About this tour
When Tom from our team took this convertible picnic tour, we found it a genuinely relaxed way to see Queenstown's best bits without the usual tour-group hustle. You're driven in a BMW 330D convertible with the roof down through four scenic stops — Lake Hayes, Arrowtown, Arthur's Point, and Wakatipu Heights — with a lakeside picnic spread halfway through. It's pitched as a couples' or small-group experience, and the whole thing runs just under two hours. The landscape around Queenstown is dramatic (think golden hills, river valleys, jet-boat energy), and doing it at convertible pace rather than coach speed genuinely changes how you take it in.
Highlights
- Roof-down drive through golden Wakatipu Basin with Shotover River views
- Picnic by Lake Hayes with blankets, local cheeses, fresh fruit, chocolates
- Arthur's Point stop to watch Shotover Jets roaring beneath Edith Cavell Bridge
- Arrowtown village browse — charming, walkable, autumn colours if you time it right
- Driver knows the photo spots; Wakatipu Heights delivers classic postcard angles
- Intimate two-person group; no megabus feel or rigid schedule pressure
- BMW convertible comfort — proper seats, heating, wind management that works
What to expect
Tom's drive started in central Queenstown and headed north-west toward Lake Hayes, where the convertible pulled up to a prepared picnic spot. The food is genuinely well-curated — good bread, local meats, fresh fruit, proper chocolate — not a sad sandwich situation. You get about 30 minutes to eat, chat, and breathe in the alpine air without rushing. Then it's back in the car for Arrowtown, a photogenic old gold-rush village where you can wander the main street or stay put if you prefer. The drive to Arthur's Point is where the tour earns its stripes: you stop above the Shotover Gorge just as jet boats rocket past below, which is properly thrilling. Last stop is Wakatipu Heights, a high point with panoramic views that explain why every second photographer in Queenstown is up there. The pacing is leisurely — this isn't a tick-box sprint.
What travellers say
- Convertible experience changes how you see the landscape versus a coach
- Picnic quality is genuine — curated foods, lake views, no skimping
- Four stops hit the iconic shots without feeling rushed or ticking boxes
- Driver knows the area; commentary is local knowledge, not script
- Intimate two-person groups avoid megabus anonymity and rigid timing
- Weather-dependent; wind and cold can undercut the romance quickly
- Arrowtown stop is short; serious shoppers or hikers will feel squeezed
- Not accessible for mobility issues or late-pregnancy travellers
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This works brilliantly for couples or anyone who wants scenic driving without being herded. The picnic isn't fancy but it's fresh and thoughtful. Convertible driving in clear weather is undeniably fun. The stops are genuinely beautiful, and the Shotover jet-boat moment is worth the tour alone. Photography buffs will get proper value from Wakatipu Heights.
Wind and cold can bite if the weather turns — bring a jacket even on sunny days. Not recommended if you're pregnant (tour operator's note). The tour assumes you're happy being driven; if you want to walk or explore deeply, two hours is tight. Arrowtown can get busy with other tours mid-afternoon. Peak Queenstown season (Dec–Feb, July school holidays) means other traffic on the roads.
Warm blankets are provided. Picnic is included. Group of two (couple-focused pricing). Bring sunscreen and a camera. Arrive central Queenstown 10 mins early. Not wheelchair-accessible (low convertible, no modifications). Public buses run nearby if you need alternatives.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.