Arrivals Guide

Airport Facilities

If you need a coffee fix, newspaper, change of clothes, or to pick up a gift on the way through then check out our airport retail stores. 

There are bathrooms located throughout the terminal building as well as an information desk and storage lockers.

Find a full list of our facilities here.

Baggage Collection

If you’re collecting checked luggage, follow the signs to the baggage reclaim area. You'll find luggage trolleys next to the baggage carousel that are free to use. Your bags will be delivered to baggage belt 1 or 2 so look out for your flight number on the screens.  

Larger items such as bikes, skis, golf clubs, and children's car seats will be available at the oversize baggage area next to the carousel.  If you’re missing an item, please go to the check-in area and let your airline agent know, or phone their Baggage Services number.  

Picking Up Your Rental Car

If you need to book a rental car you can do so here.

Here’s a list of rental car operators at Queenstown Airport (ZQN) and their locations and contact details. If you've booked an off-airport rental car, you can use the freephone located at the transfer areas outside the check-in entrance to call for airport pick-up. 

Getting Picked Up?

Make your way to the pick-up zone located in the first 5 rows of the short-term car park in front of the terminal building.

Other Transport Options

Taxis and Airport Shuttles offer door-to-door service and are lined up outside the arrivals terminal. Rideshare app Uber is available for pick-up in the transfer areas located outside the check-in hall. 

The public bus stops every 15 minutes, providing a direct service to Frankton and downtown Queenstown. 

Find out more here.

Travelling With Pets

For health and safety reasons, and the well-being of our working dogs, no pets are allowed inside the terminal unless they are in a crate or are guide/mobility assistance dogs.

After picking your pet up from the baggage reclaim area, please keep them in their crate until you exit the terminal building. Your furry friends are allowed to be outside the terminal building in the public area provided they're on a leash. 

The team at our information desk has scissors on hand to help you cut any cable ties on your pet crates, so you can let them out outside. 

Read more about travelling with pets here.

Duty Free Shopping

Tax and duty-free shopping is available to all arriving international passengers. Enjoy taking your time checking out the great range of local and international products at Aelia Duty Free store - located just inside the international arrivals terminal.

If you're unsure what the duty-free allowance is for New Zealand you can find out here.

From Thursday, 20 July 2023, all passengers arriving from an international port into Queenstown will need to complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD), travellers, residents and citizens alike. This can be done online ahead of departure or at any point in your journey before you present at passport control. You can do it via the government website or download the app on your phone. The earliest you can do your NZTD is 24h before the start of your trip to New Zealand. 

New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD)

What you will need to complete your digital declaration:

• Information about what you're bringing into New Zealand - you must declare any prohibited or restricted items or items that might need to be inspected by the biosecurity lab, such as any outdoor equipment (tents, boots, hiking poles, etc) or risk a fine.
• Contact details in New Zealand
• Flight details
• Visa or NZeTA, if you need one
• Passport details
• Travel history from the last 30 days

More information about how to complete your declaration is available here.

A paper arrival card will still be available for those who are unable to complete a digital version. Please ask your airline for one during your flight.

What is the New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD)?

The NZTD is a digital form that all international passengers must complete before passing through passport control. It asks for details like your flight info, passport number, recent travel history, and what you’re bringing into New Zealand.

Do I have to complete the NZTD before arriving?

You can complete it before your flight or anytime before passport control. A paper arrival card is also available if you can’t fill in the digital version—just ask your airline during the flight.

What will I need to complete my digital declaration? 

Information about what you're bringing into New Zealand:

• Contact details in New Zealand
• Flight details
• Visa or NZeTA, if you need one
• Passport details
• Travel history from the last 30 days

Baggage Collection

For baggage collection, follow the signs to the baggage reclaim area. You'll find luggage trolleys next to the baggage carousel that are free to use. Your bags will be delivered to baggage belt 2 or 3 so look out for your flight number on the screens.  

Larger items such as bikes, skis, golf clubs, and children's car seats will be available at the oversize baggage belt next to the carousel.  If you’re missing an item, please go to the check-in area and let your airline agent know, or phone their Baggage Services number.  

Where do I collect my baggage at Queenstown Airport?

After passport control, follow the signs to the baggage reclaim area. Luggage trolleys are free to use. Bags are delivered to belts 2 or 3—check screens for your flight number.

Where do I collect oversized items like skis or bikes?

Oversized luggage is delivered to a separate belt next to the main baggage carousel. If any items are missing, contact your airline’s baggage services team in the check-in area.

Biosecurity NZ

Find out exactly what you can/can’t bring into New Zealand.

It’s really important that you’ve answered truthfully about what you are bringing into the country because there are severe penalties for non-compliance.  

Once you and your bags have been processed, you’re free to exit the main terminal. 

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB)  

The BMSB loves to hitchhike on passengers, thrive in cool climates, feed heavily on a wide variety of plant species, including grapes, kiwifruit, apples, citrus, stone fruit (all of which are in Otago) and many other valuable crops. These bugs would devastate the horticulture industry, adversely affect New Zealand's economy and be a significant household nuisance.

While the BMSB is not established in New Zealand, it's a sneaky pest so please check your bags carefully before departing your port of origin.

For more information on the BMSB, head to the Biosecurity NZ website.

Currency Exchange

If you need cash, there’s a multi-currency ATM located in the international arrivals area, but if you missed it, no worries, there’s another one in the main terminal along with a Travelex Currency Exchange store. 

Picking up your rental car

If you need to book a rental car, you can do so here.

Here’s a list of rental car operators at Queenstown Airport and their locations and contact details. If you've booked an off-airport rental car you can use the freephone outside the departures terminal to call for airport pick-up. 

Other transport options

If you are getting picked up, make your way to the pick-up zone located in the first 5 rows of the short-term car park in front of the terminal building.

Taxis and Airport Shuttles offer door-to-door service and are lined up outside the arrivals terminal. Rideshare app Uber is available for pick-up outside the departures terminal. 

The public bus stops every 15 minutes, providing a direct service to Frankton and downtown Queenstown. 

Find out more here.