Nestled on the South Island of New Zealand, Queenstown, famously dubbed the “adventure capital of the world,” aims to transform its visitor economy by achieving carbon-zero status by 2030. This bold objective sets it apart in a world where many tourist destinations are still grappling with the sustainability of the tourism industry amidst environmental challenges. In a few short years, Queenstown hopes to shift from a fuel-hungry adventure hub to the world’s premier ecotourism destination.
Imagine landing at Queenstown Airport on an electric aircraft operated by Air New Zealand, gliding through scenic mountain views aboard a gondola powered by clean electricity, or arriving by ferry across Lake Wakatipu, propelled solely by hydro-powered engines. This futuristic vision is the brainchild of Destination Queenstown, Queenstown Lakes District Council, and Lake Wanaka Tourism, which, in 2021, proposed making Queenstown the first tourist town with a carbon-zero visitor economy. The announcement ignited communitywide support, galvanizing residents, local businesses, and tourism operators alike.
“2030 creates urgency,” explains Mat Woods, CEO of Destination Queenstown. “The year felt so difficult to achieve that it inspired everyone to get involved, making it clear that every part of the community needs to contribute to reach this ambitious target.” Unlike carbon-neutral goals that rely on carbon offsetting, Queenstown’s carbon-zero target is far more demanding, meaning the town aims to eliminate all tourism-related carbon emissions rather than balance them through offsets.
With the ambitious plans taking tangible form across various sectors, skiers and snowboarders will soon find themselves boarding electric-powered chairlifts to reach the snow-covered peaks. Across Lake Wakatipu, the century-old TSS Earnslaw steamship, a Queenstown icon, will eventually transition from coal to hydrogen power, while nearby rivers will host the world’s first fully electric jet boats for thrill rides down whitewater rapids. Innovations like these could make Queenstown a test case for carbon-zero tourism on a large scale.
The lodging sector is undergoing a significant effort, with accommodations such as Headwaters Eco Lodge setting the example. Built entirely from recycled materials and harnessing energy from 600 solar panels, Headwaters Eco Lodge, located in the breathtaking hamlet of Glenorchy, produces enough electricity to support not only the lodge but also a nearby business. The lodge’s sustainability practices extend to advanced composting systems and constructed wetlands that purify wastewater, achieving an impressive level of eco-friendly operations.
Within Queenstown itself, the Sherwood Queenstown Hotel generates over 40% of its food needs onsite, grown in the hotel’s hillside garden overlooking Lake Wakatipu—a model for sustainable tourism. Equipped with 248 solar panels, Sherwood has been recognized as a top eco-friendly stay.
Regenerative tourism, which encourages businesses to go beyond sustainability and actively improve the local environment, is also taking root in Queenstown. Michael Sly, also known as “Mr. Chippy,” operates Waste to Wilderness, an organization that composts over 20 tons of hotel food waste monthly to create nutrient-rich soil for growing food. For Sly, the shift to carbon zero doesn’t require huge leaps; he believes small steps, when taken consistently, can transform tourism into a restorative force.
Queenstown’s transformation also extends to its wine tours and outdoor adventure companies, with Appellation Wine Tours having added electric vehicles to its fleet for emission-free trips to Central Otago’s vineyards and Nomad Safaris offering private Tesla Tours, taking guests to the region’s most picturesque areas, such as Paradise, a scenic spot with pristine glacier-fed rivers.
Even the region’s famed Shotover Jet, known for speeding tourists through narrow canyons, works on an electric-powered prototype that maintains the excitement of its fossil-fuel predecessor and yet releases zero emissions. The Shotover Jet team plans to eventually make the design available to other operators, helping push the entire jet-boating industry toward a greener future.
With 130 kilometers of bike trails skirting Lake Wakatipu and winding into the high-country wilderness, Queenstown is also quickly establishing itself as a cycling haven. With trails that offer travelers a low-impact way to explore the area’s dramatic landscapes, by 2026, officials estimate that cycling could become nearly as popular as skiing in the Queenstown region, reducing the carbon footprint associated with winter tourism by a substantial amount.
Locals understand the impact of Queenstown’s sustainability push. With global temperatures on the rise and climate events intensifying, the urgency of a carbon-zero approach is evident. By fast-tracking its carbon-zero target to 2030, two decades ahead of international guidelines, Queenstown is setting an inspiring example for the rest of the world. While the journey is challenging, Queenstown’s community of operators, many of whom were once reliant on fuel-intensive operations, is showing that a sustainable path forward is not just possible—it’s already underway.
For Queenstown, New Zealand, the 2030 deadline represents both a challenge and a commitment to sustainable innovation. If successful, this journey will solidify Queenstown’s position as a pioneer in sustainable tourism, demonstrating that even the most fuel-reliant destinations can lead the way toward a carbon-zero future.
