Gibbston wine tour Queenstown: 4 wineries, 5-dish lunch

Four wineries across three wine valleys in one afternoon, with lunch built around the wines you taste.

A full-day wine and food tour from Queenstown through Central Otago's three main wine sub-regions (Gibbston, Bannockburn and Cromwell) with tastings at four wineries, a five-course lunch cooked in retired oak barrels and paired to wines, and a knowledgeable guide who covers the region's gold-mining history. Hotel pickup and transport by luxury vehicle are included. A minimum of two people is required for the tour to run.

Step-by-step itinerary

Central Otago wine and history tour

• Drive from Queenstown to Lake Hayes
• Pass by Kawarau Bungy Centre
• Visit Gibbston Valley Winery for tasting
• Explore Gibbston vineyards
• Visit Bannockburn historic gold mining town
• Enjoy 5-dish lunch with wine pairings
• Visit Old Cromwell heritage attraction
• Explore Arrowtown gold-mining town
• Return to accommodation

The experience

Gibbston Valley Winery, one of the region's oldest, is your first stop after the drive from Queenstown. The guide leads you through the winery's underground cave, New Zealand's largest, where the temperature and humidity stay constant year-round, the ideal condition for aging wine. You taste wines here and move through the other two sub-regions, Bannockburn and Cromwell, each with its own character: Bannockburn sits in the historic gold-mining country of the 1860s, while Cromwell's Old Town, reconstructed from the original main street, gives the landscape its context. Between tastings, the guide shares stories about how the wine region formed and why these particular valleys produce the wines they do.

Lunch arrives as five dishes, each one cooked in retired oak barrels and matched to a wine from the tastings. A cheese platter accompanies one of the wine pours. The meal is the centerpiece of the day, not a break between stops, but the reason the itinerary is built the way it is. If you have dietary requirements or prefer vegetarian options, you can request them at booking.

The tour also passes through Arrowtown and Lake Hayes, the reflective lake 15 minutes from downtown Queenstown that frames the surrounding mountains. Time permitting, you'll visit Old Cromwell. The whole day runs about six and a half hours, and you're returned to your accommodation at the end. The tour operates in all weather, so dress for the conditions.

What’s included

• A knowledgeable wine guide leading tastings at four wineries.
• an underground cave tour at Gibbston Valley Winery.
• a five-course lunch cooked in retired oak barrels and matched to wines.
• a cheese platter with one wine tasting.
• transport by luxury vehicle.
• hotel pickup and return to your accommodation.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 16 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Appellation Wine Tours

Is this one for you?The tour moves between three wine valleys with stops at each, so expect a full day of driving and tasting rather than a single-location deep dive. Book this one if you want the Central Otago region mapped out through its wines and history, with the guide doing the navigation and the pairing work.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years); Infant (under 6).

What's the difference between the three wine regions on this tour?

Gibbston, nestled between schist mountains, is home to some of Central Otago's oldest vineyards; Bannockburn is the historic gold-mining area where the region's early wealth came from alluvial gold in the 1860s; Cromwell, on the shores of Lake Dunstan, blends the old reconstructed gold-town buildings with the modern wine landscape.

How many wines do I taste, and what's included with them?

You taste wines at four wineries across the three sub-regions, and a cheese platter accompanies one of the tastings. The five-course lunch is matched to five wines from the day's tastings.

Is the underground wine cave part of the tour?

Yes, Gibbston Valley Winery's underground cave is New Zealand's largest, and the guide takes you through it as part of the first stop. The cave maintains constant temperature and humidity, which is why it's used for aging wine.

What happens if I have dietary restrictions or prefer not to drink alcohol?

Vegetarian options are available. Let the operator know at booking. Wine purchases are available if you want to buy additional bottles, but the lunch and tastings are the core of the experience.

Does the tour include getting back to my hotel?

Yes, hotel pickup is included, and you're returned to your accommodation at the end of the tour. The drive from Queenstown to the wine regions takes about 15 minutes.