One of the best ways to experience New Zealand’s South Island is to hire a car and take a day trip. If you’ve already bungee jumped, taken a gondola ride and been on the luge, I can highly recommend this scenic day trip itinerary from Queenstown taking in Wanaka, Cromwell, Arrowtown and Ayrburn.
Here’s how to make the most of your day on the road with the perfect blend of scenic landscapes and local eats — all easily done in a day, with a total drive time of approximately 3.5 to 4 hours.
8am: Take the scenic Crown Range Road to Wanaka
Start the day bright and early and take the Crown Range Road, a high-altitude scenic drive that offers amazing views over the Wakatipu Basin. Stop at the Crown Range Summit (around 20 minutes from Queenstown) for a quick photo stop before continuing on to Wanaka.
For a coffee stop on your way to Wanaka, the historic Cardrona Hotel is one of New Zealand’s oldest pubs and an Instagrammable spot at any time of the year.
9:30am Arrive in Wanaka
Wanaka is the perfect place to spend your morning. Walk along the lakefront to see the famous #ThatWanakaTree, then grab coffee or breakfast at Kai Whakapai or Alchemy.
12pm: Head to Cromwell
The beautiful drive to Cromwell from Wanaka takes around 40 minutes via SH6 along the Clutha River.
Things to Do in Cromwell:
- Visit a local vineyard such as Scott Base or Misha’s Vineyard for a tasting.
- Explore Old Cromwell Town – a charming heritage precinct by the lake.
- Have lunch at The Stoker Room which is famous for wine barrel-cooked food.
3:30pm: Depart Cromwell for Arrowtown
The drive time from Cromwell to Arrowtown – one of New Zealand’s prettiest historic towns, is around 45 minutes. Take an optional scenic stop at Roaring Meg along Kawarau Gorge on the way.
Once a gold mining settlement, Arrowtown is now a charming village full of character, boutique shopping, and leafy lanes which are especially spectacular in autumn.
Buckingham Street is full of boutique shops (including Patagonia chocolates), cafés and gold rush architecture, or you can take a short walk along the Arrow River Trail or visit the Chinese Settlement Historic Site.
We were happy to discover The Winery, a specialist New Zealand wine store where you can dispense award winning wines in taste, half or full glass sizes from automated machines using a card linked to a tab for payment.
Drive another 5 mins to Ayrburn
The final stop of the day is Ayrburn, a relatively new but beautifully executed food and wine precinct just outside Arrowtown. Set on former farmland with restored stone buildings and mountain backdrops, it’s the perfect spot to wind down.
- Relax with a drink at one of Ayrburn’s wine bars or the beer garden.
- Enjoy a light meal or platter at The Manure Room or The Burr Bar.
- Do a wine tasting in The Barrell Room (I found this to be very expensive for what it was, you’d be better to just buy a glass of wine!).
- Explore the beautifully restored historic buildings and gardens.
Return to Queenstown at your leisure
The drive time back to Queenstown is around 15 minutes. If you’re back in time for dinner you could continue your evening at one of Queenstown’s lakeside restaurants.
Tips for the Trip:
Transport: You’ll need a car to do this loop. The roads are sealed and scenic, but take care on the Crown Range Road which is steep and windy and best avoided in bad weather, in which case you should take State Highway 6 via Cromwell instead.
Timing: This itinerary is flexible — perfect for adding more stops or swapping in seasonal activities (like fruit picking in summer or enjoying the snow in winter).
Best Season: Late spring through to early autumn (October–April) offers the best driving conditions and the longest daylight hours.
Whether you’re a first-timer or have been to Queenstown more times than you can count, this day trip is a reminder of what you can find within a couple of hours drive. Lakes, wine, mountains, history, and sunsets — all in one loop.
Let me know if you try this day trip itinerary from Queenstown — or if you’ve found a secret spot along the way I should add next time.
