After a scoreless first half, Victory took the lead with a opportunist goal from Archie Thompson after Phoenix goalkeeper Mark Pastongoalie was unable to hold on to a cross, the ball spilling to Victory's Nick Ward, who turned the ball back for Thompson to tap in.
Phoenix's Troy Hearfield scored the equaliser in the 76th minute as a result of some slick interpassing.
"It was a good game. It's what we need - a good start for us, especially as we were down a lot of players," Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert said.
Eight players were unavailable due to illness or injury.
Victory coach Ernie Merrick said his team did a "scrappy job".
"We didn't play good football. We were better in the second half . . . a draw was a fair result for both teams," he said.
He said the team was tired after exhausting travel delays.
On top of flight delays, bad weather meant the team was diverted to Dunedin and bussed to Queenstown.
"After all the travelling, it was good to draw. It was a good pre-season build-up for us," he said.
Merrick said Phoenix's goal was "well worked" whereas his team's was "more opportunistic".
He said Queenstown was worth the trip.
"The atmosphere is very pleasant. I've never coached in such a picturesque spot with beautiful mountains in the background," he said.
Herbert said his team was keen to come back to play in Queenstown again.
They had taken enjoyed being part of Queenstown's Winter Festival, especially the Lindauer Diamond Masquerade Ball on Saturday night.
The Phoenix's opening A-League match is on August 9.
Alexandra under-12s Hamish Mackay and under-10s Sam O'Brien won the half-time penalty shootout between Cromwell, Queenstown and Wanaka.
