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.

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.

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

Embark on an afternoon tour to experience the true flavor of the local Pinot Noir and other wine varietals at three premium vineyards. Enjoy a fully-guided tour through the vines and into New Zealand’s largest underground wine cave. This relaxing tour travels just a short distance from Queenstown to give you in-depth wine tastings and a presentation at each vineyard. You will have free time on the tour to unwind and have a winery lunch or sample a selection of local cheeses at your own cost. Craft beer tasting is also available, with the choice to substitute wine tasting for beer. A perfect tour for connoisseurs and beginners alike, come taste the best wines New Zealand has to offer!  

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 premium 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.

Take off on a gin-tasting tour aboard a helicopter to Cardrona Valley. Explore 3 unique locations to taste, learn, and savor an afternoon of award-winning gins along with a shared grazing board. Start with a hotel pick-up in Queenstown, where you'll be taken to the helicopter base in Frankton. Flying high up over Queenstown towards the Cardrona Valley, land on top of a mountain to enjoy your first gin and tonic for the day, looking down the valley to your first location. Landing between the roses at the Cardrona Distillery, be greeted with a gin and tonic, and meet your guide for the day. At the distillery, learn about the process of making spirits on their distillery tour, finishing with a private tasting of their gin and other spirit offerings. You'll then be transported in a luxury Mercedes van to the winery in Arrowtown, learning about the local gold mining history from your guide. At the winery, make your selection from one of their many gin flights. Included will be a shared grazing board of cheeses, bread, olive oil, and dukkah. Lastly, heading towards Queenstown, stop at the gin garden by Broken Heart Spirits in Arthurs Point. Indulge in a private tasting of their award-winning gins with locally sourced botanicals, and their famous German-style Tarte flambeé. Finish your tour with an optional cocktail (at your own expense) before returning to your accommodation, or continue your night in Queenstown.

On this 4-hour afternoon, boutique wine tour, have the chance to explore the Central Otago region and try its exquisite wines. Meet your guide and depart from the Queenstown Station Building at 2:00 PM. From here you'll visit three boutique wineries in the Central Otago wine region. As a small group, have an intimate experience learning about the wine region. Delish in a delectable cheese platter while trying up to 15 different types of wine. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon among the spectacular scenery of Central Otago.

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.

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.

This half-day adventure begins from the town center and transfers you to Arrowtown. From there you will set off with a local guide and a fully kitted ebike for a one-of-a-kind ride through the Wakatipu Basin. This gentle track winds its way through quiet river valleys, down quaint country lanes, and over impressive suspension bridges. As you enter the Gibbston Valley, enjoy a break at the historic Kawarau Bridge and visit the World Home of Bungy. The ride continues along the strikingly blue Kawarau River and through lush vineyards. The reward comes at the Kinross Cellar door where you will end the day sipping boutique Gibbston wines. The trail is easy and hard-packed, perfect to explore on an ebike. Unique in Queenstown, these bikes are built to keep the trip scenic, comfortable, and fun. The ebikes are “Dutch Style”; upright with a taller frame and a riding position that gives greater comfort and visibility. They are easy to ride, simple to operate, and allow for as much or as little effort as the rider wants to exert. They are also fitted with panniers for gear and any purchases along the way. Mudguards to keep the rider clean and fresh. This guided tour covers all the bases: a fully kitted ebike with panniers, water, snacks, wine tasting, guide, and vehicle support at designated points along the trail. This tour is perfect for those who want to get out and get active (but not too active) and finish the day tasting some delicious regional wines.