Ayrburn: This Queenstown food and wine destination is in a league of its own

Queenstown has a lot to offer tourists, but until late 2023, there was nothing quite like Ayrburn, a new world-class food and wine destination. The precinct, which they describe as a food and wine neighbourhood, is the kind of place people who visit Queenstown often will return to time and time again.

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Ayrburn opened in December 2023 but has a rich 160-year history and seamlessly blends heritage and innovation to offer guests a seriously good time.

During my recent visit to Queenstown, Ayrburn was at the top of my list of things to do, and it’s certainly the type of place where you could spend a large chunk of the day.

Ayrburn boasts multiple bars and restaurants, some still under construction. Once it’s all finished, it will be a seriously impressive destination – in truth, it’s already a really special place, but it will only improve as they open Billy’s, their fine dining restaurant, the Bakehouse and R.M. Speciality Meats, which will provide more casual eating options. This will also bring the option to purchase picnic baskets to enjoy on the beautiful grounds, featuring a waterfall, a bike track and a playground for the kids.

We began our experience at Ayrburn by enjoying a wine tasting at the Barrel Room, with a toasty spot near the fire. As someone who is more often than not drawn to red wine, their Chardonnay blew me away. It was unlike any other I’d ever tasted. Their rosés and Pinot noirs are also delicious. Sadly, the wine is unavailable in Australian bottle shops, so you’ll either need to make your way to Ayrburn or order online to enjoy these grapes!

After our delicious wine tasting, we moved to the Woolshed for a beautiful lunch. My personal favourite part of the meal was the prawn toast—even my husband, who doesn’t like seafood, loved it, so that’s saying something! We shared a steak with peppercorn sauce, twice-cooked potatoes, roasted butternut pumpkin, and oven-baked Brussels sprouts. Everything was absolutely beautiful and paired beautifully with the wine suggested by our waiter.

While the dessert sounded delicious, we were very full, so we opted to go outside for a walk around the grounds and then visited The Dairy for a scoop of ice cream. This was the perfect way to finish the day, given that it was beautifully sunny.

The Manure Room (though it might not sound like it) is a great spot for a drink and will undoubtedly become a very popular spot for those searching for some aprés ski. Mulled wine, fireplaces and an exceptional snack menu make it the perfect spot to spend the afternoon after a hard day on the slopes.

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I see Ayrburn becoming a destination similar to The Farm in Byron Bay or even the Grounds of Alexandria. It’s the type of place I know that I will visit every time I travel to Queenstown. While I compare it to those two Aussie locations, I think Ayrburn is in a league of its own. I’ve never seen anything quite like it, and it’s time to add it to the top of your Queenstown to-do list.

Yahoo Lifestyle was a guest of Ayrburn.

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