There are a surprising number of things to do in Gibbston. It’s not all wine!
Located a 30-minute drive from Queenstown, Gibbston (often called Gibbston Valley) is a great place to spend a couple of days exploring.
This post will cover all the Gibbston activities I get up to.
8 THINGS TO DO IN GIBBSTON
1. Have A Blast Canyoning
2. Hiking The Mt Rosa Track
3. Hiking The Glenroy Water Race Track
4. Enjoy A Beer At Cargo Brewery
5. Pop Into The Gibbston Tavern
6. Cycle The Gibbston River Wine Trail
6. 7o The Bungy…Or Watch Others Jump
8. Visit All The Wineries
9. Gibbston Accommodation Options
1. HAVE A BLAST CANYONING
This isn’t the most well-known attraction in Gibbston, but Canyoning New Zealand offers a guided canyoning tour twice a day from November to April. It’s a great half day tour, and if you’ve never been canyoning before it’s a great intro to see if it’s something you’ll get into.
There are three main adrenaline-pumping spots on the tour where you jump, cannonball, and abseil down waterfalls (nothing massive).
This is a hidden gem in Gibbston, and you’ve got the choice to drive to the tour yourself or get picked up in the shuttle.
FIND OUT MIRE INFO WITH THE FULL CANYONING TRIP REPORT
2. HIKING THE MT ROSA TRACK
The Mt Rosa Track is a 13km end-to-end hike (as we did it) that gives you sweeping views of the valley and surroundings. This, like most hikes close to Gibbston, isn’t a super popular track meaning you might well have it all to yourself.
The track is easy to follow and leaves you with ample time to head to the wineries in the afternoon which is handy.
READ THE FULL POST: HIKING THE MT ROSA TRACK
3. HIKING THE GLENROY WATER RACE TRACK
If you’re into history, the hike along the Glenroy Water Race Track might be your perfect cup of tea. There’s not much in terms of signs to tell the history of the water race, but it’s definitely visible. It’s about 4km from the Coal Pit Road car park to the start of the water race which continues on for a couple of kilometres.
For the super keen hikers, you can hike up to Ben Cruachan, or even the Remarkables if you really want. That’s a big day out with upwards of 30km being hiked if you reach the former (return).
READ THE FULL POST: GLENROY WATER RACE TRACK
4. ENJOY A BEER AT CARGO BREWERY
The cellar door is the original Cargo Brewery site, with the second location in Arthur’s Point.
If you’re curious about the building, it started out as a Presbyterian Church in the 1890s South of Dunedin. It has been on the current site since 2000.
Here they have so much space it’s impressive. In the summer all the green space is perfect for some backyard cricket, touch rugby…well any family activity! Grab a beer and a feed here on a warm sunny day as we did. You’ll be chuffed.
And they’ve had a go at growing hops here, a fun change-up from all the vines Gibbston is known for. How fresh can you get hop beer to be?
5. HANG OUT AT THE TAVERN
There’s no shortage of wineries in Gibbston, so if you’re looking for something different, head to the family-owned Gibbston Tavern for a beer and wood-fired pizza (they do have wine too).
In the winter you’ll appreciate warming up by the fire, and in the summer the outdoor seating makes for a fun atmosphere.
There are more food items on the menu, but it definitely errs on the expensive side ($12 for a bowl of hot chips). Beer on the other hand, at $10 a pint is good value.
The tavern has a long history dating back to the 1800s (long by NZ standards) when it was built in the gold rush times.
Definitely put this on your list of places to visit in Gibbston Valley.
6. RIDE THE GIBBSTON RIVER WINE TRAIL
The Gibbston River Wine Trail is a section of the Queenstown Trail and is stunning! This specific goes between the Kawarau Bungy Bridge and ends at the Gibbston Back Road (official page here).
It’s a cruisey trail, though if you’re not used to rolling terrain you may find some of the hills a struggle (that’s what e-bikes are for right 😉 ). I really enjoyed this section of the trail and combined with the Arrow Bridges Trail it’s an epic ride.
And as the name implies, the trail takes you past lots of the wineries and cellar doors in Gibbston.
If you need to hire bikes, you can do that in Gibbston, or you can use one of the various companies based in Queenstown/Arrowtown to help shuttle you (bike hire included) like Around The Basin.
It’s also possible to get from Queenstown to Gibbston by bike following trails.
7. DO THE BUNGY…OR AT LEAST WATCH OTHERS JUMP
A bungy jump in one of the most popular things to do in New Zealand for tourists, but are you willing to jump?
At 43 metres, this is a relatively small jump, but it’s so scenic! And it’s the location of the worlds first commercial bungy jump which is cool. You can do a standard jump, but there’s also the option of doing a tandem jump or ask them to rig it up so you touch the water 😮
It’s right on the highway so if you’re unsure, you can always stop by and watch others jump from the dedicated viewing platform.
This is a popular activity, so it’s best to book in advance which you can do on their website, Klook, or BookMe.co.nz
8. VISIT THE WINERIES
And last but not least, the wineries! This is what Gibbston is fast becoming well known for.
There are lots of wineries in Gibbston Valley, and many offer a cellar door or variation you can visit. The easiest way to visit them from Queenstown is to book a full day tour, or the Hop On Hop Off bus. That way you can enjoy the wine without needing to worry about driving.
Some of the top wineries to put on your list are:
- Gibbston Valley
- Mt Rosa
- Peregrine Wines
9. WHERE TO STAY IN GIBBSTON
AIRBNB OPTIONS
While people are looking for Airbnb alternatives more often, there’s a couple of amazing options here still. The two that are hosted by superhosts that I liked (and won’t blow the budget…too much) are:
BOOKING.COM OPTIONS
There’s only a few options available in Gibbston. The two that jump out at me were Kinross Boutique Vineyard Hotel and Gibbston Valley Lodge & Spa.
CAMPING (TENT)
You can stay in your tent close to Rum Currie’s Hut at the end of Rafter’s Road (see this map). Note: you cannot stay in the hut.
FREEDOM CAMPING
There’s no freedom camping spot in Queenstown itself, so you’ll often find people in self-contained vehicles at the Kawarau Bungy Jump car park. You can stay there from 5 pm – 9 am for a maximum of four consecutive nights.
And there you go. I remember the first time I drove past Gibbston, I never thought there’d be so many great things to do in Gibbston…boy was I wrong.
If you have any questions about the best things to do in Gibbston or any other related topic, please email jub@churnewzealand.com.
Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.