Drive Through Skippers Canyon

One of the most scenic journeys you can take in the Queenstown area is the drive through Skippers Canyon, about 20 kilometers north of Queenstown. This 22-kilometer-long canyon now leads to Coronet Peak but was once home to thousands of prospectors after gold was discovered in 1892 in the Shotover River, which winds through the gorge.

Today, the winding and narrow road through the canyon–known as Skippers Canyon Road (often shortened to just "Skippers Road")–is bordered by breathtakingly vertical drops on one side and high cliffs on the other. This dramatic scenery makes for an incredibly beautiful road trip, and traversing the high suspension bridge known as Skipper's Bridge (built in 1901) is a major highlight along the way.