About this tour
When Mia from our BugBitten team booked this combo, she got the full Queenstown scenic experience: a 90-minute steam up Lake Wakatipu on the historic TSS Earnslaw, then an afternoon hitting three Gibbston wineries. The vibe is relaxed and touristy in the best way — you're on a proper heritage ship (111 years old, coal-fired, the real deal), coasting past mountain peaks and the Earnslaw's working farm on the far shore. Then it's wine tasting, underground caves, and cheese boards with folks keen to chat about their travels. The whole thing runs about five hours. Note: the ship goes in for maintenance mid-May through late June each year, so plan around that.
Highlights
- Coal-fired steamship with working farm views, proper heritage vibes
- Underground wine cave at Gibbston — genuinely impressive scale and cool temperature
- Three winery tastings plus cheeseboard in one afternoon, no rushing
- Lake Wakatipu scenery from the water, mountains framing every angle
- Mix of tourists and locals, easy conversations at tasting tables
- Accessible for most fitness levels — minimal steep walking required
- 11am departure gives flexibility before the afternoon wine portion kicks in
What to expect
You'll start at Queenstown waterfront for the 11am cruise. The TSS Earnslaw is a proper ship — not a speedboat — so expect a calm, scenic 90-minute float up the lake. The vibe is leisurely; plenty of people grab a coffee or stand on deck soaking in the Remarkables and Cecil Peak. You'll cruise past Walter Peak High Country Farm but stay aboard (no farm visit included). Once back on land, there's a buffer before your winery portion, so you can grab lunch or wander the Queenstown strip if you want.
The afternoon is a guided wine run through Gibbston. Mia found the underground cave at Gibbston Valley genuinely cool — it's carved into the rock and keeps the temperature perfect for storing wine. You'll taste at three different spots, and a cheeseboard comes with one of the tastings. The crew is chatty, the wines are decent, and the region's got a real working-winery feel, not just tourist flash. Pacing is relaxed; you're not rushing between stops.
What travellers say
- Genuine heritage steamship experience, not a modern tourist gimmick
- Underground wine cave genuinely impressive and worth the visit alone
- Cheeseboard included, cuts down on hidden meal costs mid-tour
- Relaxed pacing suits a civilised afternoon without stress
- Scenic lake and mountain views from the water, proper Queenstown vibe
- Accessible for most fitness levels, no extreme walking or climbing
- Ship closed mid-May to late June annually for maintenance schedules
- Peak-season crowds on coach and at wineries, not intimate
- Early 11am departure may not suit late-sleeping travellers
- Introductory wine tastings may disappoint serious collectors or enthusiasts
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This nails the "I want iconic NZ sights plus wine knowledge" brief. The Earnslaw is a genuine heritage experience, not a theme-park fake. Gibbston Valley's underground cave is worth the trip on its own — proper engineering, cool story. The combo means you get a morning scenic highlight and an afternoon tasting without booking two separate tours. Suits anyone after a civilised day out; no extreme fitness needed. Service animals are welcome.
The ship goes offline for maintenance from mid-May to late June, so don't assume it's running year-round. The tour is popular, so expect a coach full of tourists, especially in peak season (December–February). The 11am start is early for some travellers. Gibbston wineries can feel a bit group-heavy during peak hours. If you're a serious wine collector, you might find the tastings a bit introductory. Bring layers (lake winds pick up) and sunscreen. The cheeseboard is small — lunch-sized meal options are on you. Group sizes vary; you'll be on a coach with 20–40 others. Peak times are summer and autumn (December–April). Public transport exists nearby if you don't hire a car.
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.