Central Otago Wine Country by Campervan: Gibbston, Bannockburn and Cromwell

Quick summary: Central Otago is the world’s southernmost major wine region, famous for Pinot Noir grown among dramatic schist mountains and river gorges. For campervan and motorhome travellers, it’s right on the doorstep of Queenstown: the Gibbston Valley is around 25 km away through the Kawarau Gorge, and the vineyards of Bannockburn and Cromwell are around an hour’s drive. Park up in Queenstown, Arrowtown or Cromwell, and taste on a tour or by bike along the river trails.

At a glance
Where	Inland from Queenstown, around Gibbston, Cromwell and Bannockburn
From Queenstown	Gibbston around 25 km; Cromwell around 60 km
Signature wine	Pinot Noir, with Pinot Gris, Riesling and Chardonnay
Landscape	Schist mountains, river gorges and dry, golden hills
Best way to taste	A tour from Queenstown, or a bike on the Gibbston River Trail
Tours	Queenstown wine tours

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Why is Central Otago so special for wine?

Because of its extreme climate and landscape. Hot, dry summers, cold winters, big differences between day and night temperatures, and the mountain backdrop combine to produce intensely flavoured Pinot Noir. The vineyards are among the most scenic in the world, with rows of vines climbing rocky hillsides beneath snow-capped peaks.

What are the main wine areas?

Area	Location	Character
Gibbston Valley	Kawarau Gorge, around 25 km from Queenstown	A narrow valley of vines between steep mountains, with the coolest sites in the region
Bannockburn	Just south of Cromwell	Warm, dry slopes above the river, historic gold-mining sluicings
Cromwell Basin and Bendigo	Around Lake Dunstan	Hot sites producing rich Pinot Noir
Alexandra and Clyde	Further east	The southernmost vineyards, among dry schist country

How do you taste Central Otago’s wines without driving?

• Take a tour from Queenstown. Many wine tours collect from Queenstown and Arrowtown accommodation and visit Gibbston and Bannockburn, often with lunch.
• Cycle the Gibbston River Trail, which follows the Kawarau River past several cellar doors, with bike hire and shuttles available.
• Stay in Cromwell and take a local tour of Bannockburn and the Cromwell Basin.
• Visit a wine cave carved into the hillside, a Gibbston speciality.

Browse Queenstown wine tours, and see our guide to cycling wine trails.

Is it easy to park a large RV at Gibbston cellar doors?

Some cellar doors have room, but many sit just off State Highway 6 in the gorge, where turning in and out of driveways needs care and car parks can fill up. Since you won’t be driving after tasting anyway, it’s easier to stay in Queenstown, Arrowtown or a campground near Gibbston and join a tour. If you do stop at a cellar door to buy wine, choose one with a large car park and allow plenty of space for turning.

What else is there to do?

• The Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge, where commercial bungy jumping began, right beside the Gibbston Valley.
• Arrowtown, a historic gold-rush village with tree-lined streets and a restored Chinese settlement.
• Old Cromwell Town, a heritage precinct of rescued gold-rush buildings on the shore of Lake Dunstan.
• Roadside fruit stalls around Cromwell, selling cherries, apricots and other stone fruit in summer.
• The Otago Central Rail Trail, starting near Clyde.

Where can you stay?

• Holiday parks in Queenstown, Arrowtown, Cromwell and Alexandra.
• Campgrounds close to Gibbston and on the shores of Lake Dunstan.
• Vineyard stays at some wineries for self-contained vehicles, by arrangement.
• Freedom camping is limited, for certified self-contained vehicles, and only where Queenstown Lakes or Central Otago district councils permit it.

Where does the trip go next?

• North to Wānaka, around 55 km from Cromwell. See Wānaka by campervan.
• A loop of the region: see our Central Otago wine loop.
• The wider region: see our sister site’s Central Otago route.

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Frequently Asked Questions