Queenstown Wine Tour: Private Day with Tastings & Cardrona

Design your own day around Central Otago's Pinot Noirs and mountain views

A private wine tour in Queenstown where you taste at award-winning Central Otago vineyards, visit Lake Wanaka and the Wanaka Tree, stop at Cardrona Hotel for mulled wine by the fire, and choose your own pace and stops. Your guide and driver tailor the itinerary to your interests (wine, whiskey, gin, food, or the mountains themselves) over six to nine hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Central Otago wine and scenery

• Taste Central Otago Pinot Noirs and cheeses
• Enjoy Pinot Noirs by mountains and Lake Dunstan
• Visit Cloudy Bay and Domaine Thompson vineyards
• Lunch at vineyard in fast growing wine region
• See Wanaka Tree and stroll lakeside
• Taste wines at Nanny Goat and Rippon vineyards
• Visit historic Cardrona Hotel for mulled wine
• Toast marshmallows on Cardrona fire pits
• Taste whiskey or gin at Cardrona Distillery
• Explore Arrowtown shops and old Chinese Village
• Walk Arrowtown river gold discovery site
• Optional lunch, dinner, or cocktails at Aryburn
• Enjoy Aryburn live music or dance events

The experience

What separates this from a standard wine route is the freedom to build the day around what actually interests you. The operator starts with Central Otago's Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Pinot Gris, then branches into whatever comes next: whiskey and gin tastings at Cardrona Distillery, lunch at a vineyard restaurant, a walk around Lake Wanaka to the famous Wanaka Tree, or a detour through Arrowtown's shops and the old Chinese Village where gold was found. Your guide and driver know the region and the wineries. You decide what stays and what gets cut.

The day includes tastings at award-winning vineyards, bottled water, lunch, and private transportation from your hotel or the airport. Guests under eighteen get mocktails and non-alcoholic options instead of wine. The itinerary can stretch from six hours to nine depending on how many stops you want and whether you linger over lunch or stay into the evening at Aryburn, which hosts regular food-and-wine pairings, live music and cocktails.

Cardrona Hotel sits at the end of most itineraries: a historic stop where you sip warm mulled wine and toast marshmallows over an outside fire pit, with the Cardrona Distillery nearby if whiskey or gin appeals to you more. The whole day is built around the idea that you know what you want, and the guide makes it happen.

What’s included

• Private transportation and a licensed guide and driver.
• bottled water.
• tastings at award-winning vineyards.
• lunch.
• spectacular views and photo opportunities.
• airport pickup and drop-off if requested.
• the itinerary designed to suit your interests and timing.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to FridayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to6h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 46 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by ENJOI NZ

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so you're not sharing the guide or the van with other travelers: the day moves at your pace and stops where you want. Choose it if you want control over what you taste and where you go, and a guide who knows the region well enough to adapt on the fly.

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Top questions

What wineries do you actually visit on this tour?

The tour moves through Central Otago's first wine region, then into the Wanaka area where you can taste at Nanny Goat and Rippon vineyards near Lake Wanaka. A third stop takes you to the Wanaka township and its growing wine region (Cloudy Bay and Domaine Thompson are named as options), where you can also have lunch at a vineyard. Your guide can adjust based on what you want to taste.

Is Lake Wanaka part of the route?

Yes. You visit Lake Wanaka and the famous Wanaka Tree, with time to stroll around the lake or stay longer if you want. It sits between the Central Otago tastings and the Cardrona stop at the end of the day.

Can I add whiskey or gin tastings to the wine stops?

Whiskey and gin tastings are available as add-ons. Cardrona Distillery, near Cardrona Hotel, offers tastings in both, and your guide can arrange them as part of your itinerary.

What happens if I'm under eighteen?

Guests under eighteen receive mocktails and non-alcoholic beverages at all tastings instead of wine, whiskey or gin. The rest of the day (the vineyard visits, the food, Lake Wanaka, Cardrona Hotel and the fire pit) stays the same.

How long is the day, and can I choose when it ends?

The tour runs six to nine hours depending on how many stops you want and how long you spend at each one. If you want to stay into the evening at Aryburn for dinner, cocktails or live music, your guide can arrange that and adjust the rest of the itinerary.