Driving Experiences & Go Karting in Queenstown

Queenstown driving experiences split into two kinds: laps on a purpose-built track at Highlands Motorsport Park near Cromwell, and off-road drives, rides and tours in the hills around Queenstown. The track days put you in a Mustang, a Radical SR3 or a supercar, and the off-road options range from a self-drive 4WD to a dirt bike or a ride-along buggy with a guide at the wheel.

Track drives at Highlands Motorsport Park

Highlands Motorsport Park sits at the corner of State Highway 6 and Sandflat Road in Cromwell, and sessions run between 10am and 4pm. The Highlands Mustang V8 drive gives you 7 laps of the 1.5km C-Track, two warm-up laps and five fast ones, with a pro driver in the passenger seat. The Radical SR3 drive uses the same circuit in a car with a 6-speed paddle shift gearbox and an instructor beside you.

If you would rather be a passenger, the Highlands supercar fast dash is one lap of the 4.1km track with a professional behind the wheel, with the car hitting 100km/h almost as soon as you leave the start.

Go karting in and around Queenstown

Karting here comes in three styles: outdoor on a mountainside track, indoor at Remarkables Park, and downhill on a mountain cart. The Highlands outdoor go karting runs a 650m track at up to 50km/h, and the Grand Prix indoor go karting at Game Over is a 290m electric track with a hill and an underpass, plus a lazer tag combo. Cardrona mountain carting, with return transfers from Queenstown, belongs to Queenstown go karting as well.

Off-road buggies and 4WD tours

Off-road drives suit people who want to get muddy rather than lap a circuit. The self-drive buggy tour hands you a 4x4 buggy on backcountry trails for an hour, and the ride-along buggy tour covers the same trails with an expert guide in the driver's seat. For a longer day, the self-drive 4WD experience is a half-day in a manual Land Rover Defender with a 2 to 3-hour self-drive section and river crossings, and passengers can come along.

The private 4WD tour of Skippers Canyon is the opposite end of the scale: a 4-hour guided drive over the Skippers Bridge to the historic Schoolhouse, with a picnic lunch.

Quad bikes and dirt bikes

Two-wheeled and four-wheeled options cover most levels. The half-day quad bike adventure comes with full training and protective clothing, on a 3.5-hour trip that covers transfers and a 2.25-hour ride. The dirt bike tour is a guided 1.5-hour ride over 650 acres above the Shotover River, on a 250cc 4-stroke bike with all gear provided, and it takes beginners as well as experienced riders.

Choosing between them

For raw speed, Highlands is the place, because the circuit is built for it and an instructor sits with you. For something more relaxed, the buggy, 4WD and quad bike tours trade lap times for scenery and are easier to book with a group. Queenstown's other adrenaline options sit under Queenstown activities and the sightseeing side under Queenstown tours.

Frequently asked questions

Where can you do driving experiences near Queenstown?

Track driving experiences near Queenstown run at Highlands Motorsport Park on the corner of State Highway 6 and Sandflat Road in Cromwell. Off-road drives and buggy tours leave from Queenstown, and indoor go karting is at Game Over at Remarkables Park.

Do you need a driver licence for a Highlands driving experience?

Yes, you need to bring your driver licence to the Highlands Mustang V8 drive and the Radical SR3 drive, because the team must see it on the day. The supercar fast dash is a passenger ride with a professional driver.

What is the difference between the self-drive and ride-along buggy tours?

On the self-drive buggy tour you steer the 4x4 buggy yourself for an hour, while on the ride-along tour an expert guide drives and you sit back. Both run on trails in the same off-road adventure park.

Can passengers join a Queenstown 4WD or buggy tour?

Passengers can join the self-drive 4WD experience and the self-drive buggy tour without driving. The ride-along buggy and the private Skippers Canyon tour are guided, so the whole group can be passengers.

How long do Queenstown off-road experiences take?

Queenstown off-road experiences range from a 1-hour buggy tour to a 4-hour 4WD tour. The dirt bike tour is a 1.5-hour ride, and the quad bike adventure is a 3.5-hour trip that includes transfers and training.

Queenstown driving experiences cover track laps at Highlands, go karting in three styles, and off-road tours that range from a 1-hour buggy ride to a half-day in a 4WD. Pick the speed you want and book a date.