Skippers Canyon Jet Boat Ride and Scenic Drive from Queenstown

Skippers Canyon near Queenstown

Skippers Canyon is a steep-sided gorge cut by the upper Shotover River, about half an hour from Queenstown. Gold miners arrived here in the 1860s, and the canyon still holds traces of their stone huts, water races and diggings. For visitors who search for things to do in Queenstown beyond the town centre, a Skippers Canyon tour is a good way to see the remote high-country side of the region.

The canyon has an atmosphere that is quite different from the lake at Queenstown: it is quiet, rugged and full of rock walls, with the river far below the road. Your guide explains how the area was settled, what the miners found and why the road was built the way it was.

The scenic drive along Skippers Road

Skippers Road is a narrow gravel road cut into the canyon wall in the nineteenth century, with steep drops on one side and rock on the other. Most rental-car agreements do not cover this road, so a guided vehicle is the safe and sensible way to see it. Your driver takes it slowly and stops at viewpoints for photos.

Along the route you pass Pinchers Bluff, old mining sites and the heritage Skippers Bridge, a suspension bridge built high above the river in the early twentieth century. If you are asking whether the Skippers Canyon drive is worth it, the views and the history are the answer, and you do not have to concentrate on the road.

The upper Shotover River jet boat ride

At the river you swap the vehicle for a jet boat. The 30-minute ride follows the upper Shotover River between rock walls, with fast turns and sudden spins as the boat skims the shallow water. You wear a life jacket and a spray jacket, which keeps you drier and warmer.

Compared with a ride close to town, this trip takes you deep into a wilder setting, much further from the main road. Photo and video packages are available to buy on the day, and there is no food or drink on board, so eat before you set out.

Practical details, timing and who it suits

The tour lasts around three hours, with return transport from central Queenstown included. The meeting point is in central Queenstown, and the exact location appears on your voucher. Wear warm, layered clothes and closed shoes, and bring sunglasses, a hat and a camera.

The tour suits adults and children from three years old, according to the age range, and is popular with families and small groups. Travellers who are pregnant or who have serious back or neck problems should skip the jet boat ride. Meals, drinks and photo packages are not included.