October 21, 2025
What to do at Queenstown Marina
If you’re planning a trip to Queenstown, then spending a day down at Queenstown Marina is a must. This peaceful lakeside spot is a local favourite, offering everything from great coffee and brunch to thrilling jet boat rides, boutique wine tastings, and craft beer by the lake. It’s a hidden gem many visitors miss, so if you’re curious about where the locals love to go, keep reading.
Coffee With a View
The Boat Shed Café
Arguably one of Queenstown’s best brunch spots, The Boat Shed Café delivers a warm, rustic vibe with unbeatable views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables. Whether you’re after a full breakfast, a sweet treat, or just a coffee stop, it’s a place you’ll want to linger. A local favourite? The chorizo scramble, but honestly, you can’t go wrong. Pro tip: DM them on Instagram a few days before your visit to skip the queue and secure a table.
The Boat Shed Bakery
The Boat Shed Bakery is the little sister to The Boat Shed Café, offering the most beautiful array of pastries, cakes and sandwiches. Pay a visit in the morning to soak in the morning rays and enjoy the calmness of the water.
Norka’s Kai Café
Another little nook down Queenstown Marina is Norka’s Kai Café, offering a large selection of coffees, smoothies, juices and lots of yummy snacks. Come winter or summer, it’s the best outside seating, as you can either enjoy the sun or stay cosy wrapped up with the blankets they provide.
Activities on the Marina
KJet Queenstown
What a way to kick start your day, jump on one of our Jet Boats and enjoy the thrill, the views and the laughs. Starting your 40 minute trip from the Marina on Lake Wakatipu, then hold on tight for thrills and spins down the Kawarau and Shotover River. The best part? It’s family-friendly, with a minimum age of just 2 and no height restrictions.
Hustle & Flow
If you are an early riser or like to hit snooze, then Hustle and Flow has a great selection of classes. Starting at 6:00am until 18:30pm, you will be working out with the most beautiful views of the lake. The perk of getting up and at ‘em’, is that Hustle & Flow offer $20 classes at 6:00am on selected mornings. Alternatively, if you are in town for a while they have an intro offer for $49.95 that will give you unlimited passes for two weeks. It will be hard to visit any other Pilates studio after Hustle & Flow.
Afternoon Tipple & Sunset Sips
Altitude Brewing
Nestled beside Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown Marina, Altitude Brewing has become one of Queenstown’s most beloved craft breweries since its founding in 2013.
What sets it apart is more than just the scenery, though the views over the lake and the Remarkables are hard to beat. Altitude is committed to producing beers that reflect the adventurous spirit of the Southern Alps, using Kiwi ingredients and pushing flavour boundaries with both classic and experimental brews. Feeling peckish? check out the great food trucks on site, The Smoke and Pickle and Grub Club which will satisfy your cravings after a full day.
Fino Wine Bar
Fino Wine Bar in Queenstown offers an elegant yet welcoming lakeside retreat where world‑class wine, thoughtfully prepared food, and stunning views all come together. Tucked into Sheds 8 & 9 at Queenstown Marina, it’s the kind of place where you might drop in for morning coffee, linger over lunch or return for wine at sunset.
Under the guidance of sommeliers like Eugene Kliushneu, the wine list features mostly boutique, family‑run wineries from Central Otago, including Quartz Reef, whose tasting lounge is part of the experience.
Wet Jacket
The Wet Jacket cellar door is located in Shed 3, on Queenstown Marina, Frankton. It affords sweeping views over Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables, and its waterfront setting makes it easy to stop for a few. They offer hosted wine tastings (roughly 5 wines per tasting) in a relaxed but informative format. It’s not just “taste & leave” the crew share history, stories of the land, and insights into the wine‑making process.
How to Get to Queenstown Marina, Frankton
From Queenstown – Frankton Marina is 5k from the centre of Queenstown, with multiple ways of getting there. You can either take the lake path via foot or bike ride, alternatively you can catch the bus 1, 4 and 5 or jump in your car. There is plenty of parking down at the Marina, costing just $2 an hour.
KJet Queenstown: New Zealand’s Original Jet Boat Experience
