Join Altitude Tours on this classic Queenstown wine tour to explore, taste, and savour wines across four of the finest and boutique cellar doors in the region.

Throughout the day, you can enjoy tasting over 18 spectacular cool-climate wines, with the option of a scrumptious lunch (additional cost ordered on the day). You will be well looked after and hosted by an Altitude wine guide and cellar staff, and be educated and entertained with local winemaking facts and stories.

• Visit four cellar doors in the Gibbston wine region
• Taste over 18 spectacular cool-climate wines, both reds and whites
• Take a look into the Gibbston Valley Winery underground wine cave
• Enjoy a personal small group tour with other wine lovers
• Choose to indulge in a sumptuous winery lunch (ordered and paid on the day)
• Be hosted by a fun and friendly wine-certified guide

Your Wine Sampler Day:

Start your day being met by your wine-certified guide at or near your Queenstown accommodation. From there, we'll travel a short distance to the Gibbston wine region, home to top-rated wineries, award-winning winemakers, and, of course, delicious Pinot Noir.

Gibbston Valley Winery

Our first location is the the iconic Gibbston Valley Winery. Gibbston Valley is one of the region's founding wineries and it's here that we will join a guided tour through New Zealand's largest underground wine cave and enjoy tastings of some of their world-famous wines.

Kinross

Kinross is our second stop and a fantastic location to try a range of different wines across multiple labels. Along with producing their own wines, their cellar door host will also showcase wines from smaller producers and share their incredible stories of how they came to be. After your wine tasting, we allow extra time to enjoy lunch. Kinross has a range of delicious dishes on its menu, including pizzas, platters, smaller bites, and mains. This is ordered and paid directly on the day, giving you the flexibility to order what you would like based on your taste and budget.

Mt Rosa Wines

Mt Rosa is a smaller owner-operated winery and their stunning location is situated just below the impressive Nevis Bluff. Sitting in the vines, their newly built cellar door building gives you a sophisticated backdrop to a delicious tasting menu. Their cellar door host will take you through different varieties of their single-label wines. Their mulled wine is a customer highlight!

The Church Cellar Door

We finish our tasting tour at The Church Tasting Room. This is a picturesque location, in a small refurbished church sitting on large sweeping grounds. This is the tasting room for Mt Edward Wines, who are a family-run producer in Gibbston growing small batches from single vineyard sites. Their wines include Pinot Noir, Gamay, Chardonnay, and Chenin.

Experience the Unforgettable

Let us take you on a top-rated wine-tasting journey and experience more with Altitude Tours. The Helicopter Wine Tour departs Queenstown at 9:15am and returns at 4pm.

Locations are subject to change, however in the case where we cannot visit one of the mentioned cellar doors, it will replaced with an equally great location with delicious wines to taste.

It's always 5 o'clock at Altitude Tours. Join the Twilight Wine & Craft Beer Tour for an entertaining late afternoon, taste bud-tingling adventure.

Visit three unique locations around Queenstown and Gibbston for tastings of either local wine or craft beers, and tuck into shared antipasto platters before continuing your evening in town.

• Visit three tasting rooms around Gibbston and Queenstown
• Taste over 12 different locally produced wines or beers
• Choose between local wines or local craft beers at each spot
• Tuck into an included shared antipasto platter
• Be hosted by a fun and friendly wine-certified guide
• Enjoy a personal small group tour with other wine and beer lovers
• A late afternoon departure allows you to do more in Queenstown

Your Taste-bud Tingling Afternoon

Meet your friendly local guide in the Queenstown town centre outside The Station Building on Camp Street. From here we travel out and enjoy exploring the Gibbston wine region and Queenstown, visiting a diverse range of cellar doors offering unique collections of both local wines and craft beers.

GT Tasting 

Our first stop of the day is the Gibbston Tavern, where you will find the GT Tasting Room. Fun and local at heart they have teamed up with local winemakers to produce wines exclusively for them. The beers available for tasting haven’t come far either, a local Gibbston Brewery called Alpine Ale Works craft beers just 1km down the road to produce refreshing lagers & ales and to top it off finishing with a locally made Ginger Beer which all the Queenstown locals love to support. 

Kinross

Kinross is our second stop and a fantastic location to try a range of different wines across multiple labels. Along with producing their own wines, their cellar door host will also showcase wines from smaller producers and share their incredible stories of how they came to be. 

They are also hosting Altitude Brewery beers, a small batch brewery from Queenstown which have continuously won the title of ‘Best Small Batch Brewery in New Zealand’, they love what they do and want to keep it their way, with no consideration to expand they are able to experiment and make delicious craft beers that are always going to excite and delight. 

Canyon Brewing

Nestled on the shores of the famous Shotover River is where you’ll find Canyon Brewing. They started small but have quickly grown to be well-known around New Zealand and this bustling brewery is known for its delicious food, apres ski parties, and of course the delicious beers. Along with their selection of craft beers, they have a rotating array of local Central Otago wines which include, Peregrine Wines, Lake Hayes Estate, Wet Jacket, Nanny Goat, and the list goes on. It’s an impressive wine list full of some of the local favourite boutique wineries. 

It is here we will tuck into shared antipasto platters, the perfect entre before being dropped back into Queenstown Town Centre at 7 pm and carrying on your evening activities.

Locations are subject to change, however in the case where we cannot visit one of the mentioned cellar doors, it will replaced with an equally great location with delicious wines to taste.

Join Altitude Tours for a magical half-day small group tour to Glenorchy and Paradise. This small settlement is full of characters and charm, and home to some of the most famous and scenic sights found in the region. 

• Take in the view on one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand
• Explore Glenorchy township, its lakefront, and its iconic red boat shed
• Go beyond and visit Paradise, Diamond Lake, and famous LOTR locations
• Tuck into a Kiwi-style morning/afternoon tea including cheese rolls, sweet treats, L&P, and Whittaker's chocolate
• Enjoy a small-group sightseeing tour limited to just 16 people.
• Be hosted by a friendly and knowledgeable local guide

Top Scenic Drive

Begin your day meeting your friendly guide in the Queenstown Town Centre. Starting with a spectacular scenic drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy along the lake edge, with scenic photo spots and entertaining stories from your local guide about Lake Whakatipu and its legends.

Glenorchy Township

Glenorchy township is home to approx. 400 permanent residents and the gateway to Paradise Valley and the Mt Aspiring National Park. Once we arrive in this quaint country town, you will have the chance to explore the picturesque lakefront including the iconic red boat shed.

Paradise Magic

From Glenorchy, we join a dirt track, a one-way road into the National Park. The Glenorchy-Paradise Road travels past rich farmland, through native beech forests, and across river beds. Not many live up in this direction, with its most famous residents being the mystical characters from LOTR and other movies, TV series, and commercials. Your guide will show you famous filming sites, with even the chance to dress up as your favourite Middle Earth character for a fun photo opportunity. 

While exploring the area, In true Kiwi South Island hospitality, we will prepare morning/afternoon tea at a picturesque location, complete with cheese rolls, ginger slice, L&P, and Whittaker's chocolate.

The Journey Back

After Paradise, we will return back through Glenorchy, where we will have a brief stop, before allowing you to sit back and relax and enjoy the sights before being dropped back in the Queenstown Town Centre.

Experience the Unforgettable

Let us take you on a magical journey to Glenorchy and Paradise and discover more with Altitude Tours. The 4.5 hour Glenorchy & Paradise Explore departs twice daily: 9am returning by 1:30pm, or 2pm returning by 6:30pm.

See more with Altitude Tours and let us show you around Queenstown like a local. 

Visit iconic scenic viewpoints, walk the quaint streets of Arrowtown, watch the fearless Bungy jump, taste Pinot in Gibbston, and take a cruise on mighty Lake Wakatipu - all in an easy half day adventure.

• Join a small group sightseeing tour around the top locations in Queenstown
• See the iconic viewpoints around Queenstown and the Wakatipu Basin
• Stroll the historic gold mining streets of Arrowtown
• Witness the fearless Bungy jump off the Kawarau Bridge
• Enjoy a wine tasting and shared cheese board at a local Gibbston winery (non-alcoholic options are available)
• Take a private boat cruise on Lake Whakatipu
• Be entertained by your knowledgeable local guide

Start with the View

Start your day meeting your friendly guide in the Queenstown Town Centre. From here we start our sightseeing with a short drive to the top of Queenstown Hill, where we take in the iconic viewpoint showing off the town and famous backdrop.

Explore Historic Arrowtown

Enjoy the scenic drive out past the famous Shotover River, where we watch jet boats speed through canyons, before passing under Coronet Peak ski field on the drive to Arrowtown. In Arrowtown, we allow you free time to explore this adorable mining village. Join our guide for gold panning, or take one of our maps and explore on your own, visiting the famous Arrowtown Bakery, and local gift stores, or stock up on treats from the Remarkable Sweet Shop.

Bungy Jumps & Pinot Noir

From here we continue our journey to the Gibbston wine region, a stretch of road lined with vines and home to world-famous Pinot Noir. Our first stop takes us on a thrilling turn, visiting the Kawarau Bungy Bridge, the home of Bungy jumping and a great spot to watch the fearless (or jump, if you are brave enough!), before visiting The Church for a wine tasting and shared cheese board.

Finish with a Cruise

The journey doesn't finish there. After heading back toward Queenstown, we meet a boat charter in the Frankton Marina, which will take you on a guided 25-minute lake cruise on Lake Whakatipu showing you the sights from the water before dropping you off back in Queenstown Bay in the Queenstown Town Centre.

Experience the Unforgettable

Let us take you around Queenstown like a local and discover more with Altitude Tours. The 4.5-hour Best of Queenstown Tour departs the Station Building, central Queenstown at 8:30am, arriving back to Queenstown Bay at 1:00 pm.

Our Milford Sound day tour was established in 1994 and is a top-rated small group Milford Experience. We allow our guests to escape the crowds and offer a truly unique day, showcasing this world famous region.

On this full-day tour to Milford Sound enjoy guided commentary touring to and from Milford Sound with our experienced guides. Our small group tours give our guests the ability to get to know the driver and each other, creating a more personal and memorable experience. 

Once in Milford Sound, we join a stunning two-hour small boat nature cruise on the fjord – see waterfalls, fur seals, penguins and occasionally dolphins. Enjoy fun and informative commentary from your nature guide, and plenty of off-the-beaten-track visits away from the crowds.

We have custom made, 16 seat, glass roof Mercedes touring vehicles. This is business class travel with extended legroom, leather interior, panoramic windows for the best views, and USB charging ports onboard. 

Travelling to Milford is a 12-13 hour day from Queenstown. Our smaller vehicles give us the opportunity to stay away from the crowds as well as more flexibility with where we stop on the journey.

The Milford Sound Day Tour departs Queenstown daily at 7:30 am and returns around 7:30 pm.

• Luxury transport in a glass-roof Mercedes Sprinter van
• A personal small group tour (max 16 passengers)
• Multiple scenic stops on the famous Milford Road
• Informative and entertaining commentary from an experienced guide
• 2-hr small boat nature cruise in Milford Sound
• Complimentary Wi-Fi and water on board the vans

Milford Sound Day Tour with Fixed-Wing Flyback (Glass-roof Upgrade)

Experience Milford Sound with Altitude Tours on a top-rated small group day tour. Departing from Queenstown, explore the magic of Fiordland in a day from the road, water, and the skies—all in a single bucket-list day. 

Travel along the famed Milford Road in a premium Mercedes glass-roof top van hosted by a friendly local guide, cruise below the towering fjord on a 1hr 45min nature cruise, and take to the skies on a 45-minute scenic fixed-wing flight across the Southern Alps, back to Queenstown.

• Enjoy a small-group sightseeing tour on the Milford Road limited to just 16 people.
• Travel in a specially designed premium Mercedes Sprinter with a glass-roof top for ultimate viewing.
• Experience multiple scenic stops along the iconic Milford Road, including Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, Pops View, Homer Tunnel, and many more.
• Benefit from informative and engaging commentary provided by an experienced guide.
• Embark on a 1hr 45min small boat nature cruise through the fjord (with a maximum of 75 passengers on board).
• Take to the skies on a 45-minute scenic fixed-wing flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown
• Add on an optional packed picnic lunch or bring your own food from Queenstown.

Your Adventure Begins

Start your day by meeting our friendly local guide at your Queenstown accommodation or nearby. You'll travel in style in a premium glass-roof Mercedes van designed for touring with only 16 seats onboard. The first leg of our journey to Milford Sound transports you from Queenstown through the picturesque Southland farming country and the charming town of Te Anau, where we'll make a brief stop by the lakeside for refreshments.

Welcome to the Fiordland National Park

From here, we welcome you to the Fiordland National Park and the renowned Milford Road. This corridor to the fjord unveils a different side of New Zealand, with its majestic mountains, winding rivers, and the cheeky Kea bird. Throughout the journey, your guide will make multiple stops for photo opportunities, and short walks, and will entertain you with fascinating local facts and stories.

Milford Sound Adventure

Upon reaching Milford Sound, embark on a 1hr 45min nature cruise with Cruise Milford that takes you beneath the towering peaks of the fjord. This small boat cruise, accompanied by a knowledgeable onboard nature guide, allows you to explore the edges of the fjord, revealing its impressive waterfalls and unique wildlife, which may include dolphins, penguins, fur seals, and native birdlife.

A Flight to Remember

After your cruise, you will be introduced to your Glenorchy Air pilot, who will take you to the skies on a truly incredible scenic flight back to Queenstown. Traveling on a fixed-wing plane, this flight is approximately 45 minutes and offers aerial views of Milford Sound and Queenstown, along with the impressive snow-capped mountains, glaciers, and braided rivers in between.

Experience the Unforgettable

Let us take you on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Milford Sound and discover more with Altitude Tours. Milford Sound Day Tours depart daily from Queenstown at 6:30am, returning by 4:15pm.

The flight is weather dependent, and in the case of bad weather, you will receive a partial refund and return via road with your Altitude Tours guide, returning at by 7:30pm.

Join Altitude Tours on a full-day food and wine tour and explore, taste, and savor at four separate wine-tasting experiences around Central Otago, with a delicious lunch and platters enjoyed at locally renowned locations. 

This day is designed for those who love and appreciate wine and the wine-making process, allowing them to venture further into the depths of Central Otago wine and its fascinating history.

• Join a full-day, 8-hour guided wine tour from Queenstown.
• Enjoy tastings at 4 cellar doors across Gibbston, Cromwell & Bannockburn.
• Explore more at a behind-the-scenes barrel room experience
• Enjoy a trust-the-chef tapas lunch at the famous Bannockburn Hotel.
• Finish with a shared cheese board at the final location.
• Be hosted by a fun and friendly wine-certified guide
• Join a personal small group tour with other wine lovers

You will start your day being met by your wine-certified guide at or near your Queenstown accommodation. From here we will travel one hour from Queenstown to Central Otago and its sub-wine regions, well known for top-class wineries and award-winning wines, including Central Otago’s world-famous Pinot Noirs.

Throughout the day you will enjoy four separate wine-tasting experiences at both smaller boutique cellar doors as well as more established locations, including a barrel room tour, where you will enjoy learning information, stories, and facts about the region and wine from your charismatic guide and cellar staff. Included also are all of your meals, including a trust-the-chef lunch at a locally renown restaurant, and a cheese board to enjoy at your final location at the end of the day.

How the day looks:

Carrick

Welcome to the wine-growing area of Bannockburn which has the world's only man-made wine terroir (created by the gold miners in the 19th century). Known as the 'heart of the desert' is the driest part of Central Otago, it's made up of largely clay soils creating more structured and savory style wines. Our first location is Carrick where you will learn about their vineyard and wines by joining a fantastic tour of the Carrick vineyard, winery, and barrel cellar, followed by a wine tasting.

Te Kano

Te Kano is Māori for ‘The Seed’, signifying that the seeds we plant today will blossom for future generations. They combine their passion for sustainability and protecting the land, with their love of Central Otago wines to produce delicious blends across a range of wine series. Here we will enjoy a tasting of their unique wines while enjoying their beautiful cellar door and Central Otago backdrop.

Bannockburn Hotel

Now it's lunchtime at The Bannockburn Hotel. This is a locally renowned restaurant in the heart of wine country. Here we will enjoy their trust-the-chef tapas menu inspired by the owner's time living and working across Europe and Latin America. Combining tapas style, small and sharing plate dishes with amazing local produce, with a menu changing seasonally.

Misha's Vineyard

We then head to Misha's Vineyard tasting room in the quaint township of Cromwell. Here we will try not only their Pinot Noirs but a range of aromatic white varieties, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Rose, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer.

Kinross

We start the drive back towards Queenstown, stopping at the famous Central Otago wine-growing region, Gibbston. Our last location is Kinross, a local favourite and the perfect place to wrap up a day of exploring Central Otago. Here you will enjoy a relaxed wine-tasting experience and will be offered a selection of wines on a tasting flightboard to enjoy with a shared cheese platter.

Locations are subject to change, however in the case where we cannot visit one of the mentioned cellar doors, it will replaced with an equally great location with delicious wines to taste.

Mt Cook Day Tour from Queenstown

Join Altitude Tours and visit Mt Cook in a day from Queenstown. 

Experience the unique alpine landscapes of the Southern Alps as you travel with us through Mackenzie Country and into Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, with free time in Mount Cook Village to enjoy local walks or activities.

• Take the opportunity to visit Mt Cook on an easy one-day tour from Queenstown
• Travel in a specially designed premium Mercedes Sprinter for a comfortable touring experience.
• Enjoy a small-group sightseeing tour limited to just 16 people.
• Experience multiple scenic stops on the drive, including Cromwell, The Lindis, Omarama, Twizel, and many more.
• Benefit from informative and engaging commentary provided by an experienced guide.
• Enjoy 3.5 hours (approx.) of free time to explore Mt Cook Village, with options to sightsee, hike, or join an optional activity (we recommend booking in advance to secure your spot).
• Take advantage of complimentary access to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre.

Your Adventure Begins

Start your day by meeting our friendly local guide at your Queenstown accommodation or nearby. You'll travel in style in a premium Mercedes van designed for touring with only 16 seats onboard. As we depart Queenstown, the first leg of our journey takes us through the Central Otago wine regions of Gibbston and Cromwell. We then cross the dramatic Lindis Pass before making a brief stop in Omarama for refreshments and an opportunity to purchase lunch (highly recommended for those planning to hike, Heli Hike, or join the Glacier Explorers experience).

Welcome to Mackenzie Country

The scenery transforms as we enter Mackenzie Country, and our guide will entertain you with stories and interesting facts as we trace the edge of the Southern Alps. Along the way, we'll pass a network of lakes and canals near Twizel, renowned for its fishing of fresh Mt Cook Alpine salmon. Once we veer off the main road, we'll follow the stunning bright blue waters of Lake Pukaki before arriving at Mt Cook Village.

Mount Cook Adventure

Welcome to Mt Cook! Arriving at approximately 12 pm, you'll have around 3.5 hours to explore at your leisure. Choose from various options such as a self-guided hike, taking a scenic flight for an up-close view of the mountain, participating in a Heli Hike on the Tasman Glacier, or witnessing the icebergs on the Tasman Glacial Lake with Glacier Explorers. Your guide will assist you in getting to your chosen activity and provide instructions for the remainder of the day. If you're planning to get outside and explore, remember to come prepared with enough food and water, dress warmly, and wear appropriate footwear, as the weather in this alpine town can change quickly, no matter the season.

For those seeking a more relaxed experience, all guests receive complimentary access to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, located at The Hermitage. This museum and theatre offer insights into Mt Cook's unique history and the adventures of one of New Zealand's most famed explorers.

The Journey Back

At approximately 3:30pm, you will rejoin our guide and van to commence the return journey to Queenstown. Sit back, relax, and take in the views. This day tour spans approximately 12 hours, and our smaller vehicles and attentive guide ensure your comfort and entertainment throughout the journey.

Experience the Unforgettable

Let us take you on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Mount Cook and discover more with Altitude Tours. The 12-hour Mount Cook day tour departs Queenstown daily at 7:30am, returning by 7:30pm.