The Gibbston Valley from Arrowtown by Campervan: Cellar Doors 20 Minutes Away

Quick summary: The Gibbston Valley, the “valley of vines”, is Arrowtown’s closest wine country and one of its best day trips for campervan travellers. Around 20 km away, the narrow valley of the Kawarau River is lined with vineyards and cellar doors beneath steep schist mountains, known for elegant Pinot Noir. Leave the campervan or motorhome at Arrowtown’s holiday park and reach the wineries on a tour that collects you, or by bike on the river trails.

At a glance
Where	The Kawarau Gorge, on State Highway 6 between Queenstown and Cromwell
From Arrowtown	Around 20 km, about 20 minutes
Signature wine	Pinot Noir
Best ways to visit	A wine tour with pickup, or by bike
Also there	The Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge, wine caves, vineyard restaurants
Tours	Gibbston Valley tours, wine tours

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What makes the Gibbston Valley special?

Its setting and its climate. The valley is a narrow strip of flat land between the Kawarau River and the mountains, making it the coolest and highest of Central Otago’s wine areas. The cool conditions produce Pinot Noir with a delicate, perfumed style, along with crisp whites. Vineyard restaurants and wine caves carved into the hillside add to the experience.

How do you visit Gibbston without driving?

Option	How it works
Wine tour from Arrowtown	Collects from your accommodation and visits several cellar doors, often with lunch
Bike and wine	Ride the Arrow River Bridges and Gibbston River trails, with a shuttle back
Private tour	Choose your own wineries and timing
Shuttle or taxi	To a single winery restaurant for lunch

Browse Gibbston Valley tours and wine tours, and see bike and wine to Gibbston.

What else is there in the valley?

• The Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge, at the western entrance to the valley, where commercial bungy jumping began. Watch from the viewing platform, or jump.
• Wine caves, where some wineries store their barrels in tunnels cut into the hillside, with tours and tastings inside.
• The Gibbston River Trail, a riverside cycle and walking path linking the cellar doors.
• Cheese and local produce, sold at some cellar doors.

Can you stop at a Gibbston cellar door in an RV on the way through?

You can stop to buy wine, but don’t taste and drive. Some wineries have large car parks with room for campervans; others sit on narrow driveways off the highway. If you’re passing through on the way to Cromwell, choose a winery with easy access, buy a few bottles to enjoy later, and save the tasting for a tour day.

How long should you spend?

Half a day covers two or three cellar doors and lunch, while a full day allows a bike ride, more tastings and a visit to the bungy bridge. Combine it with a night in Arrowtown either side.

Where can you learn more about Central Otago wine?

See our sister site’s Central Otago and Gibbston guide, which covers Bannockburn, Cromwell and Wānaka, too.

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Frequently Asked Questions