A gin tour with big views and good company. This Queenstown outing strings together three tasting stops, mixes in scenery as you head up through the Crown Range, and keeps things relaxed with education along the way. You’ll try three gin tastings across different venues, not just one place’s menu.

I love the flow: welcome drink at Cardrona, then a food-friendly tasting break in Arrowtown, and a hosted finale at the Gin Garden by Broken Heart Spirits in Arthurs Point. The other thing I like is the comfort factor—an air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi and select hotel pickup makes it easy even if you’re not trying to drive yourself around Queenstown.

One thing to plan around: it’s an afternoon tour and lunch isn’t included, so you’ll want to eat before you go. Also, it needs good weather, so if conditions are poor the operator may adjust dates.

Quick hits before you go

• Three distillery-style experiences in one afternoon, with tastings built into each stop
• Cardrona Distillery starts with a Gin & Tonic welcome and a guided distillery look
• Arrowtown tasting with food, including shared platters and German Tarte Flambées
• Broken Heart Spirits Gin Garden finale with a hosted tasting and brand/flavor context
• Small-group feel (maximum 14 travelers) plus WiFi and air conditioning
• Non-gin drinker options available, so everyone isn’t stuck sipping gin

Price and what you’re really paying for (Queenstown’s $151.85 value)

At $151.85 per person, this tour sits in the mid-to-higher range for Queenstown day activities. The best way to judge value is what’s included, because you’re not just paying for transport—you’re paying for guided tasting time at multiple stops.

What you get bundled in:

• 3 unique spirit tasting experiences
• a Gin & Tonic cocktail as part of the first stop
• shared platters plus German Tarte Flambées
• air-conditioned vehicle + WiFi on board
• select hotel pickup and a mobile ticket

That mix matters. Gin tastings can be pricey when you go one venue at a time, and you’d still need a ride between places. Here, the cost is doing two jobs: it covers the tasting admissions and it stitches together the sightseeing legs.

If you’re the kind of traveler who enjoys learning while tasting—how botanicals are handled, how producers think about flavor—this price can feel fair. If your goal is mostly just a scenic drive with a single drink, you might find it overshoots what you need.

Getting there comfortably: pickup, WiFi, and a small-group vibe

This is set up like a proper afternoon tour, not a “show up and figure it out” situation. You’ll travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi, and there’s select hotel pickup. That’s a big quality-of-life win in Queenstown, where getting around can be more work than it sounds.

Two practical benefits of the small group:

• With a maximum of 14 travelers, it stays social without turning into a factory line.
• You can usually hear the host’s explanation during tastings, instead of shouting across a crowd.

If you hate wasting time, you’ll also like that you don’t need to plan a route yourself. The tour heads from Queenstown toward Cardrona first, then continues on to Arrowtown and finally Arthurs Point.

Stop 1: Cardrona Distillery and the Gin & Tonic welcome (plus the how-it-works lesson)

The first leg is part travel and part prelude. You’ll go up through the Crown Range to Cardrona, with sweeping views across Queenstown and the Gibbston Region along the way. That viewpoint drive is more than decoration—it sets the tone for the tasting afternoon, and it breaks up the day so it doesn’t feel like you’re just hopping from one seated activity to another.

At Cardrona Distillery, the experience starts with a Gin & Tonic waiting for you. Then staff guide you through the distillery with an education-first approach. Even if you’re new to gin, you’ll get a structured sense of how the spirit is made and why different producers end up tasting different.

Why this stop works:

• You begin with a drink that sets the baseline.
• You get a “from the source” explanation, which makes the later tastings easier to compare.
• The pacing is given time—about 1 hour 30 minutes—so it doesn’t feel rushed.

One consideration: since this is the education stop, it’s the part where attention matters. If you go in expecting a purely social tasting with no talking, you may find yourself paying more attention than planned (in a good way, but still).

Stop 2: Arrowtown Winery tasting in a gold-rush town

After Cardrona, you shift to Arrowtown, a historic gold mining village. That change of setting is one reason this tour feels like more than just alcohol hopping. You’re not only tasting; you’re also moving through different local atmospheres.

At the Winery in Arrowtown, you’ll sample three NZ gins. Each tasting is accompanied by tonic or soda, and you’ll also get shared cheese platters. Included with the tour are also German Tarte Flambées, which is a nice balance to gin: savory, shareable, and easy to nibble while you compare flavor notes.

What I like about this stop is the comparison setup. Three gins in one place lets you focus on differences without your brain getting reset by travel between drinks. It’s also a good midpoint for the afternoon—long enough to slow down, short enough to keep momentum.

Potential drawback: because it’s a tasting with food, it can be easy to accidentally take in more alcohol than you planned if you’re snack-happy. If you’re sensitive or you want to stay sharp, pace your pours and lean on the tonic/soda.

Stop 3: Gin Garden by Broken Heart Spirits in Arthurs Point

The last stop takes you to Arthurs Point for the Gin Garden by Broken Heart Spirits. By now, you’re not just tasting—you’re “reading” flavor. You’ll be hosted for a tasting and learn the history behind the brand along with the flavours of multiple gins.

This stop often feels like the most social finish, because you’ve had time to build basic gin literacy. Instead of starting from scratch, you can ask better questions and notice the differences more clearly.

Why ending here makes sense:

• The tour starts with a distillery education, then moves to structured tasting in Arrowtown, then lands on a brand-and-flavor hosted session.
• It gives you closure. You can tell which style you liked most by this point.
• Arthurs Point is a strong way to end in a scenic part of the Queenstown area.

What to watch for: this is the final tasting, so if you plan to do anything else afterward, don’t stack late drinks the same night. Your best move is to treat the tour as your main tasting moment for the day.

Non-gin drinkers and keeping the group happy

One of the smartest things about this tour is that it’s not strictly “everyone must drink gin.” The tour includes alternative options for non-gin drinkers, so you’re not stuck sitting there while everyone else enjoys themselves.

Practically, that means:

• You can still join the tour even if gin isn’t your thing.
• You can focus on the scenery and the social vibe without feeling left out.

Also, the air-conditioned vehicle helps if someone in your group gets tired easily. It’s easier to keep energy up across three stops.

If you’re bringing a friend who usually avoids spirits entirely, confirm their preference when you book, so the operator can match them with the right alternative.

Timing and pacing: what a 6-hour afternoon feels like

The tour runs about 6 hours and starts at 12:30 pm. That makes it a good option if you want one focused activity without blowing your whole day.

A key timing point: lunch is not included. I’d treat that as a non-negotiable. Eat before you join—then enjoy the shared platters and tart flambées as tasting companions, not as your meal.

A typical feel of the day:

• Morning-to-lunch transition: start at 12:30
• Travel plus viewpoints up to Cardrona
• Distillery education and Gin & Tonic welcome (~1.5 hours)
• Arrowtown winery tasting with food (~1 hour)
• Arthurs Point Gin Garden hosted tasting (~1 hour)
• Plus drive time and group transitions through the afternoon

Because the tour is built around alcohol tastings, the schedule is tight enough that you probably won’t be able to wander off at your own pace between stops. If you like independent sightseeing, this is better as your main structured experience rather than a “fill in a gap” activity.

Helicopter Gin Tour upgrade: worth it if you want the wow factor

There’s an optional Helicopter Gin Tour upgrade. It starts with a scenic heli flight and a special gin tasting, and then you join the rest of the group at Cardrona Distillery.

This upgrade makes sense if:

• You want a signature Queenstown moment beyond what a road drive provides.
• You like the idea of getting an extra tasting tied to the flight experience.
• You’re okay with the added cost and the commitment that comes with helicopter time.

If you’re on a tighter budget or you prefer to keep the afternoon simple, you can skip it and still get three tastings plus food plus guided learning.

Who this Queenstown gin tour is best for

This is a strong match if you:

• Want three tasting experiences in one afternoon without planning between locations
• Enjoy learning while you drink, not just drinking for its own sake
• Like small groups and a host-guided schedule
• Want a day activity that feels local and practical

It may be less ideal if you:

• Only want a light snack-and-sip experience
• Need a tour with lots of free time to wander independently
• Are sensitive to alcohol and don’t want tastings (even with non-gin options)

Also note the minimum drinking age is 18. The tour recommends bringing a passport or NZ drivers license, which is smart when you’re doing a tasting-focused activity.

Should you book the Queenstown Gin & Spirits Tasting Tour?

I’d book it if you want an easy, well-paced way to explore Queenstown’s gin scene without doing the logistics yourself. The biggest reasons are straightforward: three distinct tasting stops, food included, and comfort perks like pickup, air conditioning, and WiFi.

If you’re the type who likes comparisons—how botanicals and styles differ across producers—this structure is ideal: welcome drink and education at Cardrona, then a focused three-gin tasting in Arrowtown, then a hosted brand-and-flavor finale at Broken Heart’s Gin Garden.

Just go in with the one key prep item: eat lunch beforehand. Do that, and you’ll get a fun afternoon that mixes views, learning, and tasting in a way that feels worth the money.

FAQ

How long is the Queenstown Gin & Spirits Tasting Tour?

It runs for approximately 6 hours.

What time does the tour start?

The tour start time is 12:30 pm.

Is pickup included?

Yes, there is select hotel pickup, and you’ll travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi.

Is lunch included on this tour?

No. Lunch is not included, so it’s recommended that you have lunch before you join.

What food is included during the tastings?

You’ll get shared platters and German Tarte Flambées, along with a Gin & Tonic cocktail as part of the experience.

Are there options for non-gin drinkers?

Yes. There are alternative options for non-gin drinkers.

What is the minimum drinking age?

The minimum drinking age is 18. The tour also recommends bringing your passport or NZ drivers license.

Can I upgrade to a helicopter experience?

Yes. There’s an option to upgrade to the Helicopter Gin Tour, which includes a scenic heli flight and a special gin tasting before joining the group at Cardrona Distillery.

What happens if I cancel, or the tour is canceled due to weather or low numbers?

You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If the tour is canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. If minimum numbers aren’t met, you’ll be offered an alternative or a full refund.