Queenstown

Wine Tasting & Winery Tours

Make the most of your stay in Queenstown with this half-day wine and food experience for an unforgettable taste of Central Otago’s wine region. Enjoy a winery lunch consisting of several tasting dishes each perfectly matched by the Chief Winemaker and Head Chef, using estate wines and fresh local produce. Indulge in wine tasting and presentations at 3 wineries, visiting one larger well-known winery and two boutique style wineries. The tour also includes a wine cave tour and tasting, providing you with an insight into the local great wines and the Central Otago wine industry.

Become your own tour guide for a day and enjoy having the freedom to explore the best parts of Queenstown, Arrowtown, and Gibbston Valley without being rushed or constricted by any pres-set schedules. Enjoy the fun and soak up the amazing sites of Queenstown. No need to make an itinerary and drive yourself, your friendly drivers will look after you and provide you with information on each location. Hop on and off as you please, visit as many destinations as you like, and choose how long you stay at each spot. Stop options include: • Shotover Jet boat ride • Canyon Food & Brew Co • Strike Bowl bowling and entertainment center • Cargo at Gantley’s taproom • Arrowtown historical gold mining town • Gibbston Valley Cheese • Akarua Wines & Kitchen by Artisan • Amisfield Bistro & Cellar Door • (November to April) Wet Jacket Wines • AJ Hackett Bungy • Waitiri Creek & Cargo Brewery • Brennan Wines • Mt Rosa Wines • Kinross Cellar Door & Bistro • Gibbston Tavern and Rockburn Cellar Door • Gibbston Valley Winery • Altitude Brewing • Quartz Reef Wines at The Rees Hotel

Visit 4 premium vineyards over 2 wine subregions (Gibbston and the Cromwell/Bannockburn basin). Have a wine barrel cooked lunch consisting of 5 tasting dishes matched with wines for a unique tasting in Australasia's largest underground wine cave. Taste local cheeses at a local vineyard. Visit Old Cromwell town and the must-see Arrowtown. Have a taste of locally handcrafted chocolates at your leisure. Then, go on a stunning drive through the Kawarau Gorge whilst learning about the early pioneering history of this rugged region. View the historic Kawarau Bridge and original AJ Hackett Bungy.

Enjoy having the team collect you from your accommodation before you cycle from Arrowtown to Gibbston Valley yourselves or get dropped off at Gibbston and explore the area by bike. All staff are locals and will have some top local tips for you. Once you have been fitted to a bike  and are all ready to go, jump on a Hardtail Cruiser bike or Premium E-bike to start the trip at your own pace.  You will be given maps that have all the information you will need to make the most of the trip back to Queenstown. The ride is between 2-20 kilometers: you can choose to be dropped off at Arrowtown for a 20-kilometer ride or at Gibbston Valley for a 2 kilometer ride.  Once in Gibbston Valley, you can stop by a range of award-winning wineries. These include Gibbston Valley, Chard Farm, Peregrine, Mt Rosa, Waitiri Creek/Cargo Brewery, Peregrine, Gibbston Tavern, and Gibbston Valley Cheese experience, to name a few.

Experience Queenstown by twilight and set off on an epic late-afternoon, four-hour tour through the Gibbston wine region. Hunt out the best boutique craft beers and wine on and off the beaten track, while hearing about the area and having a great time. This wine and beer tour aims to please, so if wine isn't your thing, simply swap it out for craft beer. Visit three unique locations, two beautiful cellar doors, and a brewery, offering a range of local, world-renowned and internationally awarded Central Otago wines and local craft beer on tap. Enjoy shared antipasto platters and even get a glimpse behind the scenes at the brewery. All locations are local favorites with stunning, picture-perfect backdrops. So, go on, fill your day with adrenaline activities — skiing, bungy jumping, jet boating — and then join this tour to unwind in the evening. With an emphasis on fun, you are guaranteed to have a great time and make some cool new friends on the way. Travel in style on board a luxury Mercedes van, complete with fun onboard videos, complimentary Wi-Fi, and bottled water. Benefit from the insights of your knowledgeable local guide equipped with great kiwi humor. Those looking for a unique memorable experience while visiting Queenstown should look no further.

Embark on a self-guided bike tour of the Arrowtown and Gibbston Valley region. After a scenic 25-minute drive from Queenstown, arrive in quaint Arrowtown, your driver will provide you with an extensive briefing covering navigation and bike safety. Benefit from a detailed trail map to assist you on your journey before heading off on your cycling adventure. Enjoy passing through this historic gold-mining town before biking your way down the beautiful Arrow River Bridges Trail. Ride over the Kawarau Bungy Bridge and admire charming countryside views before finishing off at the Gibbston Valley Winery. Relax and refresh briefly at the winery before being shuttled back to Queenstown.

Discover Central Otago’s scenic wine country on this afternoon tour which includes a visit to 3 wineries around Queenstown and the Gibbston wine region. Take a stunning drive through the rugged Kawarau Gorge viewing the original AJ Hackett bungy bridge and enjoy panoramic views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables. Take a tour through New Zealand’s largest wine cave, get to know the vineyard owners, enjoy a cheese and wine tasting and finish the day with a full glass of wine. After the tasting, choose a glass of wine and relax over a platter of local cheeses. Time permitting, you may also visit the Lord of the Rings filming site of Pillar of the Kings. Spend your morning with optional activities such as zip lining, golfing or boat tours, before you meet your guide at 1:30 PM to start your wine tour.

Climb aboard the Wine Hopper bus for a wine adventure at your own pace hopping on and off at wineries in the Queenstown and Gibbston Valley wine region. Departing daily from central Queenstown, a friendly onboard host will help you get the most out of your day. Enjoy a 20-minute scenic drive out to the wine region showcasing the very best of Queenstown's countryside amongst picturesque surroundings. Grab a timetable that will outline the shuttle service stopping hourly at nine venues. Discover one, two or all nine venues - each with their own unique offerings and charm. Reveal an array of winery restaurants and tasting rooms where you can stop for lunch or take a tasting before moving on. Taste award-winning wines at cellar doors, learn all about winemaking by taking an underground wine cave tour, enjoy a leisurely winery lunch, or savor a complimentary cheese tasting at Gibbston Valley Cheesery nestled amongst the vines. You’ll have plenty of time to sip and dine or try a brew at the local tavern. Walk or hire a bike to wander along the Kawarau River as you soak in the stunning views - river on one side and vines on the other. The Wine Hopper Bus runs an hourly circuit 6 times a day around nine wineries and other attractions in Gibbston Valley area. The bus travels in and out of Queenstown every two hours throughout the day. Return to Queenstown when you are ready, arriving at 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm or 6:00 pm.

Be transported on a journey through the "Valley of the Vines" to indulge in wine tastings and delicious local cheese in the world’s southernmost wine region. Relax and unwind as you visit three renowned vineyards and wineries, experiencing a behind-the-scenes winery tour and immersing your senses in New Zealand’s largest wine cave. Imbibe some of the best vintages on offer, and beyond the grapes, enjoy a shared cheese board at a latitude of 45° south, an unforgettable experience. Your boutique and personalized wine tour has been created exclusively for adults only, with up to 11 wine lovers per tour. Your qualified wine guide will transport you in a luxurious Mercedes Sprinter, and at the conclusion of your experience you will return back to your tour starting point.

Travel to the Gibbston region, only a half an hour drive from central Queenstown, to visit four of Central Otago’s finest cellars and spend time tasting wines. Travel in style with door-to-door transfers, complimentary WiFi and bottled water on-board. Throughout the day, sample at least 18 spectacular cool climate wines. Enjoy an optional scrumptious lunch, which can be purchased on the day. Visit a range of well-known and off-the-beaten-track wineries, including New Zealand’s famous underground wine cave at Gibbston Valley. Meet passionate local characters and get to taste the very best wines from the area. Throughout the day, sample at least 18 spectacular, cool climate wines and a selection of local cheeses if time allows.