Embark on an adventure safari packed with breathtaking scenery, thrilling 4WD action, and LOTR filming locations. Visit the filming locations of Minas Tirith, Misty Mountains, the Pillars of the Kings (Argonath), Gladden Fields, the Ford of Bruinen, and more.  After pick-up from your hotel, journey around the Wakatipu Basin to see The Remarkables, which were used as various mountains throughout the three movies. Travel part way up Queenstown Hill for a bird's-eye view onto Deer Park Heights, which was used for the refugees of Rohan and the Battle of the Wargs scenes. From the viewpoint, head to Kawarau Gorge where the filming took place for the Argonath - 'Pillars of the Kings'. After Kawarau Gorge, travel to Arrowtown where the loss of The One Ring scene at Gladden Fields was shot. Near Arrowtown, you will experience a true off-road adventure. Following a historic gold mining road up the Arrow River, cross the river many times to get to the Ford of Bruinen. Here you can indulge in a refreshing afternoon tea and try your hand at a spot of gold panning. From Arrowtown, travel to the entrance of Skippers Canyon for spectacular panoramic views of the Wakatipu Basin and into the Canyon.

Become your own tour guide for a day and enjoy having the freedom to explore the best parts of Queenstown, Arrowtown, and Gibbston Valley without being rushed or restricted by any preset itineraries. Enjoy the local wine and soak up the amazing sites of the Queenstown and Gibbston Valley. No need to make an itinerary and drive yourself, our friendly drivers will look after you and provide you with information on each location. Hop on and off as you please, visit as many destinations as you like, and choose how long you stay at each spot. Stop options include: • Shotover Jet boat ride • Canyon Food & Brew Co • Strike Bowl bowling and entertainment center • Cargo at Gantley’s taproom • The Gin Garden • Arrowtown historical gold mining town • The Winery, Arrowtown • Mora Wines & Kitchen by Artisan • Amisfield Bistro & Cellar Door • Nockies Palette Wines at Stoneridge • Wet Jacket Wines • AJ Hackett Bungy • Cargo Brewery & Bald Hills Wine • Mt Rosa Wines • Brennan Wines • Kinross Cellar Door & Bistro • Gibbston Valley Winery • Altitude Brewing • The Winery, Queenstown

Head out on a scenic, 25-minute drive to Arrowtown. Get set up with your bike or E-bike, receive trail tips, a map, and a safety briefing, before departing on your self-guided adventure ride back to Queenstown. Explore Arrowtown, and grab a coffee or brunch, before setting off to ride along the Arrow River Trail toward the Morven Ferry. From there the route follows the Twin Rivers Trail along the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers to the shores of Lake Whakatipu. The trail then follows the lake's edge into Queenstown Bay where you can return your bike to our shop (3 Searle Lane). The minimum riding distance is 35 km with a few decent hills. If you are unsure if you can handle the distance, or concerned about the hilly terrain, it's worth upgrading to an electric bike (for only $50 extra) to keep the good-times rolling. This ride is recommended for confident and capable riders.

Try local wine and enjoy a bike ride experience on the beautiful Twin Rivers Trail. Ride with ease with wide and easy-to-navigate bike trails. Add some excitement to your trip with a bungee jumping experience. Learn about the history of the area and become immersed in its wine culture. Start your tour with a 20-minute scenic shuttle into Arrowtown. Your guide will give you a brief lesson on the history of gold mining in the area and will share some intriguing facts about the town. Even try gold mining yourself. Arrive near the trail and, after a briefing, set off for 2-3 hours of riding time over 7 bridges, 2 rivers, and into the Valley of the Vines on your own time. Try any one of the dining options below for breakfast, lunch, or brunch. Brunch options: AB Bakeries - Arguably the best bakery in Otago. Fork and Tap - Great little pub with fantastic garden dining Provisions - Healthy breakfast, brunch, and lunch Slow Cuts - Hidden gem, casual dining – try the chicken burger Lunch options: Gibbston Tavern - Wood-fired oven Gibbston Valley - Grazing platters (book in advance) Enjoy pickup from the wineries and then return to Queenstown and partake in some optional karaoke.

Visit 4 premium vineyards over 3 incredibly scenic wine sub-regions (Gibbston, Cromwell and Bannockburn basin) including a unique wine-tasting in Australasia's largest underground wine cave. Indulge in a wine-barrel cooked lunch consisting of 5 tasting dishes matched with exquisite wines. Taste local cheeses at a local vineyard. Visit historic Old Cromwell town and the must-see Arrowtown. Relax on the stunning drive through the Kawarau Gorge and soak up all the information on the early pioneering history of this rugged region. View the historic Kawarau Bridge and original AJ Hackett Bungy.

Hop on board to enjoy a day out and discover Queenstown's up and coming craft beer scene. Your tour includes 3 stops, 13 beers, and a delicious lunch - a great way to spend an afternoon in Queenstown. You will be picked up at your hotel and then venture outside the center of Queenstown to try award-winning local beers. You have the chance to enjoy free time at Arrowtown, 3 local breweries, a brewery tour and a fun filled afternoon. Skip the lines and enjoy a relaxed day with us. This tour is designed to be run at a slow pace so you wont be hurried along. After the tour, you will be dropped back to your accommodation or enjoy more discounts at local bars in Queenstown.

The Safari of the Scenes full-day tour covers much ground to deliver the signature scenes shot around the Queenstown region. Commencing at 8am, the tour first travels west to Glenorchy and Paradise before returning to Queenstown for lunch followed by Arrowtown and Gibbston before finishing in Skippers Canyon. Refreshments of tea, coffee, hot chocolate accompanied by biscuits and cake are served both morning and afternoon and a light lunch is supplied in one of the Queenstown cafes. The morning tour travels along the Wakatipu Lake edge to the small hamlet of Glenorchy. This portion is very scenic with many photo stops along the way and in the Paradise region of Mount Aspiring National Park, short walks on flat forest track are easy and the road is a mixture of seal and gravel. The afternoon section is more rugged with short periods of rough ground and river crossings. The tour visits Gibbston Valley area, Arrowtown and the Skippers Canyon Road which is high and windy but with very dramatic scenery . Short walks are on well-managed surfaces and the opportunity to pan for elven gold is beside the river on uneven ground. Content of the tours includes the settings for The Ford of Bruinen, Gladden Fields, The Pillars of the Kings, the exodus from Edoras, Warg Battle, Misty Mountains, Ithilien Camp, Oliphants, Caradhras, Lothlorien, Fangorn, Gap of Rohan, Isengard, Dunharrow and many backgrounds to the scenes. Join us! "Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath, now for ruin, and the red dawn. Forth, Eorlingas! "

Starting from Central Queenstown, you will be collected by your Altitude Tours guide in a premium Mercedes vehicle and set off on a fantastic morning exploring the local sights. Throughout the tour, your guide will provide informative and entertaining commentary along with great Kiwi humor. Our first stop is an observation point right above Queenstown where you will get the best panoramic views of the city. Then drive through the gorgeous countryside below Coronet Peak to Arrowtown, a quaint, little gold mining village nestled below the mountains alongside a river full of gold. On your way pass over the renowned Shotover River catching a glimpse of the legendary Shotover Jetboat. Once in Arrowtown, you will have time to explore Arrowtown, not to mention sampling the outstanding local bakery pies. Continuing on to Gibbston, you will visit the iconic AJ Hackett Kawarau Bridge Bungy, providing entertaining spectating for all. The Gibbston Valley region is also home to many Lord of The Rings film locations and cool-climate wines. Head to the next stop, a local cellar door where you can sample delicious, award-winning wines and enjoy shared cheeseboards (non-alcoholic options are available). You will then head back to Queenstown where you will finish off your day with a relaxing 30-minute scenic boat cruise on Lake Wakatipu.

Start your day by meeting your friendly guide at or near your Queenstown accommodation. We then travel around Queenstown and surrounding areas showcasing a talented range of distillers who use our unique environment to produce some of the smoothest and top award-winning spirits in New Zealand and around the world Throughout the afternoon, visit three separate gin and spirit tasting experiences, with each location offering something different, including a distillery tour at the famous Cardrona Distillery. Enjoy a gin and tonic upon arrival, shared platters at two of the locations, and be hosted by a friendly guide and the tasting room staff, who share entertaining local distilling facts and stories. This gin experience has been designed to offer a good mix of education, sightseeing, and fun. There is also flexibility to try other spirits such as vodka, whiskey, and wines throughout, if you want to balance your gin intake. Let us take you on New Zealand’s first gin tour and experience more with Altitude Tours.

Start your afternoon with a pick-up from your Queenstown accommodation and enjoy a special scenic 15-minute helicopter flight. Land on a mountaintop, where the helicopter will shut down for 25 minutes allowing you to enjoy a unique gin-tasting experience while taking in the views of Queenstown. From here, touch down in the Cardrona Valley and you will meet the rest of your group. Throughout the afternoon, enjoy three separate gin and spirit tasting experiences, with each location offering something special, including a distillery tour at the famous Cardrona Distillery. Enjoy a gin and tonic upon arrival, shared platters at two of the locations, and be hosted by an Altitude Tours guide and the tasting room staff, all of whom will educate and entertain you with distilling facts and stories. This gin experience has been designed to offer a good mix of education, sightseeing, and fun. There is also flexibility to try other spirits such as vodka, whiskey, and wines throughout, if you want to balance your gin-take. Let us take you on New Zealand’s first gin tour and experience more with Altitude Tours.