Friday, 19 December 2025
Parking options available in Queenstown and Wānaka over summer
Locals and visitors driving into Queenstown and Wānaka will have access to plenty of carparking to use for shopping and sightseeing this summer.
Locals and visitors driving into Queenstown and Wānaka will have access to plenty of carparking to use for shopping and sightseeing this summer, and all within walking distance of the town centres and lakefronts.
Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is set to open an expanded carpark on the corner of Stanley Street and Ballarat Street on Saturday 20 December, with improvements resulting in 131 parking spaces at the site – approximately 56 more than the carpark offered earlier in the year.
Nearby, the Ballarat Street carpark is open and offers 102 parking spaces, and plenty more spaces are available at Council’s Boundary Street, Lakeview, Memorial Street, and Athol Street carparks too.
As in previous years, a reduced but valuable amount of temporary free parking will be made available at Queenstown Primary School on Robins Road from Saturday 20 December through to Sunday 8 February 2026.
People heading into Queenstown are reminded all Council-owned parking spaces are free in the town centre from 6.00pm through to 8.00am the following morning, meaning that celebratory end of year dinner or spot of late-night shopping doesn’t need to be rushed.
In Wānaka, temporary free parking for all types of passenger vehicles and campervans is once again available at the Showgrounds off Brownston Street from Thursday 18 December through to Monday 12 January 2026.
Those looking to ditch the car and avoid summer traffic are encouraged to go by foot, bike, or micro mobility device for shorter journeys, or to consider using the bus or ferry to get around the Whakatipu.
With Orbus’ buses running throughout the festive season except for on Christmas Day, services remain an affordable and easy way to move around the area and help reduce congestion. Ferry users are recommended to check Queenstown Ferries’ website for the latest schedule updates.
Locals and visitors to Wānaka can also enjoy active travel connections throughout town, including the shared pathway running past the Marina and Yacht Club, and the Schools to Pool pathway running from Kelly’s Flat to town and on towards Three Parks and the pool.
More information on parking options in Queenstown and Wānaka is available online at www.qldc.govt.nz/parking.
ENDS | KUA MUTU
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