Skippers Canyon Road
New Zealand, oceania
22 km
920 m
extreme
October to April
Skippers Canyon Road is a notoriously dangerous 22-kilometer gravel road carved into the sheer cliff faces of Skippers Canyon near Queenstown, New Zealand. The road was hand-built by gold miners in the 1860s and has remained largely unchanged since, with no guardrails, a surface of loose gravel, and sections barely wide enough for a single vehicle. Rental car insurance is voided on this road, making it one of the few roads in the world where mainstream rental companies explicitly refuse coverage.
The road descends from Coronet Peak Road into the deep Shotover River gorge, passing through narrow rock cuttings where the cliff drops away hundreds of meters to the river below. In several sections, the road is carved into a narrow shelf on the cliff face, with barely enough room for a single vehicle and nowhere to pull over if another vehicle approaches from the opposite direction. The original stone retaining walls built by Chinese gold miners in the 1860s are still visible, and the road surface varies from compacted gravel to loose stones and mud.
Skippers Canyon was one of the richest gold-mining areas in New Zealand during the 1860s gold rush, and the remains of mining operations, stone cottages, and the historic Skippers suspension bridge (1901) can still be seen along the route. The canyon itself is spectacular, with steep schist rock walls plunging to the turquoise Shotover River. Today, the area is popular for jet boating, bungy jumping, and white-water rafting. Guided 4WD tours are the recommended way to experience the road, as local operators know the conditions and can navigate the tight sections safely.
Where is it?
Skippers Canyon Road is located in Otago, South Island, New Zealand (oceania). Coordinates: -44.9500, 168.7167
Driving Tips
Rental car insurance is voided on this road. Best experienced via guided 4WD tour. Not suitable for inexperienced drivers. No cell phone coverage. Bring water and supplies. Road can be impassable after rain.
Road Surface
Gravel and dirt
Road Details
- Country
- New Zealand
- Continent
- oceania
- Region
- Otago, South Island
- Length
- 22 km
- Max Elevation
- 920 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Surface
- Gravel and dirt
- Best Season
- October to April
- Coordinates
- -44.9500, 168.7167
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