8 Brewery & Bar Tours in New Zealand Worth Booking

1.Minus 5 Ice Bar Experience with Drink Options

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 592 reviews · 1 hour · from $29Our pick

At Queenstown’s Steamer Wharf, your English-speaking Ice Host fits you with a jacket, gloves, and boots before leading you into a room carved from more than 18 tonnes of ice. Enjoy two cocktails or mocktails in ice glasses, take photos, and expect lively music, dancing, and hosts such as Dean, Joel, or Olivia to keep things moving.

“Nat the bartender was lovely! The Fire Starter cocktail was exceptional!!”

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2.Speight’s Brewery Tour & Guided Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 508 reviews · from $16Best value

Spend about 75 minutes at Speight’s Brewery in central Dunedin, walking through historic and modern brewing areas before a guided tasting of several beers. Guides such as Tom, Thomas, Marty, Israel, and Monica have led engaging sessions. Expect stairs, closed-toe shoes, a valid passport, and no bags.

“Tour of the history of the brewery was great. The guide was so passionate about the history of Speights. Beers at the end of the tour were so refreshing.”

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3.Afternoon Wine & Beer Tour with Platters

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 363 reviews · from $158

Leave central Queenstown at 3 pm for three tasting stops in Gibbston. Choose wine or beer, sample several producers at Kinross, relax with a craft-beer flight at Altitude Brewing, and share antipasto. Guides such as Stuart, Do, Ash, and Shanay add local stories and good humor. The group is capped at 14.

“We had an incredible evening being able to get a taste of some NZ beer and wine. Danny was our guide and he was fantastic - very friendly, professional and took good care of us. We enjoyed all of the stops and found it a good value!!!”

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4.Cardrona High Country Pub Trail Horse Trek (Intermediate level+)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 269 reviews · from $433

Ride into the Cardrona mountains with a small group of up to seven, crossing rivers and passing cattle, deer, sheep, and gold-rush sites. The pace includes walking, trotting, and cantering, so you need solid riding skills. Guides such as Summer, Emily, Kelly, and Marley match horses to ability. Your reward is a drink at the historic Cardrona Hotel.

“I was surprised that we were going to ride in the drizzle and was a little nervous but Emily was great. She offered me some waterproof clothes, helmet and off we went. She was a great equestrian and excellent communicator. Took a real interest in us and I was very grateful because I hadn't been on a horse in years!”

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5.Speight’s Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 170 reviews · 1h 15m · from $28

Spend 75 minutes touring Speight’s Brewery with an English-speaking guide. See the historic Brew Floor, modern brewing equipment, and learn how water, malt, hops, and yeast become beer. Finish with a guided tasting, then browse the brewery shop or buy fresh beer at the Cellar Door. Closed-toe shoes and more than 200 stairs are required.

“Excellent insight as to the brewing process and the beginnings of Speight’s. Tastings at the end were awesome, book a taxi if not within walking distance.”

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6.Ōpuke Thermal Pools: Adults-Only Entry with Swim Up Bar

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 163 reviews · 2 hours · from $40

Spend two hours in Ōpuke’s adults-only Tranquility Pools near Methven. Your ticket includes a robe, towel, solar-heated pools, swim-up bar access, and Discovery Pools access except at 7 and 8pm. Bring swimwear and accepted ID. The pools sit about an hour from Christchurch Airport, with views toward the Southern Alps and Mt Hutt.

“It was a beautiful spa and facility. The fact that the water is chlorinated should be advertised and made readily available on all sites.”

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7.Ice Bar Entry with Warm Winter Gear and Drink

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 162 reviews · 1 hour · from $35

Enter Queenstown Ice Bar, a room shaped from nearly 30 tonnes of hand-carved ice. You’ll get a warm coat, gloves, and boots if needed, then choose a cocktail or mocktail served in an ice glass. The bar is next to Skyline Gondola, and staff such as Lucy add a friendly touch to this lively one-hour experience.

“Great staff, fun environment, cool sculptures and really good cocktails and the jackets supplied were super warm !”

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8.Monteith’s Brewery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 93 reviews · from $27

Spend 45 minutes at Monteith’s Greymouth brewery with a guide such as Austin or Harvey, exploring old brewing equipment, West Coast beer stories, and historic recipes. You’ll take part in a smell, sight, and taste lesson, pour your own beer, enjoy tap samples, and leave with a mixed six-pack.

“The brewery is a great place to visit with excellent beers on Tap. The lady who did our tour last Wednesday afternoon was amazing. She had great stories about the brewery and westcoast. Down to earth and an all round great person to have a beer with.”

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