Queenstown Is Having a Moment: From Celebrity Sightings to Light-Filled Nights
- Staircase Property Management
- May 5
- 3 min read
There’s something in the alpine air this year—Queenstown feels brighter, buzzier and more star-studded than ever. Here’s a quick spin through the coolest happenings turning heads in 2025 (and why locals can’t stop grinning).
Table of Contents:
1. Aquaman at the Bar
Hollywood hero Jason Momoa has bought a stake in The Bunker and is house-hunting in town. Locals have already spotted him carving up Coronet Peak on a motorbike-turned-snow-scooter and sneaking into late-night jam sessions. If you thought après-ski was lively before, wait until Aquaman’s pouring the whiskey.
2. Brad Pitt Brings the Cameras
Just while the Momoa buzz is developing, Brad Pitt arrived to film Heart of the Beast, transforming Lake Wakatipu into “Alaska.” Expect random road closures, swooping drones and the odd camouflage-clad A-lister grabbing coffee on Shotover Street.
3. LUMA Enchanted: A Fairy-Lit Forest
This winter, LUMA Enchanted turns Kiwi Park into a five-acre wonderland of glowing art, mystical creatures and immersive soundscapes. Think of it as Narnia—if Narnia had food trucks and mulled wine.
4. Pride on Powder
Winter Pride (15 – 24 Aug) returns with rainbow-coloured ski parades, on-mountain dance floors and more glitter than fresh corduroy at first light. Whether you’re carving, clubbing or spectating, it’s the happiest week on snow.
5. Snow Machine: Beats on the Peaks
From 9 – 14 Sept, the Snow Machine festival drops world-class DJs such as Netsky and Luude onto stages at The Remarkables and Coronet Peak. Ski all day, rave under the stars, then wonder how your legs are still attached.
6. Mountain Films Under Mountain Skies
Adventurers unite: the NZ Mountain Film & Book Festival (26 – 27 Jun) screens edge-of-your-seat docs, hosts athlete Q&As and runs avalanche-awareness workshops—all capped by hot chocolate and big alpine sunsets.
7. New Toys on the Slopes
The Remarkables’ brand-new Shadow Basin six-seater whisks you uphill 30 percent faster, while a second high-speed chair (The Doolans) lands for 2025. Translation: more laps, fewer lift lines, bigger grins.
8. Trail Blazing
Hard-core bikers are flocking to the 50 km Coronet Loop—Queenstown’s newest back-country single-track brimming with gold-rush relics, canyon bridges and “how-is-that-view-real?” moments.
9. Spirits in the Garden
Local distiller Broken Heart opened a lakeside Gin Garden, serving botanical flights from 11 am (hey, juniper is technically a plant). Pair a tasting paddle with sunset over the Remarkables and consider your evening sorted.
10. Fresh Flavours Downtown
New waterfront bistro Sunfire (from the Flame Bar & Grill team) plates charred local lamb and ember-roasted veggies—perfect fuel for those festival nights. Rumour says their smoked-peach Old Fashioned is already legendary.
11. Skyline 2.0
The skyline gondola upgrade keeps rolling: sleek 10-seat cabins, a multi-storey car park and a top-terminal extension (due late 2025) mean bigger windows, faster rides and even more luge laps before lunch.
Feeling the FOMO?
All this energy is more than a vibe—it’s a sign Queenstown’s star is rising fast. If you’re dreaming of a holiday pad (or full-time base) in the adventure capital, Staircase Queenstown can help you tap into the buzz—then keep your property humming while you’re off chasing sunsets.
Keen to know what’s available? Reach out for a friendly chat—no hard sell, just locals who love sharing the magic.
