- Travel down one of the 25 most scenic roads in the world!
- Visit Skippers Canyon, Skippers township and Skippers Schoolhouse
- Try gold panning in the Shotover River
- Refreshments included
- Pickup from Town Centre or Queenstown accommodation
Gold Heritage: Skippers Canyon Tour
Journey down one of the most spectacular roads in the world combining best of New Zealand high country and history.What's Included
What's excluded
Bring drinking water and a camera!
Why do we love this
"We love it because this trip is the perfect combination of adventure and history. It's a great chance to experience the past and learn all about the history of Skipper's Canyon and township with little highlights like gold panning, snacks at Skipper's Schoolhouse and visits to original buildings making it all the more authentic! Pair this with the amazing Queenstown scenery and you have a trip you'll never forget."
What to Expect
This exciting 4WD tour along one of the 25 most scenic roads in the world will see you immersed in the historical township and spectacular cliffs and valleys of Skippers Canyon! Enjoy learning about the area's history, all the while marvelling at the stunning scenery that surrounds you!
The day begins with pickup from your Queenstown accommodation. From there, head to Coronet Peak, along the rugged road, hacked by hand into the cliff sides of the Shotover River Valley. A stop at Plane Table will give you stunning panoramic views of Wakatipu Basin and the valleys beyond.
Afterwards, head into Skippers Canyon and pay a visit to Lighthouse Rock, another great viewpoint over the entire canyon. Wander down the winding walking track, and discovering gold panning history at Skippers Bridge.
Continue on into the township of Skippers where you'll have the chance to explore the gold panning history with visits to original, historical structures and sites! Enjoy a delicious morning or afternoon tea at the Skippers Schoolhouse and then browse the photos and artefacts in the restored building.
Next, you'll head back onto the rugged track, ready for a stop at Deep Creek where you'll get a first-hand experience of the gold panning lifestyle. This is one of the richest gold bearing rivers in the world and NOMAD's trained guides will be there to teach you special techniques - so get ready to find some treasure!
This tour departs at 8:15 am and 1:30 pm and takes approximately 4 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Snacks, hot drinks and pick up and drop off any central accommodation or information centres
Suitable shoes and appropriate clothing. All you need to bring with you is water, a camera and a sense of adventure!
Hot drinks (tea, coffee and hot chocolate) and biscuits and cakes.
We use a mixture of Land Rovers, Toyota Land Cruisers: Ford Transit vans and other 6 seater vans. Our Land Rovers are certified for 8 passengers but we generally take only 6. Our Land Cruisers have 6 seats. Transit vans have 11 seats. We can also provide 19, 21 and 22 seater buses.
The longest walk is about 15 minutes but it is not necessary to participate if you do not want to.
Policies
Refunds
Bookings cancelled more than 24 hours before the trip will incur no cancellation fee.
Bookings cancelled within 24 hours of departure will be subject to a 100% cancellation fee.
Customers who do not turn up for a departure will not be entitled to any refund. You will be invoiced for the full amount of the booking.
Refunds will only be issued through the original booking office.
Lost Property
No responsibility is accepted for loss or damage to client’s personal property whilst on any trip.
Limitaton of Liability
Outback New Zealand Limited accepts no liability for any act or omission arising from a tour (including any arising from a tour not taking place) and the passenger releases, waives and holds harmless Outback New Zealand Limited, its officers and/or its employees from all claims, losses, damages or expenses which arise during or in conjunction with a tour provided by Outback New Zealand Limited. This includes any claims for damage caused by negligence of Outback New Zealand Limited, its officers and/or its employees, and includes any claim for any costs including legal fees that may be incurred as a result of any such claims, losses, damages or expenses whether valid or not.
Outback New Zealand Limited does not accept any liability for the acts, omissions, or default whether negligent or otherwise of those companies or other persons providing services in connection with a tour by Outback New Zealand Limited.
Without limiting the above, Outback New Zealand Limited shall be under no obligation or liability to any person as a result of any inaccuracy, misdescription or changes to any tour made by Outback New Zealand Limited or any other party.
Minimum Numbers
Minimum numbers of 2 passengers are required to confirm all trips. On NZ statutory holidays, minimum numbers of 4 pax apply to all trips.
Outback New Zealand Ltd reserves the right to suggest other dates if a single person is the only person travelling on the day.
Acts of God, weather and sickness
Outback New Zealand Limited has no liability for losses or additional expenses incurred by passengers due to sickness, weather, strikes, delays or changes in air or other transport services, force majeure, Act of God, or other causes outside the control of Outback New Zealand Limited.
Outback New Zealand Limited reserves the absolute right to cancel any scheduled departures as a result of road or weather conditions
Outback New Zealand Limited reserves the absolute right to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of a tour
Clients will be advised as soon as possible of any cancellation or part cancellation (and will be entitled to a full refund or refund of that part of the trip that has been unable to be completed
- Bookings cancelled more than 24 hours before the trip will incur no cancellation fee
- Bookings cancelled within 24 hours of departure will be subject to a 100% cancellation fee
Pickup Locations
Pickup from Town Centre or Queenstown accommodation.
- Absoloot Backpackers - (MEET AT INFO & TRACK)
- Adventure Q2 Hostel
- Adventure Queenstown - (MEET AT INFO & TRACK)
- Alexis Motel and Apartments
- Amber Lodge
- Absoloot Backpackers - (MEET AT INFO & TRACK)
- Adventure Q2 Hostel
- Adventure Queenstown - (MEET AT INFO & TRACK)
- Alexis Motel and Apartments
- Amber Lodge
- Amity Lodge
- Aspen Lodge
- Azur Lodge
- Base Backpackers - (MEET AT INFO & TRACK)
- Bella Vista
- Black Sheep Backpackers
- Blue Peaks
- Breakfree the Point
- Browns Boutique Hotel
- Bumbles Backpackers
- Bungi Backpackers
- Butterfli Lodge
- Caples Court Motel
- Central Ridge Boutique Hotel
- Chalet Queenstown
- Colonial Village Motel
- Copthorne Hotel and Apartments Lakeview
- Copthorne Hotel and Resort Lakefront
- Coronation Lodge
- Coronet View
- Creeksyde Holiday Park
- Crowne Plaza
- Deco Backpackers
- DoubleTree (by Hilton)
- Earnslaw Lodge
- Eichardts
- Flaming Kiwi
- Garden Court Suites & Apartments
- Haka Lodge
- Heartland Hotel & Scenic Suites
- Heritage Hotel, Fernhill
- Hilton
- Hippo Lodge
- Holiday Inn Frankton Rd
- Holiday Inn Town Centre
- Hurley's of Queenstown
- INFO & TRACK, 37 Shotover Street
- Jucy Snooze - (MEET AT INFO & TRACK)
- Kamana Lakehouse
- Lakefront Apartments
- Lakeside Motel
- Lomond Lodge
- Mantra Marina / Luxury Lake Suites
- Melbourne Lodge B&B
- Mercure Hotel
- Mi-Pad
- Millennium Hotel
- Nomads Backpackers
- Novotel
- Nugget Point
- Oaks Club Resort
- Oaks Shores
- Peppers Beacon
- Pinewood Lodge
- Platinum Queenstown Villas
- QT Queenstown
- Queenstown House Boutique B&B
- Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park
- Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel
- Queenstown TOP 10 Holiday Park
- Ramada Remarkables Park
- Ramada Town Centre
- Reavers Lodge
- Ridge Resort
- Rydges
- Sherwood Hotel
- Shotover Lodge
- Sofitel
- Southern Laughter
- Spinnaker Bay Executive Apartments
- St Moritz
- Swiss-Belresort CORONET PEAK
- Swiss-Belsuites POUNAMU
- Tahuna Pod
- The Dairy Private Luxury Hotel
- The Glebe Apartments
- The Last Resort
- The Lodges
- The Lofts Apartments
- The Rees
- The Spire
- The Waterfront
- To be confirmed
- Turner Heights Townhouses
- Villa Del Lago
- Whistler Apartments
- Wyndham Garden
- YHA Central - (MEET AT INFO & TRACK)
- YHA Lakefront
Reviews
Why book with us?
- Best Price Guarantee
- Free & Easy Cancellation
- Up to 10% Cashback
- 100,000 5 Star Reviews
- Book Securely