5 Best Wine Tours in Queenstown

Looking for the best wine tours in Queenstown? You’ve come to the expert!

As a self-proclaimed wine aficionado, I’ve tried most of the wine tours in Queenstown. Sure, I could go visit the wineries on my own, but I love taking organized tours so I don’t have to worry about driving! That way I can try as much wine as I want, learn from the experts, and find a few new places along the way.

Luckily, there are a ton of amazing wine tours on offer in Queenstown. To help you maximize your tasting abilities, I’ve narrowed down the top 5 wine tours. All you have to do is pick your favorite, book it, and prepare for wine tasting!

Best Wine Tours in Queenstown

1. Central Otago wine tour from Queenstown

This boutique wine tour takes you from Queenstown to four different wineries in the Gibbston Valley. It offers the perfect variety of wines along with beautiful scenery and a super tasty lunch. You really get the full Gibbston Valley experience!

On your way to Gibbston, you’ll take the scenic drive past Lake Wakatipu and Lake Hayes, which really makes the drive fly by.

As soon as you reach Gibbston, you’ll dive straight into your first wine tasting. My group’s guide, Maryann, did a great job making us feel super comfortable and understand what each wine was all about. Afterwards, you’ll head to Bannockburn to enjoy a light lunch paired with a glass of wine (of course!).

I like that this tour gives you the chance to stretch your legs while you stroll around Old Cromwell before heading to your third tasting. On the journey back, you’ll stop at another winery in Gibbston for your final wine tasting before returning to Queenstown. Four wineries felt like the perfect amount, and the whole day was paced well.

If you’re looking to meet some new people, this wine tour is perfect because it’s a nice, small group with a maximum of 12 guests. This tour also makes a point to ensure you’re getting a good variety of wine, and the guides were fantastic at teaching us all about the different wines.

And if you’re up for it, you can add on a 45-minute jet boat ride before the wine tour which makes this tour all the more unique!

2. Gourmet food and wine tour

This small-group wine tour takes you to three different subregions around Gibbston Valley, so you can sample some of the best wine Queenstown has to offer!

This tour hits a wide variety of wineries, restaurants, and quaint towns. You’ll stop at the iconic Gibbston Valley Winery and explore the wine cave. As New Zealand’s largest wine cave, this is a must-visit in my book!

One of my favorite parts of this tour (other than the wine) is lunch at The Stoaker Room. All of the food is cooked in Stoakers, which are French Oak Pinot Noir barrel cookers, and it really adds to the unique setting and overall atmosphere. And since this is a wine tour, lunch will be paired with local wines from a Cromwell winery as well.

After a full stomach, you can walk it off with a visit to historic Arrowtown. Explore the old Chinese settlement, take a walk down the popular main street, or, my personal favorite, find candy from all over the globe at the Remarkable Sweet Shop.

The last stop is for one more wine tasting in Bannockburn or Cromwell, just to ensure you’ve had enough wine throughout your day! There’s even a cheese pairing to go with it.

I love how this tour combines food, wine, and sightseeing, along with a visit to a cute local town!

Related Read: Don’t miss out on more of Queenstown’s best activities – take a look at the 10 best things to do here!

3. Hop-on hop-off wine tour

This hop-on, hop-off wine tour is perfect for those who need a little more flexibility. I personally love hop-on, hop-off tours because you can cater them to fit your schedule.

This option offers a full or a half-day experience, so you can choose based on how much time and/or energy you have. And while there are plenty of stops at wineries, there are also opportunities for non-drinking activities and sightseeing.

This bus route includes stops at 23 places! What’s even better is you can choose which wineries you want to visit, and I’ll tell you some of my personal favorites below.

This tour stops at Nockie’s Palette, which is a newer establishment that really fuses art and winemaking together. From here, you can also visit Lake Hayes!

Another favorite of mine is Kinross. This is technically a cellar door, and they offer wines from different local vineyards, so it’s a great stop if you want to try lots of different varieties.

While this tour definitely caters to those who want to visit wineries and breweries, it’s also a fun option if you want to sightsee or enjoy non-drinking activities. If you want to see some incredible views of the Shotover Canyon, there’s a stop at Canyon Brewing, a craft micro-brewery and restaurant. You can see the whole list of stops here!

I want to clarify that this tour doesn’t include tasting or activity fees, just transport. You get to decide which stops to get off on to fill your day. However, when you purchase a ticket, there are some local discounts you’ll get, so that’s a plus.

4. Bike the wineries full-day ride to Queenstown

If you love biking local trails, I have a treat for you! This self-guided bike tour is a beautiful and unique way to experience Queenstown’s wineries.

A shuttle will pick you up at 9:50 am from central Queenstown and then drive you to Arrowtown, where you can select a mountain bike or an e-bike. The choice depends on how much effort you’d like to put in!

You’ll get a map of the area’s best trails, like the Gibbston River Trail and the Arrow River Trail, along with a list of the top wineries in each area. I love this option because you can go at your own pace and stop at the wineries as you please. If it’s not obvious, I’m a fan of flexible options!

I know I’ve mentioned how scenic the Gibbston Valley is, but there’s really something magical about exploring this area on the ground. It’s a beautiful place, and I personally love biking or hiking around here whenever I get the chance.

Along your way, I recommend stopping into one of Arrowtown’s quaint cafes for a coffee or maybe even a chocolate truffle. The path will also take you over the Kawarau Suspension Bridge where you could see bungy jumpers taking the dive.

If you love the outdoors and wine tasting, this is the perfect tour for you! I personally loved this experience and think it’s one of the most unique ways to experience Queenstown’s wine region.

Related Read: Need some help planning your trip to Queenstown? Check out my detailed 3-day itinerary that goes over everything you need to know, from what to do to where to eat!

5. Queenstown afternoon wine and craft beer tour

I love wine tasting during the day. However, if you don’t have long in Queenstown, you can opt for this late-afternoon wine tour. It’s a great way to fit wine tasting into a busy sightseeing schedule. Plus, you get to sample craft beer too!

If someone in your group is not a huge wine drinker, then this tour is perfect because you get to choose between wine and craft beer at the spots you visit.

You’ll begin around 3 pm and spend the afternoon exploring the Gibbston Valley. There are three stops on this tour, including the GT Tasting Room, which has excellent service and even better rosé.

Then there’s Canyon Brewery in Arthurs Point, which has one of the best views of any brewery or vineyard I’ve ever been to. You’ll get a shared antipasto platter here to coat your stomach. Since you’ll be in a small group with a super friendly guide, this tour just feels like hanging out with friends!

We also stopped by my favorite winery, Kinross! I’ve never had a wine that I don’t like from Kinross, and I’ve been there too many times to count.

Overall, this wine tour is super relaxed, and I love the itinerary because you get to visit some true Gibbston Valley gems. To top it off, you’ll be back around 7 pm, so you can still enjoy dinner in Queenstown.

If you’re looking for a laidback tour that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this is the ideal experience! 

Must-Do Activities While in Queenstown

Once you’re back in Queenstown after exploring the Gibbston Valley, there are plenty of other activities that will keep you busy. Honestly, there are so many things to do in Queenstown that it’ll be hard to choose which ones to do! Below are some of my favorites:

• Take a cruise – Aboard the TSS Earnslaw Steamship Cruise, you’re in for a scenic and relaxing cruise in Queenstown that’s great for any afternoon. This is one of the last coal-fired steamships in the world and you get to watch the crew add coal to the flames to power the vessel as you take in mountain ranges and lush green valleys. You can also upgrade this tour here to include dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm.

• Watch a sunset – As the day draws to a close in Queenstown, make sure to head to the shores of Lake Wakatipu to watch a sunset. It’s one of the best viewpoints to watch the sun sink behind the Southern Alps. I like watching from Queenstown Beach or Perky’s Floating Bar, where you get a view of the lake and delicious food and drinks too!

• Go canyoning – Climb and jump off waterfalls, rappel, swim, and trek as part of this Queenstown Canyoning Adventure with a qualified guide. This thrilling full-day activity is perfect for those who love adventure and exploration! As long as you aren’t afraid of heights and have a basic swimming ability, you won’t need any other skills.

• See Milford Sound – This day trip to Milford South with a picnic lunch will give you the ultimate ability to explore the beauty of Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park. Not only will your guide stop at several impressive viewpoints on the way from Queenstown but there is also a cruise in Milford Sound included.

• Extreme Jet Boating – Looking for a thrill? This jet boating tour delivers! You’ll zoom up the Shotover River through narrow canyons at high speeds and make 360-degree spins. Trust me, it’s epic!

Where to Stay in Queenstown

Finding the right place to stay in Queenstown can be hard. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of awesome choices, but things book up fast! For that reason, I highly suggest booking your accommodation well in advance.

Honestly, during peak times, any of the best hotels in Queenstown will be fully booked several weeks in advance… you have been warned! To help you plan ahead, here are a few places I personally love and that would make an awesome place to stay in Queenstown.

Kamana Lakehouse – $$$

For a luxurious stay, I highly recommend Kamana Lakehouse. This hotel is located just on the outskirts of town. Although it’s super peaceful, it’s just a 5-minute drive into the center of town. The place overlooks both the lake and the mountains, and the onsite restaurant uses local, seasonal ingredients to create the freshest meals. To top it off, many of the rooms boast lake views, and some even have outdoor baths!

The trick will be snagging this for your dates (it’s a popular place!). Rooms start around the $400 NZD mark, and you can check availability and book online here.

mi-pad Queenstown – $$

If you’re looking for a mid-range hotel, then you should seriously consider mi-pad Queenstown. It’s a modern and eco-friendly stay right in the heart of town that features compact yet stylish rooms with app-controlled lighting and temperature. Plus it also boasts a rooftop terrace with stunning lake and mountain views!

Prices vary depending on the season but usually start around $200 NZD per night. You can check availability and book online here.

Absoloot Hostel Queenstown – $

My top choice for budget travelers is the Absoloot Hostel Queenstown. This small hostel has dorm rooms and budget private rooms, and it’s really clean and comfortable. The location is in the heart of Queenstown – the window from the kitchen looks out over Lake Wakatipu!

Dorms are around $55 NZD, and private rooms begin around $210 NZD. The Absoloot Hostel is easily one of the top cheap hostels in Queenstown and can be booked on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.

Related Read: For even more options, see our Where to Stay in Queenstown guide for the top areas and recommended hotels!

Thanks for reading!

I love wine tours almost as much as I love Queenstown (hint hint: that’s a lot!). No matter what tour you find yourself on, I know you’ll have a fabulous time! There are tons of amazing wineries just outside of Queenstown, and I love the ease of a tour so I can sit back and relax.

Thanks for reading! If you found this guide helpful, be sure to check out my other blogs. As a Queenstown local, I have a lot of resources to help you plan the best visit ever. I’ll leave a few related blogs below to help you find more hidden gems and top activities!

10 Best Queenstown Tours and Day Trips

23 BEST Stops on the Drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound

The BEST 5 Days in Queenstown Itinerary – From a Local!

10 BEST Helicopter Tours in Queenstown +My Review and Booking Tips