Peak Road until you get to the Skippers Road turnoff. Just past the Skippers Canyon Lookout, you will get to a carpark at the Atleys Track trailhead. The walk will take you about an hour to get to the summit, uphill all the way.
3) Bennetts Bluff
The road from Queenstown to Glenorchy hugs Lake Wakatipu the whole way, and it is extremely scenic. In July 2021 a new lookout walk with huge car parking area, picnic area and toilets opened up, which replaces the cramped and dangerous pull-out that used to exist for Bennetts Bluff. Views extend from Glenorchy and the Humboldt Mountains in the north, to the Thomson Mountains and Mt Nicholas to the south.
Getting there: Bennetts Bluff is 25 minutes’ drive along the scenic Glenorchy-Queenstown Road.
4) Broken Pier - Meiklejohns Bay
Blink and you’ll miss out, but near Meiklejohns Bay in Lake Wakatipu is the broken remains of an old wooden pier. It’s a popular spot for photographers in the know, but definitely a worthwhile stop on the road to Glenorchy.
Getting there: Meiklejohns Bay is about 30 minutes’ drive from downtown Queenstown along the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road. The pier can be found in between Bennetts Bluff and the Twenty Five Mile Stream campground.
5) Glenorchy
There’s far more to Glenorchy than the little red wharf shed, but it’s famous for a reason and honestly it is a beautiful photography location. The historic red shed is surely one of the most photographed landmarks in the region, along with the wharf itself with the photogenic street lamps dotted along.
Getting there: You guessed it, head out along the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road, about 45 minutes from downtown Queenstown. Allow extra time to stop at Bennetts Bluff and Meiklejohns Bay either on the way there or back.
6) Skyline Gondola lookout
It’s very touristy and quite expensive to ride the gondola, but it’s true that the views are really stunning from the lookout. The ride itself is actually pretty fun, it ascends steeply up the hill past pine trees and wandering goats, to the lookout building up top where you can also ride luges and go bungy jumping or zip lining.
Getting there: The base building is at the end of Brecon Street in downtown Queenstown. Visit the Skyline Gondola website for more information.
7) Arrowtown
The historic goldmining settlement of Arrowtown is worth a visit year-round, but it’s especially photogenic in Autumn/Fall. Drive along Speargrass Flat Road for some of the most picturesque driveways you’ve ever seen, flanked by bright golden yellow trees in the height of Autumn. Keep in mind the driveways are private property, so be respectful and shoot from the street.
Getting there: Speargrass Flat is located in between Queenstown and Arrowtown. You can get to Arrowtown by bus from Queenstown, but to get to Speargrass Flat it’s easier if you have your own car.
8) Shotover River
There are many great spots to photograph the Shotover River, but a personal favourite of mine is to shoot the Edith Cavell Bridge, near Arthurs Point.
Getting there: Arthurs Point is only 8-10 minutes’ drive from downtown Queenstown. Turn left as soon as you get over the Edith Cavell Bridge and park down near the Shotover Jet building.
9) Moke Lake
Moke Lake feels a world away from Queenstown, yet it’s only about a 20 minute drive. Moke Lake is a steep montane lake, surrounded by tussock farmland, and its peculiar U shape makes for interesting photos. The 2-3 hour loop track is a popular way to find unique vantage points of the lake and surrounding mountains, and there’s even a campground if you want to spend the night and try your hand at astrophotography, away from the light pollution of Queenstown.
Getting there: Drive 8-10 minutes along the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road towards Closeburn until you get to the Moke Lake Road turnoff. Another 12-15 minutes takes you to the end of the road, to the campground beside the lake.
10) The Remarkables
There are many great locations to photograph The Remarkables from, including from downtown Queenstown, Coronet Peak, from the top of the Skyline Gondola or even from the streets flanking the Frankton Arm of Lake Wakatipu, such as Highview Terrace, Goldfield Heights and Middleton Road.
Getting there: Explore the backstreets running off Frankton Road up the side of Queenstown Hill until you find the perfect vantage point of The Remarkables between all the houses.
To see some of these Queenstown photos in person, and to see more New Zealand landscape photography, visit the Cory Marshall Gallery at 1-7 Earl Street, Queenstown.