Cruise and Wine Tour

NZ$349 per adult

6 hours

11:00am - 5:00pm

Premium Vineyards

Enjoy a leisurely 90 minute scenic cruise on the 114 year old, coal fired vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw

Begin your day with a relaxing Queenstown scenic cruise aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw, a 114-year-old coal-fired vintage steamship departing from Queenstown waterfront. This 90-minute return journey travels across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm (without disembarking), offering spectacular alpine and lake views along the way. Onboard, guests can watch the traditional coal shoveling process that powers the vessel or explore the small onboard museum featuring historic photographs that tell the story of this iconic ship.

Guests may also choose to enjoy lunch onboard at the Promenade Café and Bar, offering café-style dining at their own expense. Please note that lunch is not included in the wine tour portion of the day and must be purchased separately during the cruise if desired.

From Cruise to Wine Country

After returning to Steamer Wharf, your friendly wine guide will meet you for the afternoon experience. From there, you'll travel into Central Otago’s world-class wine region for a guided wine tasting tour in Queenstown and Gibbston Valley. As a result, you'll experience two of the region's most popular attractions in one seamless day.

Premium Wine Tastings & Vineyard Visits

The afternoon includes visits to three carefully selected Central Otago vineyards, including a guided tour of New Zealand’s largest underground wine cave at Gibbston Valley Winery. You will enjoy premium wine tastings showcasing the region’s most celebrated varietals, along with a shared cheeseboard served during one of the tasting experiences.

Throughout the afternoon, your expert wine guide provides engaging commentary on the history and development of Central Otago wine, from its early beginnings as a small-scale grape-growing region to its reputation today as one of the world’s leading Pinot Noir destinations. This combination of storytelling, scenery, and premium tastings creates a standout Queenstown wine tasting experience.

Please note: The TSS Earnslaw will be out of operation for scheduled annual maintenance from May 18th to June 26th. This cruise and wine tour will not be available during this time. Our Classic Wine Tour will continue to operate as normal.

Inclusions

Boarding ticket for the 11am TSS Earnslaw cruise
Enjoy tastings at 3 premium vineyards
Cheeseboard to accompany a wine tasting
Guided tour through Gibbston Valley Winery's underground wine cave
Full running commentary on wine, sights and early history of the region
View the historic Kawarau Bridge and AJ Hackett Bungy
NZD $349 per adult
NZS $160 per child - 6 -17 years

Multi Award Winning Wine Tours

Don't just take our word for it! Our reviews speak for themselves...

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 1485 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Lisa F 
 25 September 2026
 
 
 Verified Great experience great tour guide
I thought our tour guide TAIMI was terrific and would thoroughly recommend this tour
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Adam F 
 24 September 2026
 
 
 Verified Great experience
Paul was an awesome driver and the wineries were great. Would definitely go again.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Ashley L 
 22 September 2026
 
 
 Verified Beautiful Day Out
This was a lovely day out with some stunning additional scenic stops. Great wineries and a delicious lunch. Our guide, John was knowledgeable and fun. Being a small group was nice, as you could meet and chat to other travellers
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Justin S 
 21 September 2026
 
 
 Verified Great private wine tour from Queenstown. Highly recommended!
We had a great wine tour with our guide John. The 3 wineries and tastings at each were superb, especially the cave tasting at the last stop. And John showed us the original bungy bridge along the way which inspired my fiancé to take the plunge and try it the next day. (When I asked her if interested upon arrival in Queenstown she said “no way in h3ll am I bungy jumping!!” lol). Great tour and John was so much fun and easy to talk to. Would recommend this to anyone visiting Queenstown interested in a half day tour!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Karen 
 18 September 2026
 
 
 Verified Take this tour
Excellent guide, very knowledgeable and personable.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   s8e046a7e183f4cba710 
 18 September 2026
 
 
 Verified Highly Recommend
Great tour with great wine and food! Comfortable bus to get around and very informative tour guide. Pick up was great right from our hotel so no stress and dropped back there.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   shereen e 
 16 September 2026
 
 
 Verified Sensational winery experience
Wonderful day! The tour guide/bus driver was amazing! Wineries were fantastic and so was the lunch.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Peter L 
 16 September 2026
 
 
 Verified Exceptional
What a fabulous guide. So knowledgable and friendly
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Alexia H 
 15 September 2026
 
 
 Verified Super great
Super fun day & great value for money!! Taimi was an incredible tour guide
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   alexalemon 
 15 September 2026
 
 
 Verified Perfect day of adventure & indulgence
We had an excellent time on the zip & sip tour with our zip line guides (Ben & Ben) and our wine tour host, John. We loved the small wineries John took us to. He was very knowledgeable of the area and the wine we were tasting. He even took us to a surprise viewpoint during golden hour to capture sunset. I would recommend this package to any traveler who is looking for a morning of adventure and an afternoon of indulgence.

More about our Combo Wine Tours...

There is a lot to see and do in Queenstown but, to save you time, money and hassle, we have teamed up with some of Queenstown’s most popular activities to offer you a variety of cost-effective daily combination wine tours.

For every combo wine tour, we will collect you from your activity and drop you back to your accommodation at the end of your wine tour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do tours depart from and how does pick-up work?

All tours include complimentary hotel pickups from central Queenstown hotels. If you are staying outside central Queenstown or in alternative accommodation, we can usually arrange a pickup for you.

Please select your hotel from the dropdown menu when booking. If your accommodation is not listed or you are unsure, simply note where you are staying in the booking notes and we will confirm your pickup location and time with you.

How many people are on each tour?

We keep our daily tours to a maximum of 12 adults to ensure a personalised and interactive experience. If you have a larger group or would like a private tour, we can accommodate almost any size. Just send us your details through the enquiry form.

Do you have a minimum number of people needed for your tours?

While our tours require a minimum of 2 people to run, single travellers are generally welcome, as there are usually other guests booked on the tour.

Are children welcome on our tours?

Children aged 6-17 are welcome on our daily wine tours. Children of any age can join our Queenstown Highlights Tour, while those aged 5 or under are welcome on private tours.

Can you buy wine and do vineyards offer shipping?

Yes – all vineyards offer shipping, though availability depends on the destination country. Each vineyard will run through these options at the end of your tasting. If there is a particular wine you are interested in trying or purchasing, please let us know when booking.

What is included in our tours?

Our tours are all inclusive, with food, transport and wine tastings at each winery included in the price. You are more then welcome to purchase any favourite wines during the tour to take home or have shipped to your address.

Which wine regions and vineyards do Appellation Wine Tours visit?

We believe that to truly experience Central Otago wine, you need to go beyond the Gibbston Valley.
Appellation Wine Tours specialises in exploring Central Otago’s most celebrated wine sub-regions, including:

• Gibbston Valley (Valley of the Vines): home to pioneering vineyards and dramatic scenery.
• Bannockburn: renowned for its concentrated yet elegant Pinot Noir.
• Cromwell/Lowburn: known for beautifully balanced aromatic wines and outstanding Chardonnay.

To gain a genuine “Central Otago” experience, we believe it’s essential to venture into the Bannockburn and Cromwell regions and tastes their award-winning varietals.

Our Gourmet Food and Wine Tour and Boutique Wine Tour both visit the Gibbston wine sub-region (approximately 25 minutes from Queenstown) and the Bannockburn/Cromwell

Wine sub-regions (a further 25 minutes through the stunning Kawarau Gorge).

Our Classic Wine Tour focuses solely on the Gibbston Valley, visiting a carefully curated mix of larger, well-known wineries and smaller, family-run boutique vineyards.

Each sub-region has its own microclimate and story. We hand-select vineyards known for quality, warm hospitality, and distinctive winemaking philosophies. Expect a mix of iconic estates and hidden gems that give you a true taste of Central Otago.

What vineyards do you visit?

We like to vary our vineyard visits from day to day, however some vineyards are exclusive to specific tours. Below is a selection of vineyards that may be visited on each tour, but please feel free to mention any preferences in the notes section when booking.

Gourmet Food and Wine Tour
Gibbston Valley Winery, Mt Rosa, Waitiri Creek, Brennan, Domain Rd, Terra Sancta, Te Kano, Carrick (tasting only), Akarua, Mt Difficulty, Misha's Vineyard, Domaine Thompson, The Stoaker Room (lunch venue), The Church.

Boutique Wine Tour
Peregrine, Amisfield, Chard Farm, Kinross, Mt Rosa, Waitiri Creek, Brennan, Matt Dicey, Terra Sancta, Te Kano, Carrick (lunch venue), Akarua, Mt Difficulty, Misha's Vineyard, Domaine Thompson, The Church.

Classic Wine Tour
Gibbston Valley Winery, Mt Rosa, Waitiri Creek, Brennan, Amisfield, Peregrine, The Church.