Queenstown: Central Otago Food & Wine Tour with Barrel Lunch

Summary

Central Otago wine caves, barrel-cooked lunch and Arrowtown stories

You’ll taste your way through Central Otago’s best vineyards with an expert guide from Queenstown, explore New Zealand’s largest underground wine cave, enjoy a five-course barrel-cooked lunch paired with local wines, and wander historic Arrowtown—all with easy pickup and small group warmth. Expect real conversation and moments that linger long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed stepping out in Queenstown was the air—kind of sharp, like you just bit into a green apple. Our guide, Pete, had this way of talking about the land that made me pay attention to things I’d usually miss: the way the light hits Lake Hayes or how the vines in Gibbston look almost stubborn, clinging to those rocky hills. We passed the Kawarau Suspension Bridge and sure enough, someone was dangling mid-air on a bungy cord—everyone in the van cheered for them. It set the mood somehow, like anything could happen today.

I’d never been inside a wine cave before. It was cool and smelled faintly earthy—like wet stone and barrels. Pete explained why Central Otago pinot tastes so different here (something about schist soils—I pretended to understand). The first tasting was almost quiet; people really paid attention to what they were sipping. I tried to sound like I knew what “notes of cherry” meant but mostly just liked how it felt going down. Bannockburn was next, dustier roads and golden grass everywhere. The lunch at Wild Earth is what I keep thinking about—a smoky venison dish cooked in old oak barrels, matched with a glass that actually made me pause mid-bite. I didn’t expect food cooked in barrels to taste that… layered?

By Cromwell, everyone was a bit looser—maybe from the wine or maybe just because we’d started swapping stories with each other. There was an older couple from Auckland who joked about moving here for the cheese platters alone (the blue cheese at one stop nearly knocked me over). We had time for a quick wander through Old Cromwell—weather held up—and then headed back toward Arrowtown. The Chinese Settlement there felt quietly powerful; I watched a local woman leave flowers by one of the old huts and wondered about all the lives that passed through these valleys before us.

On the drive back to Queenstown, sun low over the mountains, Pete played some old Kiwi rock on the radio and nobody talked much—we were all kind of full in every sense. Not sure if it was just the wine or something bigger about being out here together for a day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Central Otago wine and historic tour

• View Lake Hayes scenery
• Pass Kawarau Suspension Bridge
• See AJ Hackett Bungy jumpers
• Tour New Zealand's largest wine cave
• Wine tasting in Bannockburn
• Enjoy wine and food matching lunch
• Wine tasting in Cromwell
• Optional visit to historic Cromwell
• Cheese and wine tasting in Gibbston
• Explore historic Arrowtown

Top questions

How long is the Queenstown food & wine tour?

The tour lasts a full day with morning pickup and return to your accommodation in Queenstown by evening.

Is lunch included on this Central Otago wine tour?

Yes, an exquisite five-dish lunch cooked in retired oak barrels is included along with matched wines.

Do you visit multiple wine regions on this tour?

Yes, you’ll visit Gibbston, Bannockburn, and Cromwell sub-regions for tastings at four vineyards.

Are hotel pickups available for this tour?

Yes, hotel pickup from Queenstown is included in your booking.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, it is wheelchair accessible and service animals are allowed.

What if I have dietary requirements?

Please advise any dietary needs when booking; vegetarian options are available.

Does this tour operate in bad weather?

The tour operates in all weather conditions; dress appropriately for comfort.

Is there an age limit for this food & wine experience?

The minimum age is 18 years old for participation due to alcohol tastings.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from your Queenstown accommodation, guided transport across three unique Central Otago wine regions with an expert host, entry into New Zealand’s largest underground wine cave, four vineyard tastings (with one featuring a cheese platter), plus a five-course lunch cooked in oak barrels paired with matching wines before returning comfortably back to town.