Private Heli and Wine Tour

Take to the skies for the most spectacular way to get around the stunning vineyards of Central Otago!

Private Heli and Wine Tour

$
From NZ$1110 per adult


5 hours

10:30am – 3:30pm

3

Premium Locations

Take to the skies and explore the dramatic mountain ridges of the Southern Alps, then tantalise your taste buds by tasting your way through the world’s southernmost wine producing region.

Discover one of New Zealand’s most spectacular wine regions with a premium Queenstown helicopter and wine tasting tour, combining luxury air travel with world-class Central Otago wine experiences. This exclusive journey begins with a scenic helicopter flight over the dramatic landscapes of the Gibbston Valley, offering a unique perspective of the world’s southernmost wine-producing region and its rugged alpine terrain.

Guests are collected from their Queenstown accommodation and transferred to the helicopter base. The 30-minute scenic flight includes a 10-minute alpine landing on The Remarkables, giving you the opportunity to capture breathtaking panoramic views across the Southern Alps and surrounding valleys. This unforgettable aerial experience highlights the scale, geography, and beauty of Central Otago’s wine region.

Upon landing, your expert Appellation wine guide will meet you at a vineyard in the Gibbston Valley, where your wine tasting experience begins. After your first tasting, the journey continues by luxury vehicle into the heart of the region, allowing you to explore additional wineries in comfort while enjoying informative commentary on the wines, landscape, and history.

The experience includes a relaxed à la carte lunch at a premium vineyard restaurant in Bannockburn or Cromwell, showcasing locally sourced cuisine paired with exceptional wines. Guests will also enjoy tastings at two additional premium vineyards, providing a well-rounded and indulgent Queenstown wine tour experience.

With flexible start times and fully private arrangements, this luxury helicopter wine tour in Queenstown can be customised to suit your preferences, including the option to add further activities or sightseeing. Complimentary pick-up and drop-off from any local hotel or accommodation is included, ensuring a seamless and personalised experience from start to finish.

Simply enquire with your preferred dates and interests, and our team will create a tailored itinerary designed to deliver the ultimate Central Otago wine and helicopter experience.

Special Offer!

Save $20 with promo code "APPELLATION" when booking direct.
Book a tour online
Click here for T & C's

Inclusions

  • Return hotel transfers in a luxury vehicle
  • 30-minute helicopter ride including an alpine landing 
  • Taste a range of wines at 3 premium vineyards
  • Visit Gibbston and Bannockburn wine sub-regions
  • À la carte lunch and glass of premium wine at Mt Difficulty winery (or similar)
  • Array of sightseeing and photograph opportunities
  • Specialist Wine Guide with fascinating commentary on wine, local sights and early history of Central Otago
  • Stunning drive through the rugged Kawarau Gorge viewing AJ Hackett bungy bridge

Multi Award Winning Wine Tours

Don't just take our word for it! Our reviews speak for themselves...
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Lisa F profile picture
Lisa F
25 September 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Great experience great tour guide I thought our tour guide TAIMI was terrific and would thoroughly recommend this tour
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Adam F profile picture
Adam F
24 September 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Great experience Paul was an awesome driver and the wineries were great. Would definitely go again.
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Ashley L profile picture
Ashley L
22 September 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
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 Tripadvisor
Justin S profile picture
Justin S
21 September 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
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 Tripadvisor
Karen profile picture
Karen
18 September 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Take this tour Excellent guide, very knowledgeable and personable.
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
s8e046a7e183f4cba710 profile picture
s8e046a7e183f4cba710
18 September 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
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 Tripadvisor
shereen e profile picture
shereen e
16 September 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Sensational winery experience Wonderful day! The tour guide/bus driver was amazing! Wineries were fantastic and so was the lunch.
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Peter L profile picture
Peter L
16 September 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Exceptional What a fabulous guide. So knowledgable and friendly
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Alexia H profile picture
Alexia H
15 September 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Super great Super fun day & great value for money!! Taimi was an incredible tour guide
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
alexalemon profile picture
alexalemon
15 September 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
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 Private Wine Tours...

If you are the more discerning wine lover, or would simply prefer the flexibility of a private tour, then together we can customise your Central Otago wine experience. Join one of our senior wine guides on a wine tasting journey to some of New Zealand’s most memorable vineyards, at your own pace.

Our local knowledge and familiarity with the vineyards of Central Otago is at your disposal for an intimate half or full day’s wine experience in a thriving wine region. Let us custom design your wine touring experience, or alternatively, let us know where you would like to visit and we will arrange this all for you.

Our private wine tours below are designed for 2-9 guests. If your group is more than this, you might like to check out our Custom Wine & Bespoke Tours for custom tours or, otherwise all of our Daily Wine Tours can be run privately for groups.

Lastly, we know our region well, and include visits to any sub-region. Wanaka is a popular destination to visit and we can easily combine activities, lunch and vineyard visits on private tours. Please make an enquiry with your dream tour and let us do the rest!

Frequently Asked Questions

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

More Private Wine Tours...

map-markerclockthumbs-upchevron-down