Queenstown: Bar Crawl with 5 Free Shots and Pizza

Queenstown turns its compact town center into a late-night playground, and this four-hour bar crawl gives you a ready-made route through five venues. You begin at The London Bar at 9 PM, collect your first shot, and follow the guides from one stop to the next.

I like the low $17 price, especially since entry, five shots, pizza, games, and drink discounts are included. I also like the social setup: it is built for meeting people, with prizes from local activities and free photos shared after the night. The main caution is group size. One night drew 112 people, so this can feel more like a moving party than a small guided outing.

Key points at a glance

• Five bars in one night: You visit five Queenstown nightlife spots without having to plan the route yourself.
• Five free shots included: A welcome shot comes with entry to each venue, though extra drinks cost more.
• Free pizza breaks up the drinking: Food is provided during the crawl, a useful touch on a night built around alcohol.
• The group can be very large: A reported group of 112 people was handled well, but expect a busy, social event rather than an intimate tour.
• Games can win local activity prizes: Joining in adds more than drinking to the evening.
• The crawl ends after midnight: You finish at the last bar just after 12 AM, with the option to keep going on your own.

Starting at The London Bar at 9 PM

The meeting point is downstairs at The London Bar, next door to Fergburger. That location is handy if you are already eating in central Queenstown, but give yourself enough time to find the downstairs entrance and check in before the 9 PM start.

You need a valid passport or New Zealand driver’s license. This is an 18-plus activity, and the ID rule is firm enough that you should not treat a photo of an ID or another document as a safe substitute.

The opening stop gives you time to collect your wristband, meet the guides, and learn how the evening works. You receive your first drink voucher or shot and get a short explanation of the route. The guides then gather the group before moving on, which matters when the crowd is large.

I would use this first stop to meet a few people right away. A bar crawl works best when you arrive ready to talk, not when you stand with your own group all night. The format makes that easy, since everyone is wearing the same wristband and following the same schedule.

Five venues, five different moods

The appeal here is the variety. Instead of spending four hours in one pub, you get a planned circuit through five of Queenstown’s popular party spots. The exact atmosphere of each venue can change with the night, but the route is designed to give you several types of nightlife in one outing.

At each bar, you receive one free shot on entry and free entry to the venue. That removes two common annoyances: paying a cover charge at every stop and working out where to go next. The guides also help keep the group moving, so you do not lose half the night deciding on the next place.

The first bar is mainly about introductions and getting organized. After that, the pace picks up as the group reaches the next venues. You can expect music, drinking, games, and short walks through central Queenstown between stops. Since no transport is included, you should be comfortable walking between nearby venues and staying with the group.

The five stops are not sold as quiet cocktail lounges or food-focused pubs. This is a party crawl. If you want conversation in a calm setting, you might find the music and crowd tiring. If you want to see several busy nightlife venues in one night, the route saves you planning time and gives you a clear structure.

How the shots, pizza, and discounts work

The headline offer is simple: five bars, five free shots. You receive one at each venue, usually on entry. Extra drinks are not included, so the $17 price is not a promise of an all-night open bar.

That distinction matters. If you buy several drinks at every stop, your final spend will be much higher than the booking price. The included shots make the package good value, but you still need to set a drink budget before the night starts.

Free pizza is served during the crawl. It gives you something solid to eat and helps balance a night that involves alcohol, though it is not a substitute for a proper dinner. I would eat a real meal beforehand and treat the pizza as a useful top-up.

You also receive drink discounts for your whole stay in Queenstown. This is one of the better extras if you plan to go out again during your visit. Keep track of whatever discount arrangement the guides give you, since the value depends on how often you use it after the crawl.

Games and prizes beyond the bar tab

The games give the night a second purpose. You are not only moving from bar to bar and ordering drinks. You can join in for the chance to win prizes connected with local activities.

The exact games and prizes are not specified, so I would not book this expecting a particular attraction or guaranteed reward. Think of them as optional entertainment that gives outgoing people another way to join the group.

You do not need to compete to enjoy the crawl. That is useful if you are traveling with a friend who likes games and another who would rather talk. The guides can keep the activity moving while people choose how involved they want to be.

Free photos are also uploaded to Facebook after the night. That gives you a record of the evening without asking a friend to be the photographer, although you should be comfortable with event photos being shared online.

The guide team and the large-group question

The guides are a major part of the experience. Their job is to explain the plan, hand out the first vouchers or wristbands, lead the group through town, and keep everyone together as the venues change.

The available information does not provide guide names, so I cannot point you toward a particular host. What is clear is that the guides are expected to stay active throughout the night. A group of 112 people was reportedly kept together successfully, which is no small task.

Still, 112 people is a very large group. Even with capable hosts, you may wait while everyone enters a venue, find it harder to speak with the guides, or lose sight of friends in a crowded room. The upside is a wide mix of people and plenty of chances to meet someone new.

For solo visitors, that scale can help. You have many people to approach, and the shared route gives you an easy opening line. For a birthday group or a few friends, the crawl removes the pressure to organize the evening. For anyone seeking a small, personal night out, the crowd may be the wrong fit.

Why the $17 price can be strong value

At $17 per person, the basic value is easy to understand. You get free entry to five bars, five shots, pizza, games, photos, and access to drink discounts during the rest of your stay.

Even if you place little value on the games or photos, the entry and drinks account for much of the cost. The route itself also has value. You are paying to have the evening arranged, with a group and guides already in place.

The price works best if you use the included features and avoid treating the crawl as a reason to buy drinks at every stop. You might spend more on alcohol than on the booking itself, especially across five venues. Set a limit before leaving the first bar.

The booking also offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Queenstown plans are still shifting. They do not change the main practical point: this is a nightlife activity, not a sightseeing tour, so you should book it for the evening rather than squeeze it between an early morning excursion and a late arrival.

What the four-hour timing feels like

The advertised duration is four hours, with the final bar reached just after midnight. Starting at 9 PM gives you a full evening without taking over the entire night.

The final stop is not a hard bedtime. The crawl finishes there, and you can continue partying as long as you like. That makes the timing useful for people who want a guided start but prefer to decide for themselves how late the night goes.

The schedule also means you should not expect a slow meal or long stays at each venue. Five stops in four hours requires movement. You will spend part of the evening checking in, walking, ordering, joining games, and regrouping.

Keep your phone charged and agree on a meeting plan with friends before the group leaves each bar. That is sensible for any large nightlife event, especially when the group is crossing several venues.

Who should book this Queenstown crawl?

I would recommend it most strongly to solo visitors, backpackers, birthday groups, and friends who want to meet people while seeing several bars. It is also a good first-night option if you have just arrived and do not know Queenstown’s nightlife layout.

The experience suits you if you enjoy a loud, social evening with a clear schedule. You do not need to research five venues, negotiate entry fees, or persuade your group to move on. The guides handle the structure.

You might skip it if you do not drink, dislike crowded venues, or want a relaxed night with long conversations. The five shots are central to the offer, and the large group can make the experience feel hectic.

It is also not ideal for someone who wants a carefully chosen food tour. Pizza is included, but the main event is nightlife. Eat beforehand and think of the food as support for the evening, not the focus.

Practical advice for a smoother night

Start with a proper meal. The included pizza is helpful, but you will enjoy the night more if you are not drinking on an empty stomach.

Bring your passport or New Zealand driver’s license, and keep it secure. You will need valid ID because the activity is for people aged 18 and over.

Wear shoes and clothes that let you walk between venues and spend time standing. The provided information does not promise hotel pickup, so plan your own way to The London Bar and your own route home.

Watch the pace of the shots. Five drinks spread across four hours may sound manageable, but extra alcohol, walking, music, and late-night fatigue can change how the night feels. You do not have to accept every extra drink to get value from the event.

Finally, keep your expectations social. The best part is not a particular bar or a luxury drink. It is having a route, a group, guides, games, and enough structure to meet people without spending the evening planning.

Should you book the $17 bar crawl?

Book it if you want a social Queenstown night with five venues, five included shots, pizza, and a crowd ready to have fun. The low price and included entry make it a strong deal, especially for a first night in town or a birthday weekend.

Skip it if a group of more than 100 people sounds exhausting, or if you prefer quiet bars and a slower pace. The event is built around energy, movement, and alcohol.

For most young adults who meet the 18-plus requirement, I would treat this as a practical way to get oriented to Queenstown after dark. Eat first, bring valid ID, budget for extra drinks, and join the games if you want the full social side of the night.

FAQ

Where does the Queenstown bar crawl start?

It starts downstairs at The London Bar, next door to Fergburger, at 9 PM.

How long does the bar crawl last?

The activity lasts four hours and finishes at the final bar just after midnight.

How many bars are included?

You visit five Queenstown bars during the crawl.

Are drinks included in the price?

Five free shots are included, with one shot at each bar. Extra drinks are not included, though drink discounts are available during the crawl and for the rest of your stay in Queenstown.

Is food included?

Yes. Free pizza is provided during the night.

What ID do I need?

You must be at least 18 and bring a valid passport or New Zealand driver’s license.