Gibbston
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.
Gibbston | |
|---|---|
Community | |
One of the area's vineyards | |
| Coordinates: 45.02569°S 168.95674°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Otago |
| Territorial authority | Queenstown-Lakes District |
| Ward | Queenstown-Wakatipu Ward |
| Electorates |
|
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Queenstown-Lakes District Council |
| • Regional council | Otago Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Queenstown-Lakes | Glyn Lewers |
| • Southland MP | Joseph Mooney |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
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.
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.