Queenstown: Bar Crawl with 5 Free Shots and Pizza

A good Queenstown night starts with a wristband. This bar crawl runs you through five top party bars with a free welcome shot at each stop, plus free pizza to keep the energy up. If you want an easy way to meet people and bounce between venues without overthinking it, this is built for that.

I also like the social rhythm: you’re led by a live guide, the group moves together, and there are games that can win prizes from local activities. The main drawback to consider is simple: it’s an 18+ night, and it’s a bigger group, so you’ll need a flexible, good-attitude mindset (and patience in lively crowds).

Key Points to Know Before You Go

5 bars, 5 free shots

Free pizza keeps your night steadier

Drink discounts for your whole stay

Games and prizes add a fun challenge

Meeting at The London at 9 PM means you start strong

The party ends just after midnight, but you control the after-hours

Queenstown at 9 PM: The London Bar Sets the Tone

Queenstown nightlife doesn’t wait around, and this crawl meets you right in the action. You start downstairs at The London Bar, next door to Fergburger, at 9:00 PM—a smart choice because it gets you moving before the streets get chaotic.

At the start, you’ll meet your guide and the rest of the group, then you’ll get set up so you can jump into the first venue quickly. Expect a quick handoff with wristbands/vouchers so you don’t spend your night hunting down staff or figuring out what you’re supposed to do.

How the 4-Hour Crawl Works: Five Stops, One Planned Route

The whole experience runs about 4 hours, with the schedule built around hopping bars without slowing down. You’ll visit five spots, and each stop includes a free shot on entry, which turns the usual “what should I drink?” decision into a built-in perk.

You’re also not starting from scratch. The tour includes free entry into all the bars, plus an express security check so you skip the slow bits. That’s real value in Queenstown, where lines can eat time and push your whole night back.

A note on pacing

Your group stays together, and your guide helps keep things organized. That matters on nights when weather turns or crowds surge, because you don’t want your plans to fall apart the moment you’re standing in the wrong line.

Stop One at The London: Your Welcome Shot Moment

This is the landing pad for the night. Meeting at The London Bar at 9 PM means you’re already in the middle of Queenstown’s party scene before the first move.

Once you’re sorted, you’ll head to your first drink stop and get that first free shot with the group. Even if you’re traveling solo, this first stop usually helps you orient fast—because you’re meeting people and hearing the plan for what comes next.

The Next Four Bars: Different Vibes, Same Easy System

After the first venue, the crawl continues to four more bars, each with a different vibe. The point isn’t just alcohol—it’s variety. One place might feel louder and more social, while another can feel more like a late-night hangout. That mix is why this works so well if you’re trying to avoid spending all night stuck in one venue.

There’s also a big practical advantage: you’re not guessing which bars are good that night. You’re guided to the spots your group will actually enjoy, which keeps the evening fun even if you arrive in town tired or unsure.

What you might notice

You’ll be in a larger group—one big crowd example is 112 people—so venues can feel busy. The tour crew’s job is to keep you moving and prevent the group from scattering, and it usually comes down to how well you follow the guide’s timing.

Free Pizza + Drink Discounts: The Budget Math That Matters

This crawl does two helpful things for your wallet and your mood. First, you get free pizza over the course of the night. Second, you receive drink discounts for your whole stay in town, not just during the 4-hour window.

Free pizza isn’t glamorous, but it’s smart. Shots hit faster when you haven’t eaten, and the pizza gives you a buffer that makes the last bars more enjoyable instead of chaotic.

As for drink discounts, the value depends on what you’d normally spend anyway. If you planned to bounce between places after your first few drinks, those discounts can quietly knock down your total cost—especially since you’re already getting free shots and free entry.

Games and Prizes: When the Night Gets Interactive

A bar crawl can turn into a passive drinking session, but this one adds structure through games. You’ll have chances to take part while the night is happening, and there’s the potential to win prizes from local activities.

That matters for two reasons. It gives you something to do besides standing around, and it encourages interaction. If your travel style includes meeting people but you hate forced small talk, games are a natural way to break the ice.

Photos on Facebook: A Practical Way to Remember the Night

The experience includes free photos uploaded to Facebook. That’s useful if you’re traveling with friends and someone keeps saying we should take pics later. Here, you don’t have to manage the camera—just show up and be part of the group.

It’s also a gentle reality check: if you’re the kind of person who wants a record of the night, you’ll have something to look back on without having to coordinate shot-by-shot.

Group Size, Rain, and the Real-Life Chaos Factor

Queenstown nights can swing hard—crowds can grow fast, and weather can change quickly. One account mentioned pouring rain, but the crawl still kept moving and stayed fun, which is exactly what you want when you’re trying to enjoy the night rather than fight logistics.

You should also expect that the free shots can land with different intensity depending on the timing and what the night’s like. One example mentioned the last three shots turning into Jäger, which feels like the sort of late-night tradition that can happen when a group gets swept into the bigger party energy.

Best approach

Go in with a good attitude, stay with the group, and don’t try to outsmart the schedule. If you’re ready to laugh at how chaotic it gets, you’ll have a better time than someone treating it like a strict itinerary.

Ending Just After Midnight: What Happens After the Tour

The crawl finishes in the last bar just after midnight. That’s not the end of your Queenstown night—it’s just when the organized part wraps and your group breaks off.

This is a helpful design choice. It gives you a strong start, a packed middle, and an exit point that doesn’t leave you wandering around at 1 AM with zero idea where to go next. If you still want more, you can continue with friends you met—or stay local and call it a night when you’re ready.

Practical Tips: ID, Attitude, and Staying Safe

This is an 18+ activity, so plan accordingly. Bring valid ID: a passport is listed as what to bring, and the tour also accepts a New Zealand driver’s license.

Also, keep your expectations realistic. This is nightlife with real people, real crowds, and sometimes real waiting. The tour includes express security, but the venues themselves can still be busy, especially in peak season.

Finally, think about your limits. You’re getting five free shots, and the night can run later than you planned even though the crawl is around four hours. Eat the pizza, pace yourself, and choose the pace that keeps you enjoying the bars instead of trying to recover in them.

Who This Bar Crawl Is Best For (and Who Should Skip It)

You’ll likely love this if you’re:

• In Queenstown for a short time and want nightlife highlights fast
• Traveling solo and want an organized way to meet people
• The type who likes different venues instead of committing to one club all night
• Happy to follow a guide and jump between stops on schedule

You might want to skip it if:

• You strongly prefer quiet, independent nightlife
• You don’t enjoy big groups (remember the crawl can run large)
• You’d rather spend your money on one or two specific places than take the “five-stop” route

If your goal is variety plus structure, this tour hits that sweet spot.

Should You Book This Queenstown Bar Crawl?

I think it’s a smart booking if you value three things: access, simple planning, and included perks. For $17 per person, you’re not just buying tickets to bars—you’re paying for free entry, five free shots, free pizza, drink discounts, express security, and a guide who keeps the night moving.

If you’re the kind of traveler who wants a fun night with minimal decision fatigue, this does the work for you. Just bring your ID, wear something you can move in, and treat it like a group party with a plan—not a strict school schedule.

In other words: if you want Queenstown nightlife to feel effortless and social, this is an easy yes.

FAQ

Is this a 4-hour activity?

Yes. The bar crawl runs for about 4 hours.

Where do I meet for the bar crawl?

Meet downstairs at The London Bar, next door to Fergburger.

How old do I have to be?

This is an 18+ activity.

What’s included in the price?

You get free entry into all the bars, 5 free shots, free pizza, free photos uploaded to Facebook, drink discounts for your whole stay, and games and prizes.

What drink perks do I get besides the shots?

You’ll have drink discounts for your whole stay in town, plus the included free shots during the crawl.

Do I need hotel pickup or drop-off?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off aren’t included.

What should I bring for the tour?

Bring valid ID. A passport is listed as what to bring, and a New Zealand driver’s license is also accepted.

Do I need cash for extra drinks?

Extra drinks are not included, so you’ll likely want some spending money if you plan to keep drinking beyond the included shots.

Is there a security line?

You’ll get an express security check (skip the line through security).

When does the tour finish?

It finishes in the last bar just after midnight, but you can keep going afterward if you want.