Skippers Canyon
A dramatic gorge road left over from the gold rush era, with cliff-hugging single lanes and century-old suspension bridges. Most rental car companies prohibit driving into the canyon.
Skippers Canyon lies upstream on the Shotover River and was the heart of the gold rush in the 1860s. The Skippers Road, carved into the cliffs, is one of New Zealand's most dangerous roads. Mostly gravel and single-lane, it passes hazardous sections including “Hell’s Gate.” At the end are the 1901 Skippers Suspension Bridge and the remains of an old school and cemetery. Most rental car contracts do not allow driving the road. Consider joining a 4WD tour or a combined canyon jet-boat trip, which takes about half a day.
Opening hours
Daytime (departs with tour groups)
Nearby sights
- Shotover Jet
- Onsen Hot Pools
- Coronet Peak
- Ben Lomond Track
- Moke Lake
- Queenstown Hill
- Skyline Queenstown Gondola
- Kiwi Birdlife Park