Queenstown Airport (ZQN) is eight kilometres east of town at Frankton, with direct flights from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Australian east-coast cities. The approach over the lake is one of the more dramatic in the southern hemisphere; in winter, southerlies can divert flights without warning.
From the airport, a 10-minute taxi or the regular Orbus #1 bus drops you into town. Many visitors arrive by car from Christchurch (about 6 hours over the Lindis Pass) or from Te Anau and Fiordland (2 hours). InterCity coaches connect to Wanaka, Dunedin, and Te Anau.