Queenstown’s best wine day comes with zero driving. This hop on hop off bus route through Central Otago pairs cellar doors and brewery stops with major Queenstown fun, on your schedule.

What I really like is the freedom: buses run frequently (about every 45 minutes), so you can spend extra time at the spots you like and still catch the next pickup. I also like the smart mix of places—Arrowtown history, iconic adrenaline stops like Shotover Jet and AJ Hackett Bungy, plus a lineup of wineries, gin, and beer.

The one consideration: this is not an all-day two-way hop style. The route is effectively one way, and you can’t go backwards, so if you miss your timing at a stop, you’ll be moving on with the bus.

Key things to know before you ride

• Frequent hop timing: buses run about every 45 minutes, so you can flex without feeling trapped.
• Route is one direction: you’ll choose from the stops as you go and can’t backtrack.
• Tasting fees aren’t the same as tasting access: tastings aren’t included, but wine purchases can waive fees at many stops.
• Some stops need bookings: a handful of restaurants/cellar doors and activities require planning ahead.
• Wine can stay with the bus: you don’t have to carry purchases around all day.
• You’ll want to pre-pick 4–6 stops: even with flexibility, time adds up fast.

Queenstown HOHO: a wine day with adrenaline built in

This isn’t just a “sit on a bus and hope for the best” tour. It’s built around Queenstown and Central Otago’s real rhythm: wineries and breweries are spread out, and the area rewards people who can move at their own pace.

The biggest value is that the bus does the heavy lifting. You’re not paying for a driver in your own car, you’re not navigating with a phone while you’re already excited, and you’re not worrying about who is sober enough to drive after tastings. It’s a low-stress way to see more than you could manage alone.

And you’re not stuck with only wine. Between stops, you can also watch the action: jet boating at Shotover Jet, bungy at AJ Hackett Bungy, and even a break at Strike Bowl for ten-pin bowling.

Price and what you get for €51.08

At about €51.08 per person, this tour sits in the “good deal for what you’re doing” category—mainly because it includes transportation plus access to a long list of stops.

Here’s what’s included:

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Discounts (details aren’t listed, but they’re part of the ticket)
• A mobile ticket

What you don’t get (and this matters for value):

• Lunch
• Tastings are not included
• Activities (like bungy or jet boating) are not included

The key trick for budgeting is this: many wineries indicate the tasting fee is waived when you buy wine. So if you go with the mindset of tasting with a purpose—buy a bottle or two where you actually like the wine—you often end up paying less than people expect. Also, wine is stored on the bus, so your day doesn’t turn into an awkward carry-the-bottles mission.

For me, the best “value math” is simple: pick your 4–6 priority tasting stops, plan where you’ll spend money, and treat the rest as bonus scenery and atmosphere.

How the hop-on hop-off timing really works

This tour runs about 5 to 7 hours (half or full-day options) and buses run about every 45 minutes.

That frequency is what makes the “hop on hop off” part work in real life. You don’t have to get out the moment the doors open, but you also can’t treat it like an all-day wander pass. In practice, you should plan to visit around 4–6 stops if you want time to taste, eat something small, and still make the pickup without stress.

Also note the logistics that affect your decisions:

• The route is effectively one way, so once the bus moves, you’re moving forward with it.
• You can’t go backwards through the stop list. That means your first picks at the start of the day are extra important.

My practical advice: before you leave, choose your “must-do” stops and then add a couple of “nice to try” backups. When you’re standing at the first winery with a glass in hand, you’ll be happy you already know what you’re doing next.

Stop-by-stop: Shotover Jet to Arrowtown Village

Shotover Jet Queenstown (Stop 1)

This is the big Queenstown icon: Shotover River Canyons by jet boat. The site is open 7 days from 10am to 4pm, and the stop duration listed is short, so it works best as a quick visit if you’re not booking the full experience that day. If you want the jet boat itself, you’ll need separate tickets/booking because activities aren’t included.

Why it’s worth it: even if you just watch, the setting is dramatic and it sets the tone for the day—adventure first, wine second.

Canyon Brewing (Stop 2)

Canyon Food & Brew sits overlooking the Shotover River, and it’s a nice palate break between adrenaline and tasting rooms. It’s closed Monday and Tuesday, open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 8pm.

Why it works on this route: if you’re not in full “wine tasting mode” yet, a brewery stop feels natural. It’s also an easy place to regroup before you go into Arrowtown.

Strike Bowl (Stop 3)

If your group wants something besides tasting, Strike Bowl is here. It’s a 7-lane ten-pin bowling spot, open 7 days until 10pm, but the listed duration is short and admission isn’t included—so treat it as an option if you’re ahead of schedule.

Arrowtown Village (Stop 4)

Arrowtown is a classic Central Otago detour. This stop is about relaxing, dining, and shopping in the historic gold-mining town vibe. Two specific highlights you can look for:

• Chinese Settlement
• Lakes District Museum

If you’re planning to do wine later, this is the best “slow down” stop. It also helps you break up the intensity of tasting rooms so the day doesn’t feel like nonstop alcohol decisions.

Arrowtown cellar doors: wine, gin, and a scenic reset

Arrowtown is where the tour really starts to feel like a true tasting day. The stops here often include tastings where wine purchases can reduce or waive tasting fees.

The Winery – Arrowtown (Stop 5)

This is described as the world’s largest New Zealand wine store, with tasting over 80 wines. It’s open 7 days, and you don’t need bookings unless you’re dealing with a large group.

Why I like this stop: it’s one of the easiest places to sample variety quickly. If you’re still figuring out your tastes, this helps you narrow down what you actually want later in the day.

Rifters’ Tasting Room (Stop 6)

Rifters focuses on handcrafted gins in historic Dudley’s Cottage. It’s open Thursday to Sunday 12noon to 4pm and closed Monday to Wednesday.

Practical note: plan your timing here. The hours are shorter than many wineries, so if you arrive late, you might miss it.

Swiftsure (Stop 7)

Swiftsure is a relaxed bistro above Buckingham Green. The tour data shows it’s a stop for views and atmosphere, but it’s marked as tastings/admission not included.

Ayrburn (Stop 8)

Ayrburn is a newer addition on the route. It offers plenty of food (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and wine flights in the restaurant/wine space. It’s open 7 days 10am to 6.30pm for tastings, and this one can help if you want a mid-day food reset.

Mora Wines & Artisan Kitchen (Stop 9)

This is a restaurant + cellar door combo. It’s open daily for restaurant service 9am to 5pm, with cellar door 11am to 5pm. The important part: bookings required.

Amisfield Cellar Door (Stop 10)

The restaurant is Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and Wednesday to Saturday for dinner, with booking required for restaurant services. The stop itself lists admission as free, but the restaurant and special bookings are where you’ll need to plan ahead.

Nockies Palette and Stoneridge Cellar Door (Stop 11)

This one combines wine and art, described as neighbors with a passion for both—an “artist’s palette” feel mixed with a cellar door.

It’s open Monday to Sunday 11am to 5pm, but bookings are required.

For all the booking-required stops in Arrowtown: if you want a specific tasting flight or lunch time, lock it in early. Otherwise, treat those as “see if we can fit it in” stops.

Activities and views: bungy plus the Queenstown energy (Stop 12)

AJ Hackett Bungy – Queenstown Bungy Centre (Stop 12)

This is where Queenstown shows off its most famous adrenaline. It’s open 7 days, but bookings are required to jump.

Even if you aren’t jumping, this stop can be fun for watching, photos, and soaking up the crowd energy.

If your day is already wine-heavy, keep it light here. It’s easy to spend too long filming or watching and then feel rushed at later tastings.

Gibbston Valley wineries: where you’ll likely slow down

Gibbston Valley is the tasting core of the day. The stops here are mostly centered on wineries, taverns, and cellar doors.

Gibbston Valley Winery (Stops 13 and 20)

You’ll see Gibbston Valley Winery twice on the route. Stop 13 is listed as 45 minutes, and Stop 20 is shorter in the list.

It’s open 7 days 10am to 5pm. It says tasting bookings aren’t required unless you’re in a large group, but lunch booking is required. That makes it a good candidate if you want a more planned lunch break rather than improvising.

The Church Cellar Door and Cafe (Stop 14)

A new(ish) cellar door located inside an old Presbyterian Church built in 1894. Open 7 days 11am to 6pm.

There’s also a HOHO special mentioned: $25 for tasting, with the fee waived with purchase (wording indicates the tasting fee is tied to purchases).

Mt Rosa Wines (Stop 15)

Mt Rosa has a renovated wool shed vibe and views. Open 7 days 11am to 5pm, but bookings required.

This is a “plan ahead” stop. If you don’t book, you might still visit the area, but the timing and experience you want may depend on reservations.

Waitiri Creek Wines (Stop 16)

Waitiri Creek is described as one of the original founding wineries in Gibbston Valley (established 1993). Cellar door is open daily 11am to 6pm.

For a day that already includes bigger brands, this kind of smaller feel can be a nice change of pace.

Brennan Wines (Stop 17)

Open Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 5pm, with note that bookings aren’t required unless it’s a large group.

It’s family-owned and produces limited quantities of finely-aged wine, which suggests you might find fewer “mass-market” pours and more careful selections.

Kinross Winery, Cellar Door & Cottages (Stop 18)

Kinross is a boutique venue described alongside a bistro and cottages. It’s open 7 days from 10am, but bookings required for lunch and tastings.

If you love a more structured winery experience, this is one to treat as a destination, not a quick stop.

Gibbston Tavern (Stop 19)

A historic-feeling pub stop, open 7 days, with Sunday–Thursday 11am to 6pm and Friday–Saturday 11am to 8pm.

This is a good option when you want a break from the tasting-room pace. It also works well for people who aren’t sure they want more wine by late afternoon.

Pubs, beer, and the “just one more stop” problem

The route keeps going with classic drinking stops around Gibbston and back toward Queenstown.

Nockies Palette and Stoneridge Cellar Door (Stop 21)

Again, this appears a second time on the route. It’s open 11am to 5pm with bookings required.

If you didn’t get a chance earlier, this second chance can be useful—just make sure you time it so you don’t miss your next bus.

The Crown Pub and Beer Garden (Stop 22)

Open 7 days from 11am until late. Bookings aren’t required except for large groups.

It’s a straightforward “beer + wine + hang out” stop, and the beer garden angle makes it ideal if the day is sunny.

Frankton Arm Tavern (Stop 23)

On the lakefront at Frankton Arm, open 7 days with late hours:

• Monday–Saturday 11am to 12am
• Sunday 11am to 11pm

If you want a final-night vibe before heading back, this is a strong closer—especially for groups.

Altitude Brewing (Stop 24)

Altitude Brewing is open in a rolling weekly schedule:

• Closed Monday and Tuesday
• Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday 11am to 8pm
• Friday–Saturday 12pm to 10pm

It’s a lakeside tap room, and bookings aren’t required unless there’s a large group.

The Winery – Queenstown (Stop 25): end the day with variety

This final wine store stop is open 7 days and similar hours to the Arrowtown store. It’s positioned as the wrap-up point with plenty of selection (the tour data says over 80 wines again).

If you still have energy, it’s a great place to end the day by buying a bottle that matches what you liked earlier. Since wine is stored on the bus, you don’t have to carry it all day like a souvenir pack.

Who this tour suits best (and who should skip it)

This HOHO tour is best for:

• Wine lovers who want variety without driving
• Groups with mixed interests (some want tastings, others want pubs or bowling)
• People who like flexibility and don’t want to lock their whole day into one long structured tour

It might be a less perfect fit if:

• You hate time limits and need a stop where you can wander for hours without planning
• You expect a classic two-way hop system like in some other cities (this one is effectively one direction)
• Your group wants to do several booking-required lunches/tastings without scheduling

If you’re coming with a tight plan, pre-select your top stops first. Then fill in the rest based on mood and opening hours.

Practical tips so you don’t feel rushed

A few small choices make a big difference on this type of day:

• Decide your top 4–6 stops before boarding. This keeps you relaxed when you’re at the curb deciding where to go.
• Watch opening days and hours for stops like Canyon Brewing (closed Monday/Tuesday) and Rifters (Thursday–Sunday only).
• Treat bookings as priority, not optional. Mora, Amisfield restaurant services, Nockies/Stoneridge, Mt Rosa, Kinross, and AJ Hackett Bungy are flagged as booking-required in the data.
• Plan lunch deliberately. Lunch is not included, and some wineries require bookings for it. If you don’t want stress, pick one place you’ll actually sit down.
• Keep your alcohol purchases smart. Since tastings aren’t included and wine purchases can waive tasting fees, it helps to know what you’ll buy before you fall in love with a second pour.

Should you book Hop on Hop off Wine Tours Queenstown?

I’d book it if you want a fun, efficient way to get around Queenstown and Central Otago without driving, and you like the idea of building your own day between Arrowtown history, Gibbston tastings, and a few well-timed adrenaline or beer breaks.

I’d skip it (or at least book with caution) if you’re hoping for a simple, two-way open-ended hop system where you can backtrack freely. The route moves in one direction, and your best experience comes from choosing your must-do stops early.

If you’re flexible, you’ll end up with a day that feels like Queenstown itself: scenic, a little wild, and full of small places you’d never reach on your own.

FAQ

How long is the hop on hop off wine tour from Queenstown?

The tour runs approximately 5 to 7 hours, depending on whether you choose a half-day or full-day ticket.

How often do the buses run for hop on hop off?

Buses run about every 45 minutes, which lets you choose how long to stay at each stop and still catch the next pickup.

Where do I meet the tour, and do I return to the same place?

You start at The Station – Home of Adventure in Queenstown, on the corner of Shotover & Camp Streets (25 Shotover Street). The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

Are wine tastings included in the ticket price?

No. Tastings aren’t included. The tour details also note that tasting fees are often waived with wine purchases at many wineries.

Do I need bookings for everything on the route?

Not for every stop, but some places require bookings, including certain cellar doors/restaurants and activities like AJ Hackett Bungy. You’ll want to check the specific stop times and booking notes before you plan your day.

Does the tour run in any weather?

It requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.