Guidebook for Gibbston
Aosta & Little Aosta
Aosta is superb fine dining Italian while Little Aosta located next door is a trattoria-style restaurant. Both are off the charts and hugely popular so book well in advance
This is a hugely popular cafe for good reason - they serve excellent coffee and some of the tastiest food you will find in the area. An excellent choice for breakfast or lunch.
90 locals recommend
The Chop Shop
Arrow LaneThis is a hugely popular cafe for good reason - they serve excellent coffee and some of the tastiest food you will find in the area. An excellent choice for breakfast or lunch.
In our opinion this is the best restaurant in the Queenstown area. They serve superb tapas and have a wide range of very good wines. Book in advance as it is extremely popular.
75 locals recommend
La Rumbla
54 Buckingham StIn our opinion this is the best restaurant in the Queenstown area. They serve superb tapas and have a wide range of very good wines. Book in advance as it is extremely popular.
Hands down best tacos in New Zealand. I am not sure what they put in the sauces but they sure add zing to the various tacos they have on offer (fish, lamb, beef).
This is a great option if you are looking for a quick, healthy, reasonably priced meal
31 locals recommend
Taco Medic Searle Lane
3 Searle LnHands down best tacos in New Zealand. I am not sure what they put in the sauces but they sure add zing to the various tacos they have on offer (fish, lamb, beef).
This is a great option if you are looking for a quick, healthy, reasonably priced meal
Another Arrowtown establishment, Akarua rates in the top two or three restaurants here serving very good breakfast and lunch options.
Try a glass of Akarua Rose Sparkling.
They have a large outdoor garden area and wine tasting area -there is also a small playground for children.
66 locals recommend
Akarua Wines & kitchen by Artisan
265 Arrowtown-Lake Hayes RdAnother Arrowtown establishment, Akarua rates in the top two or three restaurants here serving very good breakfast and lunch options.
Try a glass of Akarua Rose Sparkling.
They have a large outdoor garden area and wine tasting area -there is also a small playground for children.
Kinross Bistro acts as cellar door for some of the best vineyards in the Gibbston area so is an excellent choice for a wine tasting session. They also have superb food (our favourites include the fresh pasta, blue cheese pizza, and world class crispy shoestring fries that are seasoned with truffle oil!)
They have an expansive outdoor seating area where you can kick back on a sunny day.
The bistro is less than a kilometre from Cottage 1888 so within walking distance if you indulge...
7 locals recommend
Kinross Cottages
2300 Gibbston ValleyKinross Bistro acts as cellar door for some of the best vineyards in the Gibbston area so is an excellent choice for a wine tasting session. They also have superb food (our favourites include the fresh pasta, blue cheese pizza, and world class crispy shoestring fries that are seasoned with truffle oil!)
They have an expansive outdoor seating area where you can kick back on a sunny day.
The bistro is less than a kilometre from Cottage 1888 so within walking distance if you indulge...
Patagonia Chocolates
31 Ramshaw LnDecadent chocolates and Gelato.
Mt Rosa Wines
Mt Rosa Wines is where the locals in Gibbston congregate for a glass of wine or an ice cold beer with the owner operators Guy and his wife Ann. Mt Rosa Wines is 200 metres up the road from us so within easy walking distance.
What's behind the blue door? In the winter there is a roaring fire, comfy leather chairs, and your drink of choice. This is an iconic bar inside an old stone building with a creaky blue door and is perfect for an after dinner night cap.
83 locals recommend
The Blue Door Arrowtown
18 Buckingham StWhat's behind the blue door? In the winter there is a roaring fire, comfy leather chairs, and your drink of choice. This is an iconic bar inside an old stone building with a creaky blue door and is perfect for an after dinner night cap.
Ice cold beer in a classic tavern setting... with excellent pizzas.
10 locals recommend
Gibbston Tavern
8 Coal Pit RdIce cold beer in a classic tavern setting... with excellent pizzas.
Parks & Nature
This hiking/biking trails runs directly across the road from our property and can be ridden or walked all the way to Queenstown.
However some of the most scenic parts of the trails are between Gibbston and Arrowtown with a track that runs for about 2km along the spectacular Kawarau Gorge and river.
The track is not overly challenging so appropriate for people of all ages and fitness levels.
Queenstown Trail
This hiking/biking trails runs directly across the road from our property and can be ridden or walked all the way to Queenstown.
However some of the most scenic parts of the trails are between Gibbston and Arrowtown with a track that runs for about 2km along the spectacular Kawarau Gorge and river.
The track is not overly challenging so appropriate for people of all ages and fitness levels.
Essentials
This is the biggest and the best grocery store in the area and is about 15 minutes from Gibbston.
148 locals recommend
PAK'nSAVE Queenstown
302 Hawthorne DrThis is the biggest and the best grocery store in the area and is about 15 minutes from Gibbston.
The specialty butcher offers the finest New Zealand meats from organic chicken to grass-fed, dry-aged beef. A little pricey but you get what you pay for. Not to be missed!
20 locals recommend
Neat Meat Queenstown
3 Hawthorne DrThe specialty butcher offers the finest New Zealand meats from organic chicken to grass-fed, dry-aged beef. A little pricey but you get what you pay for. Not to be missed!
Oxbow Adventure
Located a couple of km from the Cottage, Oxbow is the ultimate outdoor adventure destination. They've got 4 wheel drive buggies, sprint boats, and a clay bird shooting range.
Take a tour of the historic gold fields - the old buildings and machinery are still intact giving you a glimpse into the past.
15 locals recommend
Goldfields Mining Centre
State Highway 6Take a tour of the historic gold fields - the old buildings and machinery are still intact giving you a glimpse into the past.
A five minute drive from us puts you at the world famous AJ Hackett Bungy Centre. You can temp fate with a leap into the gorge or relax with a drink on the viewing platform and watch others take the plunge.
51 locals recommend
AJ Hackett Kawarau Bungy Centre
A five minute drive from us puts you at the world famous AJ Hackett Bungy Centre. You can temp fate with a leap into the gorge or relax with a drink on the viewing platform and watch others take the plunge.
There are a number of jet boat options in the area but this outfit is just a short 10 minute drive from the cottage so easily accessible.
Goldfields Jet
803 Kawarau Gorge RdThere are a number of jet boat options in the area but this outfit is just a short 10 minute drive from the cottage so easily accessible.
Arts & Culture
Located a few minutes walk from the Arrowtown main street, you can view and enter the small stone homes of the Chinese settlers who mined for gold in the area. Absolutely fascinating.
50 locals recommend
Historic Arrowtown Chinese Settlement
Buckingham StreetLocated a few minutes walk from the Arrowtown main street, you can view and enter the small stone homes of the Chinese settlers who mined for gold in the area. Absolutely fascinating.
Sightseeing
Nevis Road is the highest public road in all of New Zealand and it runs all the way from Bannockburn (near Cromwell) to Garston. It is only open during the summer months.
This is a true back country road and ideally driven with a four wheel drive vehicle.
The views as you follow the road are truly spectacular! Do a little research online or ask us for more information before you decide to set out.
Nevis Road 4WD
Nevis Road is the highest public road in all of New Zealand and it runs all the way from Bannockburn (near Cromwell) to Garston. It is only open during the summer months.
This is a true back country road and ideally driven with a four wheel drive vehicle.
The views as you follow the road are truly spectacular! Do a little research online or ask us for more information before you decide to set out.
If you get a clear day, this is a must-do drive. The view of the mountains is truly breathtaking.
Glenorchy-Paradise Road
Glenorchy-Paradise RoadIf you get a clear day, this is a must-do drive. The view of the mountains is truly breathtaking.