Find out more about wine tours in Queenstown and the best wineries to visit.
Raising grapes this far south is hard work, but one sip of the local Gibbston pinot noir tells you the effort is absolutely worthwhile.
Fondly known as the 'Valley of the Vines', the Gibbston area of Queenstown is one of the most scenic wine growing areas in New Zealand. Vineyards are sandwiched between rugged mountains and the rocky Kawarau River gorge.
This high altitude area is subject to cold winters, hot dry summers and a huge night-to-day temperature range. These challenging conditions have led to consistently superb wines, worldwide recognition and an avalanche of international awards.
More than 70% of the grapes grown here are pinot noir. Other varieties include chardonnay, pinot gris, riesling and sauvignon blanc.
No visit to Queenstown is complete without doing a winery tour.
Let someone else take care of the logistics and jump on board a winery day tour.
Whether you want to stroll through vineyards, cycle to each winery or jump on board a hop-on-hop-off winery tour bus, Queenstown and Gibbston certainly have something for everyone.
Linking Queenstown, Arrowtown and Gibbston, The Queenstown Cycle Trail network is the ultimate way to reach many of the region’s iconic attractions while soaking up its world-famous scenery.
The cycling ranges from grade 2 (easy) to grade 4 (advanced) and features easy lakeside jaunts to cross-country treks.
Plan your ride with The Queenstown Trail map(opens in new window).
During April burnt orange and copper leaves line the streets of Arrowtown and the historic gold mining town comes alive with the Arrowtown Autumn Festival(opens in new window).
Bring a picnic blanket and sit back and relax with a local pinot noir at Pie, Pint and Pinot which is held at the festival each year.
