This post is about how to get to Gibbston from Queenstown.
There are lots of things to do in Gibbston but given the wineries are one of the popular attractions, driving isn’t always practical.
This post will give you all the transport options from Queenstown to Gibbston Valley.
How far is Gibbston from Queenstown?
23km following Frankton Road or 30km if you go via Arrowtown. The Frankton Road route is usually the fastest if you’re driving, taking about 25 – 30 minutes to get there. But if you leave during rush hour, you might be faster to go via Arrowtown (35 minutes).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Drive
2. Organised tours
3. Hop On Hop Off Bus
4. Bike
5. Hitchhike
HOW TO GET TO GIBBSTON FROM QUEENSTOWN
1. THE QUEENSTOWN TO GIBBSTON DRIVE
The drive from Queenstown to Gibbston via Frankton is straightforward. It’s the same road you take to get from Queenstown to Cromwell.
You follow State Highway 6 all the way (past Frankton). The traffic can be a bit slow at times between Queenstown and Lake Hayes during rush hour.
Ideally, it won’t take more than 30 minutes and most of the wineries/cellar doors/attractions have lots of parking space available.
If you’re planning to combine a short visit to do some things in Arrowtown, the detour only adds a little bit more time, and you get to skip all the traffic around Frankton too. You could even consider stopping in at Arthurs Point.
2. ORGANISED TOURS/ACTIVITIES
There are lots of day trips from Queenstown to Gibbston you can do, whether that’s to experience the wineries or a couple of the other activities in Gibbston that offer transport from Queenstown.
Here are a few options:
3. HOP ON HOP OFF BUS
The Hop On Hop Off Wine Tour bus is a familiar sight around Queenstown as they drive a loop picking up and dropping off passengers who’ve booked a ticket to explore several of the 22 locations. Nine of them are in Gibbston Valley, meaning you can visit several of the wineries, and bungy jump there. You might want to include a stop in Arrowtown too.
They’ve got a few different packages you can book. Make sure to read through each option to get the best one for your situation…
You can book the bus on:
4. BIKE TO GIBBSTON
Thanks to the amazing Queenstown trail network, it’s possible to ride from Queenstown to Gibbston by bike with just the smallest sections of road. It’s a decent bike ride to get out there in terms of distance, but there are some really stunning sections!
From Queenstown you’ll cycle on a few separate sections of trails:
- Frankton Track & Kelvin Peninsula Trail
- Twin Rivers Trail
- Arrow River Bridges Trail
You can see the route on Google Maps here, but the trail is well signposted.
The Queenstown Trail website mentions the ride time is 6-8 hours, but if you’ve got some good legs in you and want to spend the day in Gibbston, you can get there in 2 to 2.5 hours comfortably…and an e-bike never hurt.
After spending the day in Gibbston, you can either ride back or book a ride back with a company.
5. HITCHHIKING TO GIBBSTON
It’s easy enough to hitchhike from Queenstown to Gibbston, but to get there, it’s easiest to catch a bus (it’s only $2 with a Bee Card) outside of town to a hitchhiking spot that’ll make the rest of the journey a breeze.
Catch the #2 Arrowtown Bus to this bus stop, and then stand about halfway up the hill opposite Hayes View Lane where cars have lots of time to see you.
If you’re someone who prefers to ride with a sign, Gibbston will get you there soon enough. Otherwise, if you’re like me and never use a sign while hitchhiking in NZ, you may need to get a second ride after getting a drop-off at the turn off to the Crown Range.
You can check out more about the Queenstown buses here.
If you have any questions about how to get from Queenstown to Gibbston leave a comment below or email me jub@churnewzealand.com
RECOMMENDED READING
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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.