Gibbston facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gibbston
Community
One of the area's vineyards
Country	New Zealand
Region	Otago
Territorial authority	Queenstown-Lakes District
Ward	Queenstown-Wakatipu Ward
Electorates	Southland Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)
Local iwi	Ngāi Tahu

Gibbston is a small community in the Otago region of New Zealand's South Island. It sits in the Wakatipu Basin, with the Kawarau River flowing through its valley, creating the Kawarau Gorge.

This area is famous for its many vineyards and wineries. They are part of the Central Otago wine region. Gibbston is known for being one of the coolest and highest places in this wine region. Most of its land slopes gently towards the north. This helps the grapes grow better because they get more sunlight. It also reduces the chance of frost, which can harm the plants.

In 2011, Gibbston was named "Community of the Year." This was because of the great work done on the Gibbston River Trail.

The Gibbston River Trail and the Gibbston Highway Trail are popular paths. People use them for walking, running, and cycling. These trails let you easily visit the local wineries. They also connect to The Queenstown Trail at the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge.

Sometimes, people mistakenly call this area Gibbston Valley or Gibbston Flats. This is because the flat land here is quite rare within the Kawarau Gorge.

People of Gibbston

Gibbston is part of a larger area called Outer Wakatipu. This area covers about 1,863 square kilometers. It includes the communities around, but not inside, Queenstown and Arrowtown.

As of 2023, the Outer Wakatipu area has an estimated population of about 1,000 people. This means there are roughly 0.5 people living per square kilometer.

The population of Outer Wakatipu has been growing. In 2006, there were 537 people. By 2013, it grew to 657 people. In 2018, the population reached 822 people. This shows a steady increase over the years.

In 2018, there were 282 households in the area. There were slightly more males (420) than females (405). The average age was about 43 years old. About 17.5% of the people were under 15 years old. Around 62% were between 30 and 64 years old.

Most people in the area (93.4%) are of European descent. About 6.2% identify as Māori. Smaller numbers of people are Pasifika or Asian. Many people (31.4%) were born outside New Zealand.

When asked about religion, most people (66.1%) said they had no religion. About 25.9% were Christian. A small number followed Hinduism or Buddhism.

Many adults in Gibbston have a university degree or higher. About 33% of people aged 15 and older have a bachelor's degree or more.

Vineyards and Wineries

Gibbston is famous for its many vineyards and wineries. These are places where grapes are grown and turned into wine. Here are some of the well-known ones in the area:

Many different types of grapes are grown here. The most common ones include Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir. Some other, less common, grape types are Gamay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Meunier.

Kawarau Gibbston Dark Sky Park

Gibbston is home to the Kawarau Gibbston Dark Sky Park. This is a special place where the night sky is kept very dark. It is located between Cromwell and Queenstown.

A dark-sky preserve helps protect the natural darkness of the night. This allows people to see stars and planets clearly, without light pollution from cities. The Gibbston Community Association worked hard to get this park recognized.

In May 2024, DarkSky International officially approved the park. It covers an area of about 25 square kilometers along a part of the Kawarau River. It's a great spot for stargazing!