Arrowtown and Wanaka Highlights Tour from Queenstown

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Queenstown, New Zealand

High interest

Booked 2 times today.

6 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9

· Sharon_B ·

Jan 2026

It’s fabulous! Lots to see and plenty of time to wander and explore. Stops along the way to get some pics and Chris (& Chewy) was (we’re) excellent - explaining the history, pointing out things of interest/significance and lots of humor along the way.

· Carolina_P ·

Dec 2025

Great tour short but great. Towns very cute and our guide was knowledgeable and entertaining . I recommend this tour.

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Overview

See Arrowtown and Wanaka through the eyes of a local rather than a first-time visitor on a half-day tour from Queenstown that explores local history and landscapes. You’ll have time to stroll Arrowtown’s charming main street, built during Otago’s 19th-century gold rush, then enjoy an hour of free time to see Wanaka at your own pace for a balanced sightseeing experience. Return to Queenstown through the Crown Range, winding through towering peaks and high passes.

Save yourself hours of planning travel logistics
Visit off-the-beaten-path places that most travelers miss
Includes transfers from a handy central Queenstown location
Avoid self-driving through such a distractingly beautiful place

What's Included

Local guide
Central Queenstown pick up (no hotel pick ups)
Air-conditioned vehicle
Beer or non alcoholic ginger beer at the Cardrona Hotel
Arrowtown Map

Lunch

As the tour gives you free time in the town of Wanaka you have multiple places to enjoy lunch at your own cost.
No children under six years old
Hotel pick ups
Puzzling World and the Lavender Farm are NOT available on this tour.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

43 Camp Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
Please be waiting outside the Marmolada Cafe located on the Camp St side of The Station Building. You need to waiting 10 minutes before start time at pick up point as we cannot wait. We would appreciate if you don’t turn up with hot drinks or hot food. Pickup and drop-off in central Queenstown

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.10:00 am

Itinerary

Crown Range Road

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Cardrona

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

That Wanaka Tree

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Wanaka

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Arrowtown

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
Children must be accompanied by an adult

We require minimum numbers to run this tour, please reconfirm 18 hours before start time
Minimum drinking age is 18 years
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Sorry no children under six
You need to waiting 10 minutes before start time at pick up point.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.9

based on 263 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great trip

Kate_W, Mar 2026

Very nice, relaxing trip, beautiful views, a lot of options for lunch or coffee. I wish it was more time in Wanaka. Amazing place. You can either have lunch or do sports activities on the lake.

Great experience

Karen_K, Feb 2026

Despite a bit of rain, this was a wonderful tour. Our guide Bill was outstanding. He grew up in the Arrowton area, worked in the forestry industry and other areas, and provided really interesting and insightful info during the tour. It was both informative and enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the Chinese Settlement at Arrowtown- a must see. I'd recommend this tour and try to get Bill - he really made it an exceptional experience.

Pretty landscape, uncomfortable van with difficult seat belt

Rose_S, Feb 2026

There are more stops than what are described in the purchase materials. They are nice stops however I wish I would have known about them because it would influence my purchase decision. There was a nice stop at the Caldrona hotel for morning tea. Their garden was lovely. The Patagonia ice cream shop in Arrowtown was delicious. Lake Wanaka is pretty. I enjoyed seeing eels under the wharf. Our guide Murray knows a lot about the history, culture and geography of the area. It was a pleasure to ride with him. The coach was not comfortable. There were 18 passengers and it was a very tight fit. My 6 ft 2 in partner had just microns of space between him and the seat ahead. The seat belt on my window side was nearly impossible to use. I had to yank hard on it to get enough slack to buckle up. It is a good thing I have string biceps! What made this worse is that a phone holder was placed 1.5 inches above the place to click in the seat belt. It knocked my knuckles everytime and made it a bear to click in. At times I was in tears trying to get the belt buckled.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Hi sorry you has trouble with the seat belt. Most tour companies in New Zealand use Mercedes Sprinters like us and it's a very common complaint in the industry. Regarding the stops they are all listed on the itinerary and we are glad you enjoyed them.

Good

Borislav_Z, Feb 2026

Well first off all, young men Chris was amazing. The only problem was, road was closed so we were far from Wanaka Tree. We had only 75 minutes in this city, 20 minutes walk to the tree and 20 back. I wish we had more time there, at least two hours, to go to the gift shop for instance.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Hi, sorry you had to walk to the tree that day, the Challenge Wanaka race was on and the roads to the tree was blocked which is very frustrating. It would have been great to give you more time however we still had plenty of time in Arrowtown which is has great gift shops.

An Absolutely Wonderful Half-Day Tour to Wanaka & Arrowtown

Anshuman_V, Jan 2026

We did a 6-hour tour to Wanaka and Arrowtown today, and it was simply awesome from start to finish. Both Wanaka and Arrowtown are located close to Queenstown, yet each has its own unique charm, and this tour was a perfect way to experience them. Our driver and guide, Brian, did a fantastic job throughout the day. He was extremely knowledgeable and explained everything in detail as we traveled, which made the journey even more enjoyable. Our first stop was the Crown Range, including the scenic Windy Road/Windy Top, which offered stunning views and was a great start to the day. We then visited the historic Cardrona Hotel, which is over 150 years old. It was a fun and memorable stop, and we even enjoyed a ginger ale beer there. From there, we headed to Wanaka, where we had time to explore, shop, and enjoy lunch. Brian gave excellent suggestions on where to shop and what to see, which made the experience very smooth and stress-free. Later, we visited Arrowtown, another beautiful and charming place. Once again, Brian guided us really well, recommending great spots to walk around and shop. His guidance, friendliness, and local insights truly made a big difference. Overall, this tour was very well organized, scenic, and relaxing. A big thank you to Brian for making it such a memorable experience. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Queenstown and looking to explore Wanaka and Arrowtown in a comfortable and informative way!

What a lovely day

Sharon_B, Jan 2026

Nice tour. No cancellations or changes allowed

Pamela_O, Jan 2026

This was a nice tour. Arrowtown and Wanaka are lovely places. It wasn’t particularly special or engaging.. I also should have paid more attention to the cancellation policy before booking. Book this tour only after deciding the rest of your itinerary.

Guide/driver was...

Corralie_B, Jan 2026

Guide/driver was knowledgeable about the area and kept to the schedule tightly. Good first taste of Wanaka & Arrowtown.

Wanaka tour

PRADEEP_S, Dec 2025

Our Driver and guide Mazda was wonderful safe well informed and kept us fully briefed … the tour was to arrowtown also … had a great time

Great experience

Joe_M, Dec 2025

Murray was an excellent guide, insightful and informative. Really enjoyed the trip from start to finish, would definitely recommend.

Arrowtown, Wanaka tour

David_G, Dec 2025

Small group to allow good one on one interaction with guide who was very knowledgeable about the history of the sites we visited.. Highly recommended

Arrow

Carolina_P, Dec 2025

Great tour short but great. Towns very cute and our guide was knowledgeable and entertaining . I recommend this tour.

Relaxing and informative

Scott_W, Dec 2025

Great half day covering lots of things to see and do. A great balance and commentary. Thanks for an excellent tour

Nice day spent out of Queenstown

Paul_C, Nov 2025

Nice day spent out of Queenstown with scenic views and a relaxed time in nearby towns. In Arrowtown, I recommend quickly walking through the strip in town and then spending most of your time down by the Arrow river if the weather is nice. You can shop anywhere - it was better to spend more time in nature. Chris was a safe driver and had some great insights. Thanks!

Wanaka/ Arrow town wonderful

Steven_G, Nov 2025

What a great tour. Got a great guided tour, the scenery was amazing, going through the crown range road to Wanaka. is amazing and the Wanaka tree is the centre point to the wonderful back drop of the mountains. Arrow town is still set in 1860’s with some quaint old buildings and the whole town being still set on the gold rush era which is fantastic to see. Our guide Murray was very knowledgeable and professional and gave great commentary throughout. I highly recommend this tour . Take the stress out of driving as it’s much easier to be taken to these places and be awe struck.

Nice to do!

Ideline_B, Nov 2025

I had a great half-day trip. It's a good way to see the highlights without having to drive yourself. The guide was friendly and gave us just the right amount of info. Plenty of time to enjoy the views. We also stopped at "Bradrona" nickname for the infamous Cardrona Bra Fence and we even got stuck on the road because of a huge flock of sheep crossing (such a classic New Zealand experience and honestly one of the best parts of the day!). Else, Wanaka was stunning (that lake and the famous tree are even better in person!), and Arrowtown was such a charming little place and a relaxed vibe. I’d definitely recommend this tour if you want an easy and fun way to discover both spots in one day.

Great day trip

JaniceD, Oct 2025

Great way to see the area. It was a bit wet but we still saw what wanted. Brian our guide, was great and very knowledgable.

Exploring the stunning...

Melika_S, Oct 2025

Exploring the stunning towns of Arrowtown and Wanaka with Viator was truly an unforgettable experience.

We had a very nice time....

Prakash_I, Oct 2025

We had a very nice time. Our guide Chris was very informative and took good care. He is very patient and humorous.

Do it

cinzia, Sep 2025

Our tour guide was fabulous, friendly, helpful and knows his history. Such a pleasant day not rushed enjoyed some wonderful scenery it was just perfect.

A really great tour

Kathryn_S, Sep 2025

This was a really great tour. Well worth the money. Our driver was fantastic, transport was comfy. A good balance of time in each place. We really enjoyed it.

Superb trip

Samrita_S, Jul 2025

It's was awesome experience we all had. Pit was our tour guide, he told us everything about places also helping us to take pics, which we all enjoyed the trip.

Small group tour

Dorota_S, Jul 2025

We had an enjoyable time on the tour! If you find yourself in Queenstown and want to explore Wanaka and Arrowtown, this tour is absolutely perfect for you. Our bus driver/ tour guide was very friendly and very knowledgeable.

Beautiful and Quaint

Mary_Z, May 2025

A ride through the mountains with many sharp turns navigated by a driver with expert skills not only in driving but in his knowledge about Arrow Town, Lake Wanaka and quaint Cadrona town. The mountain view was amazing, the river mirror like and the towns quaint and beautiful.

Fantastic day tour

Donna_K, May 2025

This day trip was fantastic. Scenery beautiful. Our guide was excellent and full of stories about the history especially about Arrowtown. We enjoyed the whole day. Highly recommended this trip to everyone.

A lovely day out in a...

Romina_M, Apr 2025

A lovely day out in a small group. Our guide Serena was friendly and knowledgeable. Would recommend.

The guide was too...

Deepak_s, Mar 2025

The guide was too friendly. We get overwhelmed with her friendly gestures and and the experience she had

More than That Tree

laura_t, Mar 2025

What a pleasant surprise! This is a charming tour. The drive up to lake Wanaka via Hotel Cardona was a great way to see the land, pass farms, sheep, and native grasslands. The gardens at hotel Cardona are lovely. Up at Lake Wanaka, The tree is “The photo op.” There are many places to eat along the lakefront. Arrowtown on the way back is a quaint town with some interesting shops. I could have stayed longer.

Our tour guide, Murray,...

Marie_K, Mar 2025

Our tour guide, Murray, was very knowledgeable, had a great sense of humor, and was a great driver! We thoroughly enjoyed the tour!

Brian was amazing as a...

Caroline_R, Feb 2025

Brian was amazing as a tour guide. He was courteous and friendly!! He went out of his way to not only make us comfortable but provided great details about all the scenic points!