Whether your style is for a private, intimate moment, a grand, spectacular adventure, or a luxurious, romantic setting, Queenstown has a proposal spot to suit every couple. We’ve also curated a few handy tips to help make your proposal special, listed some of the wonderful local services who can help you plan and execute your perfect proposal, and suggested some romantic activities to celebrate when your sweetie says yes.
Top 10 Queenstown Proposal Spots
There’s little we enjoy more than a good Queenstown love story. Let us inspire you to write your own romance with this line up of the best places to propose in Queenstown.
1. Float into your Future in a Hot Air Balloon
Rise before dawn and wrap up warm. You’ll be collected from your hotel and driven to a field just 15 minutes from Queenstown. There you’ll float upwards in a hot air balloon as the sun rises. 6000ft above the Whakatipu basin you’ll drift with the breeze and enjoy panoramic views of the Southern Alps, before toasting your engagement on landing with champagne.
2. Pop the Question in a Private Hot Tub
For something a little more intimate, soak up the views by candlelight in a private hot tub overlooking the Shotover River at the Onsen Hot Pools. Book one of the original cedar-lined Onsens with a retractable roof so you can gaze upwards together at a sky full of stars. Or stay at Kamana Lakehouse where guests can use the most romantic private hot tubs high above Queenstown with views of the lake.
Onsen Hot Pools
3. Pack a Romantic Lakeside Picnic
Make for one of the hidden beaches along the Lake Whakatipu shoreline. A hidden treasure, about 20 minutes out of town, Bob’s Cove is a favourite for locals. It’s a short walk to the beach on a track that descends through native bush and past a historic lime kiln to a bay with a small jetty, shore swimming, and picnic spots.
The Kelvin Heights beach has glorious views of the Remarkables mountain range. You don’t have to go far to find a quiet, sheltered spot to yourself away from the crowds. Why not take a 10-minute water taxi across from Queenstown and stroll the short walk to the beach. This guide to the Queenstown beaches and swimming spots has more lakeside picnic locales.
4. Arrange a Private Proposal Dinner
Talk to chef Fabien Simon about organising a private dinner to impress. He’ll be able to recommend locations as well as helping you plan a menu full of your sweetheart’s favourite foods. Or enjoy a three-course dinner with matching wine seated outdoors on the hillside above beautiful Lake Moke. Glam Camping Queenstown offer a private chef as part of their glamping experience.
5. Propose amidst the Vineyards of Gibbston
If you love wine, the Gibbston wine region is just half an hour’s drive from Queenstown. Book a wine tour, and visit a selection of cellar doors to sample celebrated Central Otago pinot noirs and aromatic whites. Then lunch at a winery restaurant or arrange for a picnic among the vines to pop the question. Central Otago vineyards like Gibbston Valley, Amisfield, and Quartz Reef craft Central Otago Méthode Traditionnelle bubbles, so toast your engagement and taste the local terroir.
6. Helicopter into a Stunning Location
Hire a helicopter to fly you into the mountains for a secluded proposal surrounded by lake and mountain views. The Ledge is a breathtaking location, a rocky overhang at the top of a cliff on Cecil Peak with stunning views over Lake Whakatipu and the mountains. It’s also a popular spot for elopement style weddings. Fly in at dawn or sunset for amazing light.
Earnslaw Burn is another spectacular location most people fly into. You can hike, but it’s a long way. Earnslaw Burn was a Lord of the Rings location, and when you see the many waterfalls flowing down like bridal veils from the glacier above, you’ll know why.
Earnslaw Burn, Heli Glenorchy
7. Head out on the Water
There’s little more romantic than a vintage steamship, and the TSS Earnslaw has been steaming up and down the lake since 1912. Head out on a lake cruise or combine a cruise with a visit to high country station Walter Peak for a BBQ lunch.
If you’d rather have the lake to yourself, you can charter luxury private launch the Pacific Jemm and combine a cruise with an intimate onboard dinner. Or charter a private jetboat and head across for a picnic to Hidden Island in the middle of the lake beneath Cecil Peak.
8. Hike or Ski to a Stunning Location
The Moke Lake loop track is an easy two-hour loop through rolling hills around the lake. The spot is popular for weddings because of its beauty. Tobin’s Track takes you above Arrowtown for a bird's eye view of the village, mountain ranges, and Lake Hayes to the south. Go before sunset to see the last rays of sunshine glimmer over the Whakatipu Basin.
Lake Alta is a stunning glacial tarn in the Remarkables Conservation Area. You climb from the ski field buildings and follow cairns and flagstones through alpine wetlands, up to the picturesque lake framed by the mountain’s jagged peaks. If you ski, The Remarkables lookout has one of the most stunning views over Lake Whakatipu. Take the Shadow chair to the top of Shadow Basin, and hike 20 minutes to the lookout for an unforgettable proposal.
The Remarkables Lookout
9. Take a Four-Wheel Drive Tour to a Secluded Spot
The view from Queenstown Hill is breathtaking, and while you can walk up to the Basket of Dreams sculpture, you can only get to the highest point of the hill with Nomad Safaris, who’ve the exclusive rights to bring guests onto the working sheep station. If you’re feeling intrepid you can book a quad bike safari. Or tell the friendly crew at Nomad you’d like to propose to your sweetie on the mountain, and they can take you up to a scenic viewpoint in one of their Land Rovers. If an abandoned goldmining village spins your wheels, take their Macetown tour into backcountry, crossing, and recrossing the Arrow River instead.
10. Propose on the Back of an Enormous Buzz
They say terror is a bonding experience, so there’s nothing like a rush of adrenaline to make your proposal extra-memorable, and with Queenstown celebrated for its adventure, you’re in the right place. Do New Zealand’s highest bungy, the 134m Nevis, skydive over the Whakatipu Basin, or try a canyon swing before popping the question. Just make sure you secure the ring somewhere safe before you take the leap.
Tips for Planning the Perfect Queenstown Proposal
Food and wine make any proposal go with a swing. If you’re packing a picnic we recommend Queenstown Market on Saturdays, Royalburn Station Farm Shop in Arrowtown, and the Gibbston Valley Cheesery and Deli in the old winery in Gibbston Valley for local goodies. Fergbaker are famous for their hearty Ferg Pies, while Patagonia Chocolates, Sugary Patisserie and Ma Boulangerie are the places to go for sweet treats. The Winery has shops in Queenstown and Arrowtown, where you can taste 80 New Zealand wines and whiskies.
If you’re proposing on a whim and need a ring, or you’re keen to take home a ring to remind you of your proposal, Queenstown has some wonderful jewellers. Jamies was founded in 1866 and is still owned by the same family today. Four Words make custom rings with ethical gemstones, while Goldfields Jewellers, and Vu Jewellers both also design to order.
Queenstown is an alpine resort, so if you’re heading into the mountains in search of a magnificent setting for your proposal, make sure you dress for the altitude and changeable weather. Warm layers and sturdy shoes are a must.
Royalburn Farm Shop
Local Services to Help you with Proposal Planning
Queenstown is a wedding hotspot because of its scenic beauty, so we’ve a community of friendly wedding planners, who’d be thrilled to help you organise a memorable proposal, and have plenty of romantic proposal ideas. If you want to organise a special picnic in a stunning location Picnique Queenstown and My Secret Picnic both have your back.
Do you want to document the moment? If you’d like a photographer to capture that instant where you bare your heart and pop the question, Queenstown is home to a raft of skilled photographers and videographers. Some, like Kate Craig-Brown, are also skilled masters of disguise, roleplaying as fellow visitors to that scenic spot until the moment comes.
Whatever you’re planning, let the venue or activity organisers know you plan to propose. Queenstown locals can’t resist a romantic moment and they’ll go out of their way to make the occasion special for you if you ask for help.
Celebrating when your Hon says Yes
When your partner agrees to marry you, you may be in the mood to celebrate. Here’s a few of our top picks for the best places in Queenstown to party post-proposal.
Head Upstairs at the Bunker for crackling log fires, sophisticated vibes, and carefully crafted cocktails. If you can’t bear for the evening to end, carry on with dinner at the Bunker downstairs, where firelight and leather sofas make for an intimate dining experience
The Sundeck is the perfect spot for a romantic drink alfresco. A rooftop bar with views of the lake, gas fires to keep you cosy, and a great selection of wine and cocktails. Best at sunset.
Trip Advisor Traveler Choice Awards 2024 voted Nest Kitchen + Bar one of the top 20 places in the world to go for a date night. It scores high on romance with panoramic views, menu of delicious Mediterranean flavours, selection of NZ gins, and impressive wine list.
Botswana Butchery is a classic bistro in a historic cottage by the lake, with inviting ambiance, roaring log fires, and welcoming staff, it’s a lovely spot to cosy up and celebrate your engagement over fine food and fine wine from their extensive cellar.
Botwana Butchery