Best Things to Do in Queenstown in the School Holidays' Final Week

The July school holidays finish on Sunday 19 July, which leaves one good week to make the most of them. If you are in Queenstown, or thinking about heading down before Term 3 starts, here is how to spend those last few days well.

We know how it goes. The first week disappears in a blur of pyjama days and half made plans, and suddenly it is the final stretch. If you read our Matariki and school holidays road trip guide earlier in the month, this picks up where it left off, and your car from Evolve Rentals will get you to every one of these without a timetable in sight.

When do the July school holidays end in 2026?

The July school holidays run from Saturday 4 July to Sunday 19 July 2026, and Term 3 starts on Monday 20 July. That leaves the week of 13 July and the final weekend of 18 and 19 July for one more outing, day trip or short break.

Which ski field is best for a family day out?

Coronet Peak if you want the least driving, The Remarkables for the widest spread of terrain, and Cardrona if you are happy to make a full day of the road.

• Coronet Peak is the closest, 16km from town and about 20 minutes away, with a proper learner area
• The Remarkables is 24km out and takes around 45 minutes, most of it on the climb up the access road
• Cardrona is about an hour away towards Wānaka, and Treble Cone sits further again, beyond Wānaka

Our guide to which Queenstown ski field to pick and how to get there compares all four, including where to hire gear and when chains are needed. Check the snow report and road status for your mountain on the morning you go, because both change with the weather.

Why is a car easier for a family ski day?

Because ski days with children rarely run to anyone else's schedule. Car parks fill early on a good day, shuttles leave when they leave, and carrying skis, boots and a tired child onto a bus is nobody's idea of fun.

With your own car you can load up the night before, leave when everyone is actually ready, and head home the moment someone has had enough. On a busy holiday Saturday, that flexibility is the difference between a good day and a long one. And if you are heading up the mountain road, ask us for snow chains when you book.

What can you do in Queenstown on a bad weather day?

Head indoors, or head somewhere the weather matters less. Queenstown has plenty of options for a grey day, and most are only a few minutes from town.

• Queenstown Ice Arena, for skating that needs no snow and burns off plenty of energy
• The Skyline Luge, where the Queenstown Luge runs 1,600 metres of banked corners, tunnels and dips, and children over 85cm tall and 2 years old can ride with an adult
• A proper hot chocolate, and we have done the research for you in our guide to where to get one in Queenstown

Check session times for the Ice Arena and conditions for the Luge before you set off, especially in the busy last week of the holidays.

Where can you drive for a change of scene?

When everyone has had enough of central Queenstown, a short drive resets the whole day.

• Arrowtown is about 20 minutes away, with the free Chinese Settlement, gold panning in the Arrow River and Dorothy Browns cinema for a rainy afternoon. Our Arrowtown day trip guide covers the lot
• Glenorchy is a drive along the shore of Lake Wakatipu, and winter light on the mountains makes it one of the best in the region
• Wānaka is about an hour over the Crown Range, a good full day away, but chains must be carried on the Crown Range in winter

How do you make the last weekend count?

Pick one thing and plan around it. The final weekend of 18 and 19 July is the last chance for a family day out before school routines return, and an overfilled day helps nobody.

A ski morning followed by hot chocolate in town works. So does a slow drive to Arrowtown with an unhurried lunch and a film if the weather turns. One good outing does more for everyone's mood than three activities squeezed in before the light goes.

In Queenstown we bring the car to where you are staying and walk you through it, so the day starts at your door. Mileage is unlimited and additional drivers are free, so the grown ups can share the driving on the longer days.

Book your car for the final week

Whether the plan is a ski day, a drive to Glenorchy or simply getting between activities without relying on shuttles, the last stretch of the holidays is easier with your own car. Book your rental car with Evolve Rentals and enjoy Queenstown on your own schedule, right through to the last day of the holidays.

FAQs

When do the July 2026 school holidays end?
The July school holidays end on Sunday 19 July 2026, and Term 3 starts on Monday 20 July.

Which ski field is closest to Queenstown?
Coronet Peak, 16km from town and about 20 minutes away. The Remarkables is 24km away and takes around 45 minutes.

What can you do in Queenstown when the weather is bad?
Queenstown Ice Arena, the Skyline Luge and the cafés around town are all good options. In Arrowtown, Dorothy Browns cinema is a favourite for a wet afternoon.

How far is Arrowtown from Queenstown?
About 20 minutes by car on a sealed road.

Do you need a car to get to the ski fields from Queenstown?
It is not essential, but a car gives you far more flexibility with timing, parking and carrying gear, especially with children.