Perky's is New Zealand's only floating bar, moored on Lake Wakatipu at Queenstown Bay. Open seven days a week from 12 pm to 11 pm, it pours cocktails, local beer and wine surrounded by 360° views of the lake and mountains — with no reservations needed. You simply come down to the water and step aboard.
Food is proudly bring-your-own: grab your favourite takeout, a bag of snacks or a homemade spread and enjoy it alongside the curated drinks menu. The cocktail list is the star of the show — classic serves plus house signatures like the Golden Hour Sour, Ginger Ninja, Chai Tini and Razzle Dazzle — backed by New Zealand wines and beers from local producers. In winter, the menu turns to warmers such as the famous Mt Rosa mulled wine and a warm Apple Pie Cocktail.
With comfy inside seating, open upstairs seating and availability for private hire, Perky's suits everything from a lunchtime drink or an after-work wind-down to a sunset catch-up or a full private party on the water.
Most bars claim a great view. Perky's was built on one — literally. Moored on Lake Wakatipu at Queenstown Bay, Perky's is New Zealand's only floating bar, and stepping aboard feels like discovering a secret the postcards forgot. You come down to the lake, step on, and suddenly you're surrounded by 360° views of water, mountains and sky, drink in hand, with nowhere else you need to be.
The bar is open seven days a week from 12 pm to 11 pm, and no reservations are needed. Locals drop in to wind down after work, catch up with a friend or make the most of a lunch break, while visitors use it as the perfect pause between adventures — warming up after a day on the mountain or heading out for dinner later. You simply come down to Queenstown Lake, find a seat, and let the lake do the rest.
Perky's cocktails are what put the bar on the map. The team pours bold, balanced classics alongside house-crafted signatures you won't find anywhere else — playful, punchy and packed with personality.
The Golden Hour Sour was made for crisp evenings on the water: Maker's Mark bourbon, apricot brandy, fresh lemon juice, aquafaba and bitters blended into a silky, citrusy sip timed to the sunset. The Ginger Ninja is winter in a glass — fresh ginger, bourbon, spiced rum, lemon, honey and bitters over ice, like a Hot Toddy but brighter and bolder. The Chai Tini turns a creamy chai latte into a boozy dessert with Bumbu Cream, Frangelico, Fireball and cinnamon, while the Razzle Dazzle is a rhubarb-and-custard shot that's a little sweet, a little sour and very Perky's. On sunny days, the Coconut Margarita is ready and waiting.
When the temperature drops, the winter warmers come out: a famous mulled wine made with Mt Rosa wines, rich and packed with winter spice, and a warm Apple Pie Cocktail best enjoyed with front-row seats to the snowy mountains.
Here's the twist: Perky's is proudly bring your own food. There's no kitchen, and that's the point. Grab your favourite takeout on the way, pack a bag of snacks, or bring a homemade spread and enjoy it alongside the curated drink menu. Pizza at sunset, fish and chips on the water, birthday cake at a party — it's all about keeping things flexible, fun and totally your style.
Not a cocktail person? The wine and beer list pours the best of both worlds: local legends and timeless classics. New Zealand producers feature right across the list, from crisp whites and bold reds to hoppy pale ales, with a few tried-and-true favourites kept on hand for traditionalists.
There are two ways to enjoy Perky's: comfy inside seating for cooler days, and open upstairs seating when the sun is out. Either way, the views run from the lake to the mountains and, if you time it right, a genuinely spectacular sunset. The atmosphere is relaxed rather than rushed — a place to slow down for a drink, celebrate an engagement, catch the last light with mates, or simply watch the water move beneath you.
Perky's is also available for private hire, which makes it a hard-to-top venue for birthdays, work dos and celebrations. Private events get exclusive access to the space, the cocktails and those laid-back vibes — bring your own food, set the mood, and let the crew take care of the drinks and the good times.
Perky's floats on Lake Wakatatipu at Queenstown Bay in Queenstown and welcomes walk-ins seven days a week, from 12 pm until 11 pm. No reservations are needed — just come down to the lake. Bring your own food, order a signature cocktail, and settle in for New Zealand's only floating bar experience. Come for a drink, stay for the view.