The 7 Food Tours in Queenstown That Go Early

1.Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,713 reviews · 3h 30m · from $95Our pick

Cruise from Queenstown to Walter Peak on the TSS Earnslaw steamship or Spirit of Queenstown. Enjoy a generous local BBQ buffet, gardens beside Lake Whakatipu, and a lively farm show with sheep shearing and working dogs. Presenters and dogs vary, with past shows featuring Pete, Josh, Joe, Echo, Mia, and Kim.

“The gourmet BBQ was insane! So much food available and lots of different cuisines to choose from. Highly recommend. ☺️ Staff were all lovely too.”

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2.Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,196 reviews · from $98Top rated

Take a 3.5-hour round trip from Queenstown to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Cruise aboard the vintage TSS Earnslaw when scheduled, enjoy a chef-prepared BBQ buffet, then watch sheep shearing and sheepdog demonstrations before returning across Lake Wakatipu.

“The lake view during the cruise was quite beautiful, and the BBQ lunch was nice! They got all kinds of meat, so don’t miss it if you are a meat lover!”

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3.Gourmet Food and Wine Tour Queenstown All-Inclusive Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 332 reviews · from $204

Spend about six and a half hours touring Central Otago from Queenstown with Appellation Wine Tours. You’ll visit four wineries across Gibbston, Bannockburn, and Cromwell, taste wine in Gibbston Valley’s cave, enjoy five lunch courses cooked in retired oak barrels, and finish with cheese and wine. Guides such as John, Lindsay, Al, and Craig add local stories along the way.

“This wine tour was one of the highlights of our trip! Our guide Martin was very knowledgeable and a fantastic guide. The wine and food was 10/10. Would highly recommend this tour as a must to anyone. Thanks for a great day!”

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4.Wine & Food Tour, Scenic Tastings & Paired Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 276 reviews · from $132

Spend 5.5 hours touring three Gibbston wineries from Queenstown, with hosted tastings, a main course paired with estate wine, and stories from guides such as T, Ed, Angus, Andrew, and Claire. Expect a small-group feel, scenic drives, boutique cellar doors, and possibly a wine cave at Gibbston Valley.

“Brilliant day with a very competent and entertaining guide! Would highly recommend .”

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5.Queenstown Wine & Food Tour: Scenery, Tastings & Delicious Lunch!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 257 reviews · from $154

Travel from Queenstown through Kawarau Gorge to Gibbston Valley, Mt Rosa Wines, and Kinross. You’ll taste estate wines at three wineries, visit New Zealand’s largest underground wine cave, and choose a wine-paired main course. Guides such as Claire, Blake, T, and Andrew add local stories and lively commentary.

“Great fun, well planned and executed. Well worth the time. Showed up on time, everything went off as planned. Thank you”

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6.Queenstown Classic Wine Tour: 3 Winery Visits, Cave Tour & Cheese

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 207 reviews · from $148

From Queenstown, join a small-group afternoon tour to Kinross, Gibbston Valley, and Mt Rosa. You’ll taste wines at three cellar doors, tour New Zealand’s largest underground wine cave, enjoy a cheeseboard, and pass the Kawarau Bridge. Guides such as Paul, John, Kate, and Phil add local color and practical wine insight.

“We had a fantastic time on the wine tour, made even better by our amazing guide, Paul. He was incredibly friendly, engaging, and truly knew his stuff—sharing great insights without ever making it feel overwhelming. Each of the three wiRead more”

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7.Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Lunch and Wine Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 83 reviews · 6h 30m · from $196

Spend 6.5 hours tasting premium Central Otago wines across Gibbston, Cromwell, and Bannockburn. Visit Australasia’s largest wine cave, enjoy five lunch dishes matched with wine, sample local cheese, and stop in Arrowtown and Old Cromwell with a guide such as Lindsay, John, or Paul.

“Great wine tasting tour with a great guide, Julianna.”

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