Gibbston

Gibbston
Community
One of the area's vineyards
One of the area's vineyards
Map
Coordinates: 45°01′32″S 168°57′24″E / 45.02569°S 168.95674°E / -45.02569; 168.95674
CountryNew Zealand
RegionOtago
Territorial authorityQueenstown-Lakes District
WardQueenstown-Wakatipu Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial authorityQueenstown-Lakes District Council
 • Regional councilOtago Regional Council
 • Mayor of Queenstown-LakesGlyn Lewers
 • Southland MPJoseph Mooney
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Local iwiNgāi Tahu

Gibbston is a community in the Wakatipu Basin in the Otago region of the South Island, New Zealand. Through the valley runs the Kawarau River which forms the Kawarau Gorge.

The most visible aspect of the area are the vineyards and wineries next to SH 6 which form part of the Central Otago wine region. The Gibbston region is the coolest and highest of the Central Otago regions with the majority of land gently sloping to the north. This northerly aspect greatly assists vineyards to grow grapes because of increased sunlight and with a reduced possibility of frost, although this still poses a significant threat.

It was voted community of the year in 2011 due to the work on the Gibbston River Trail.[1]

The Gibbston River Trail and the Gibbston Highway Trail are walking/running and cycling trails that give good access to the wineries in the area but also connect to The Queenstown Trail at the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge.

Often Gibbston is incorrectly called Gibbston Valley or Gibbston Flats due to the land being the only flat usable land in the Kawarau Gorge.[2]

  1. ^ Edens, John (3 February 2011). "National award win celebrated by Gibbston community group". The Southland Times.
  2. ^ Susan. "A community that has stood the test of time". Queenstown-Lakes » Gibbston » News & Information » Historical. ©Copyright 2013 Local Me. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2013.