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.

Queenstown, New Zealand

Duration
4 hours

Start & End Time
8:15 am & 1:30 pm

Max Group Size
6

Pick-Up & Drop-Off
Included

Fitness Level
Low

Meals
Included

What's Included

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

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.

Our trips will depart in all weather conditions unless the operations manager considers it to be too dangerous.

We will pick you up and drop you at any central accommodation or information centre.

Policies

Terms & Conditions:

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.

Cancellation Policy:

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

All and any information provided to the supplier will be treated with strict confidentiality. No information will be passed on further than the original booking, except incase of emergency, for example, missing persons details will be given to the appropriate authorities for search and rescue purposes.

TRIP CANCELLATION

The supplier reserves the absolute right to cancel any scheduled departures as a result of road or weather conditions.

The supplier 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 (in these instances, clients will be entitled to a full refund or part refund for the section of the trip that was incomplete)

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.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

The supplier 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 the supplier, its officers and/or its employees from all claims, losses, damages or expenses which arise during or in conjunction with a tour provided by the supplier. This includes any claims for damage caused by negligence of the supplier, 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.

The supplier 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 the supplier.

Without limiting the above, the supplier shall be under no obligation or liability to any person as a result of any inaccuracy, misdescription or changes to any tour made by the supplier or any other party.

INDEMNITY

The passenger indemnifies the supplier, its officers and/or its employees against all claims, losses, damages or expenses (including any costs including legal fees that may be incurred as a result of any claims, losses, damages or expenses whether valid or not) that he or she or their executors, administrators, next of kin, successors or assignees may have or assert for any claims, losses, damages or expenses whether valid or not.

ACTS OF GOD

The supplier 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 the supplier.

STATUTORY PROTECTIONS – NEW ZEALAND LAW

These terms and conditions are to be read subject to the provisions of the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and the Fair Trading Act 1986 and do not affect the customer’s rights as expressed in the Acts.