The luge is one of the most unique and fun experiences in Rotorua and Queenstown! If you’ve never heard of a luge before, it's a go-kart/toboggan hybrid that's completely gravity-powered and has handlebars that let you control your speed.

The Luge was invented in Rotorua in 1985 and has since expanded overseas. The Queenstown Luge is one of the best in the world, and while racing down the track, you’ll get some of the best views of Lake Wakatipu and the mountains.

How much does the Queenstown Luge cost?

Prices will depend on how many times you want to ride, but trust me, no one ever goes just once. I’ve been on the luge more times than I can count. If this is your first time, I recommend buying the five-run pass, which seems to be the sweet spot between fun and cost.

How to get there

The luge is located at the Skyline Queenstown complex. To get there, you’ll need to take the Skyline Gondola from the base station in Queenstown, which is one of the steepest cable cars in the Southern Hemisphere!

What else can I do here?

Your luge ticket includes the gondola ride, but you can also bundle it with other experiences like ziplining or stargazing.

If you’re up for a big adventure, the Ben Lomond Saddle/Summit Track starts from the top of the gondola. This walk isn’t for the faint-hearted, as it’s a long, challenging day that will take a few hours. But if you’re fit and have time, it’s probably the most incredible view in Queenstown.

If you have the time in the evening, I highly recommend booking the luge and dinner package to finish the day at the Skyline Buffet. When you hear the word “buffet”, you often think of rubbish hotel breakfasts or all-inclusive resorts with far too many cold slices of pizza. Skyline couldn’t be further from that and was full of grilled meats, fresh kaimoana (seafood), hot meals, salads and a dessert bar.