It’s not just the Europeans that truly know how to après. Over the ditch in Aotearoa, the Kiwis have really embraced the idea that when the lifts stop spinning, the second half of the day is just starting.
If you’re looking for a holiday with après options – on and off the slopes, for every kind of personality and energy level – Queenstown and Wānaka are where your next ski trip needs to be. From lakeside wine bars and hot pools to on-mountain DJ sets and all-night clubs, there’s something here for everyone, making après less of an afterthought and more of an all-encompassing experience.
Here’s how to make the most of the après experiences across the two towns, whether you want to keep the adrenaline going or wind things down.
Queenstown: High energy & high variety
Queenstown is always ready for a good time, and you don’t even have to wait until you’re off the mountain to start the party. Ski resort Coronet Peak, just a 20-min drive from Queenstown, is the only place in the country that offers night skiing. It’s regularly served up with a side of live music, with DJs such as Hot Dub Time Machine spinning decks by the base lodge from 4pm through to 9pm on selected nights throughout the season.
Queenstown is also home to the Snow Machine music festival every September and taking place across both Coronet Peak and ski resort The Remarkables, plus a main festival arena off-mountain. Attendees can ski and board during the day before dancing on tabletops by the custom-built mountain stages, or party all night long in the heart of Queenstown.
Speaking of the heart of Queenstown… this is a spot that delivers standout après scenes.
It’s easy, really, when you have more than 150 bars, restaurants and nightlife spots packed into such a walkable and compact area. You can have a whiskey by Lake Whakatipu at Wharf Bar, a wine by the fire at Barmuda or a cocktail in a teapot at The World Bar, and all in one evening, within just a short walk from one another. There’s also The Lodge Bar for all-American chic by the water, or Eichardt’s Bar at sunset – an institution.
Did we mention the food? There’s a huge variety on offer here: the local’s favourite burgers at the Ballarat, 20-inch pizzas at Fat Badgers, tiny yet mighty Bella Cucina for mind-blowing Italian, all the way through to platters and plates that make the most of the local produce at spots like Yonder and Little Blackwood.
You can even stop into nearby Arrowtown to find even more of a farm-to-table setting: the town, with its historic main street and hidden laneways, has a side of wine bars, tasting rooms and bistros that are just waiting to be discovered and enjoyed. Put some time aside for Mora Wines and Artisan Kitchen’s delicious seasonal menu, stop by Akarua Kitchen for their artisan waffles and bacon, or eat at historic pubs like the New Orleans Hotel (established 1866), locals’ favourite The Fork and Tap, and The Blue Door speakeasy-style bar for drinks.
When you’ve had your fill of fun and need a hint of recovery over revelry, you’re in luck, because Queenstown leans hard into wellness. Think cedar hot tubs overlooking the Shotover River, saunas, spa treatments and magnesium hot pools.
Go for the Onsen Hot Pools near the bottom of Coronet Peak for the perfect Instagram photo; the hot tub experience at Driftaway Queenstown if you’re seeking privacy; or one of the wellness hubs for peak recovery, such as The Bathhouse Spa, Wellspace, Watershed Saunas or Bathe by Aluume.
Wānaka: Laidback, local and cool
Just over the hill from Queenstown, Wānaka offers a more relaxed take on après. The emphasis here is on unwinding and reconnecting after a big day on the slopes at their two closest ski resorts: Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone, both home to some of the best skiing to be found in New Zealand.
But don’t worry, there are still plenty of places to get a drink with a view. There’s nothing quite like stopping by the Cardrona Hotel on the way home from the slopes for a mulled wine and a chat with the laidback locals as you gaze over their mountain views. Then keep venturing into town for easygoing bars, live music, quiz nights and lakefront spots like Wānaka Brew Bar, made for golden hour sessions with a drink in hand.
The craft breweries are also a major drawcard, with Rhyme x Reason Brewery or Ground Up Brewing both worth a visit, alongside the Cardrona Distillery which offers whisky, gin and guided tastings in a stunning alpine setting. Or stop by cocktail lounges like Verve to try one of their seasonal drinks on offer.
When you’re hungry, there’s no going past the local food trucks, which are famously parked up in Brownston Street delivering Kiwi favourites alongside snacks and meals from all over the world.
As for some local favourite restaurants; Federal Diner for breakfast/brunch, Fedeli for date scones, Kai Whakapai for pizza, Kika for seasonal food (and just refurbished!) and Fudog for Asian fusion.
Post-ski recovery is also an art form here, with lakeside saunas, cold plunges and spa experiences leading the way. Options range from wood-fired barrel saunas overlooking Lake Hāwea at The Secret Sauna to dedicated recovery suites with infrared heat, steam rooms and soaking tubs, to be found at Alpine Thermal Suite at Massage in Wānaka or the Traveller’s Rest and Recovery zone at Active Massage.
Yoga studios such as Hot Yoga Fusion Wānaka and massage therapists round out the offering, helping any tired legs bounce back for another day on the mountain.
Two towns, two après styles
In Queenstown, après can feel an extension of the adventure to be found on the ski slopes, whereas Wānaka offers more of a slow slide into the evening. But the real beauty here is that you don’t have to choose one or the other. With just over an hour between them, it’s entirely possible to experience both, from a DJ set at Coronet Peak one night to a lakeside sauna in Wānaka the next.
Wherever you end up between the two, you’ll soon learn that in this part of the world, après isn’t just what happens after skiing. It’s the reason you’ll want to stay a little longer, and come back next winter, and the winter after that, and the winter after that…
Can’t wait for après? There are even more recommendations where those came from.
To learn more about how to enjoy your time in Queenstown after a day on the mountain, click here.
Or to discover where to eat, drink and recover in Wānaka, click here.
