About Cardrona Distillery
Cardrona Distillery makes its spirits from scratch in the Cardrona Valley, the high road between Wānaka and Queenstown, less than 20 minutes from Wānaka. Its single malt whisky uses only malted barley, water and yeast, is double distilled in copper pots and spends at least three years in oak, and it is bottled without chill filtering. The same stills produce The Reid single malt vodka and The Source gin, and Master Distiller Sarah Elsom leads the team.
The doors are open every day from 9:30am to 7pm. Walk-ins are welcome for complimentary tastings at the cellar door, and tours leave on the hour from 10am to 3pm. The Classic Tour costs $50 per person and follows the malt from milling and mashing through fermentation, distillation and the maturation warehouse before a tutored tasting. Serious whisky fans can book the Family Reserve Tour ($450, Tuesday to Friday, 10:30am–1:30pm), which includes tasting straight from the cask and hand-filling your own single cask bottle.
Food is served from 11:30am to 5:30pm: seasonal small plates and shared dishes built on local produce, such as hand-shucked oysters and wild game, served by the fire or in a glasshouse with mountain views. The kitchen holds a 2025 Cuisine Good Food Award hat, and the multi-course Trust the Chef menu (last seating 3:30pm) is best booked ahead. A shuttle runs Tuesday to Saturday from Wānaka and Queenstown by phone booking, a practical option if your group wants to taste.
Wānaka Lavender Farm is about 20 minutes' drive north, so you can pair a summer morning among the lavender with a distillery tour and lunch here.
What to do
- Take the 75-minute Classic Tour, on the hour from 10am to 3pm ($50)
- Stop in for a complimentary tasting at the cellar door
- Book the Family Reserve Tour to hand-fill a single cask bottle
- Have small plates or the Trust the Chef menu in the glasshouse
- Book the distillery shuttle from Wānaka or Queenstown
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Open daily year-round; closed Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Anzac Day morning
- Hours
- 2026: daily 9:30am–7pm; tours hourly 10am–3pm; food 11:30am–5:30pm
- Admission
- Free entry and complimentary tastings; Classic Tour $50 per person (2026)
Good to know
- Age
- 21 or older to taste or drink alcohol
- Reservations
- Walk-in
Tips for your visit
- Book the Trust the Chef menu ahead; it takes two hours or more.
- The shuttle runs Tuesday to Saturday and must be booked by phone.
- It is closed on Christmas Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and opens late on Anzac Day.
- If you are driving the Cardrona Valley road, plan a designated driver or use the shuttle.
Pair it with a lavender farm
Wānaka Lavender Farm · about 20 minutes away
Wānaka Lavender Farm is about 20 minutes north, so a morning there and a distillery tour and lunch here make a full, easy day.
Getting there
Questions
Do I need to book a tour at Cardrona Distillery?
Walk-ins are welcome when space allows; tours run on the hour from 10am to 3pm, and booking online secures a spot.
How much is the Classic Tour?
$50 per person, including a tutored tasting.
Is there a shuttle?
Yes, Tuesday to Saturday from Wānaka and Queenstown areas, booked by phone on 03 443 1393.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Wānaka, New Zealand
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
