Queenstown Wine Tour: Flexible Shuttle & Arrowtown Stops

Summary

Queenstown vineyards Arrowtown charm flexible tastings local stories

You’ll taste your way through boutique wineries around Queenstown and Arrowtown with a local guide who keeps things relaxed and personal. Enjoy cheese platters, meet winemakers, set your own pace between stops, and soak up mountain views — all without worrying about schedules or driving. You might even leave with new friends (and maybe some questionable licorice).

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect to laugh so much on a wine tour, honestly. We’d barely left Queenstown when our guide, Pete, started telling stories about the old gold miners who used to haunt Arrowtown — he even pointed out a spot where someone supposedly hid their fortune (probably just a myth, but I liked imagining it). The air smelled faintly sweet, like wild thyme and something else I couldn’t name. First stop was this tiny cellar door with a dog asleep by the fireplace; I tried a pinot noir that tasted almost earthy, like wet stones after rain. It was nothing like what I drink at home.

There wasn’t any rush — that’s the whole thing with this Queenstown wine tour. Pete just checked in now and then (“Ready for the next one or wanna linger?”) and let us set the pace. At one place in Gibbston Valley, an older couple poured our tastings and told us how they started making wine after retiring from sheep farming. I kept getting distracted by the view outside: those pale mountains and vines twisting every which way. We shared a cheese platter that was so good I forgot to ask what half of it was called.

Arrowtown itself felt like stepping into a postcard — except there were real people everywhere, not just tourists posing for photos. Some locals waved as we wandered past little shops (I bought a weird licorice candy on impulse; still not sure if I liked it). The sun kept shifting behind clouds, so sometimes it was chilly enough for a jacket and then suddenly bright again. By the end of the afternoon, back in Queenstown, my phone was full of blurry vineyard photos and I felt sort of light — maybe from the wine, maybe from all the talking and laughing with strangers who didn’t feel like strangers anymore. That part surprised me most.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Flexible Queenstown winery shuttle tour

• Depart Queenstown at midday
• Enjoy local winery shuttle service
• Visit wineries near Queenstown
• Explore Arrowtown and Gibbston Valley
• Wine tastings and food at wineries
• Return to Queenstown by 6pm

Top questions

How long does the Queenstown wine tour last?

The tour departs at midday (12pm) from Queenstown and returns around 6pm.

Is lunch included on this wine tour?

No set lunch is included; you can purchase food directly at each winery or venue.

Are pickups included in this Queenstown wine tour?

Yes, daily return pickups are available from Central Queenstown, Frankton & Arrowtown.

Can I choose which wineries to visit?

Yes, with help from your local guide you can customize your stops throughout Arrowtown, Queenstown & Gibbston Valley.

Is this tour suitable for solo travelers?

Yes, it’s open to couples, friends or independent travelers over 18 years old.

Are children allowed on this wine tour?

No, babies or children aren’t accommodated on mixed group tours.

Does the tour include drinks or tastings?

No; you pay for tastings or drinks directly at each winery based on what you want to try.

What kind of vehicle is used for transport?

You travel in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle managed by your Wine Guide.

What’s included

Your day includes flexible pickup from Queenstown, Frankton or Arrowtown plus comfortable transport between boutique wineries across Arrowtown, Queenstown & Gibbston Valley. A knowledgeable local Wine Guide helps tailor your route and offers insider tasting tips along the way. All food and drink purchases are made directly at each stop so you’re free to choose what suits your mood before being dropped off back in town — or at Ayrburn if you’ve booked dinner nearby.