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HIGH
COUNTRY
SHEEP FARM
MIGHTY
SKIPPERS
CANYON
NEVIS
VALLEY
PHOTO
LOCATIONS
OLD MAN
OLD WOMAN
RANGE
HIGH COUNTRY FARM
FULL OR ½ DAY PASSENGER ADVENTURES
ADVENTURE DESCRIPTION
This is the ultimate high country sheep station tour. This ½ or full day adventure travels through to a wonderful, very private, high country sheep station. The rugged wilderness on this farm is simply breath taking, words do not do it justice. With a guaranteed variety of tracks, diverse stunning scenery, local area commentary, gold mining history and memorable experiences, this expedition brings it all together.
ITINERARY FOR FULL DAY (½ day option available)
Pickup time and location can be arranged to suit requirements.
We set off to explore a very private high country sheep station and its huge vistas. Plenty of time is allowed to soak in the mountains, rivers, raw scenery and remote quietness. Two walks are available for catching some fresh alpine air. One around a beautiful alpine lake, and the other through native bush to a waterfall.
Lunch, morning or afternoon tea can will be at an remote back country hut, or on a magnificent mountain ridge line with a river each side. Returning through the station we take a alternate track crossing a small pristine river numerous times, allowing time for a hands on go at gold panning or to just chill out.
This is a working farm so there will be plenty of opportunities for viewing and photographing Merino sheep in their high country setting.
Drop off time and location can be arranged to suit requirements.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Private charter group (3 pax max per vehicle)
- Authentic New Zealand high country sheep station experience
- Lake walk option (5 min to 1½ hour)
- Horse ride option
- Helicopter in or out via airport or Skyline gondola option
- Helicopter out with jetboat option
- Helicopter out with raft option
- Gold detector & gold pan use
- Exclusive and extremely private
- Meet and chat with sheep station owners
- Genuine kiwi experiences
- Visit New Zealand legend Barry Crumps remote southern home
- Delicious morning, afternoon tea provided on half day tours. Lunch provided on full day tour.
TRIP REQUIREMENTS
Suitable clothing and footwear for weather conditions / walk options and general farm wear.
DATES AVAILABLE
These trips run on demand.
Please contact us to discuss dates.
MIGHTY SKIPPERS CANYON
FULL OR ½ DAY PASSENGER ADVENTURES
DESCRIPTION
A ½ of full day exploring the stunning Skippers Canyon with full commentary and interpretation at each stop. From Coronet Peak to the mighty Shotover River, we journey along the infamous 1889 road following the trail of the 1860s gold rush. This tour has huge vistas of our southern high country, with incredible sights and photo opportunities.
½ DAY ADVENTURE ITINERARY
After pick up we turn off up Coronet Peak Ski field access road to gain the wonderful views over the Wakatipu basin, Arrowtown, Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown. Following this, we begin our adventure by cresting Skippers Saddle to get our first views of Mt Aurum, the Skippers Road and a view of the high country terrain which we will drive through. We journey down to the Shotover River and follow it up stopping many times to take in its beauty. Towards the top end of the tour we cross historic 1901 Skippers Bridge and visit the old 1879 School house.
Highlights of the tour include:
- Private charter groups (3 pax max per vehicle)
- Available in either full or half day guided tours
- Full commentary and interpretation
- Authentic New Zealand high country experience
- Explore the infamous 1889 Skippers Canyon gold mining road
- Visit the 1879 Skippers school
- Try your hand at gold panning on the mighty Shotover River
- Optional Skippers Canyon Jet boat
- Optional raft out
- Optional helicopter out
- Pickup time and location by arrangement
- Delicious morning, afternoon tea provided on half day tours. Gourmet lunch provided on full day tour.
and much more..
Drop off time and location can be organised to suit your requirements.
DATES AVAILABLE
Trips are run on demand
NEVIS & BANNOCKBURN
1 DAY PASSENGER EXPEDITION
DESCRIPTION
This Expedition takes us south from Queenstown to the small country town of Garston where we say good bye to sealed roads and head for the hills.
With varied terrain of river flats and tussock grassland high country, old gold mining history, huge rock tors and the spiked native speargrass plants covering the mountain saddles, this expedition provides an adventurous day out without any difficult driving. A great day out for the whole family, this expedition showcases what Central Otago has to offer.
FULL DAY ITINERARY
From Queenstown we head south following Lake Wakatipu to the small township of Garston for a last takeaway coffee and fresh muffin.
From Garston we gain altitude and climb up into tussock country at the southern end of the Hector Mountains over Nokomai Saddle. We descend into the southern Nevis Valley where we find the Nevis River. Following the river the valley opens out to be a wide, barren, typical Otago high country valley. After numerous small fords and creek crossings we start to see the gold mining remnants, from sluicing ponds and pipework to historic buildings. We pass the old settlement and turn off to explore the old cemetery.
After lunch we head off again and from the Nevis crossing we leave the valley and river behind to climb up and over Duffers Saddle. We will spend time amongst the rock tors enjoying the magnificent views over Lake Dunstan, Cromwell and the Pisa Range. Descending down to the old 1858 township of Bannockburn, we can stop at the local pub for a dust quenching drink before heading back to Queenstown.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Explore the stunning remote Nevis Valley and its history.
- Walk amongst rock tors on Duffers Saddle.
- Amazing views down to Lake Dunstan, Cromwell and the Pisa Range.
- Delicious morning, afternoon tea and lunch provided.
DATES AVAILABLE
Trips run on demand
PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS
FULL OR ½ DAY PASSENGER ADVENTURES
DESCRIPTION
We offer half, full and multi day photography location tours, all charter based. Our photography tours are designed with total flexibility to accommodate the 4 seasons, differing weather and your goals as to what you want to achieve.
Having lived and worked in the Southern Lakes region for the last 27 years, we have gained a knowledge and appreciation of the absolute best locations for capturing wonderful photos. Our vehicles, land access and local experience give us the edge to make sure we can offer photographers an amazing opportunity to capture the remarkable scenery this region has to offer.
Del's experience with photography includes jointly self publishing the title 'Journey Milford', a print photo book examining the trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound. Del currently has 5 eBooks published through Apple's iBook store. All images on this website excluding historic ones are Del's images.
examples of different local photography available
- Autumn colors
- Arrowtown and 1860's gold mining history
- High country
- Skippers Canyon
- Lupin fields
- Sheep station musters
- Temperate rain forest
- Raging rivers
- Glaciers
- Stunning lakes
- Central Otago & Wanaka
- Poolburn
- Pisa Range
- Lord of the Rings scenes
- Glenorchy
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Private groups
- Available in either full or half day guided tours
- Full commentary and interpretation
- Authentic New Zealand high country experiences
- Explore the infamous 1889 Skippers Canyon gold mining road
- Pickup time and location by arrangement
- Delicious morning, afternoon tea provided on half day tours. Lunch provided on full day tour.
DATES AVAILABLE
Trips run on demand
OLD MAN / OLD WOMAN RANGE
1 DAY EXPEDITION
DESCRIPTION
Full day tour ex Queenstown featuring 2 historic Central Otago townships and the 16780 ha (41450 acre) Kopuwai conservation area. This tour allows visitors to not only visit but to experience this remote and wild region first hand. A genuine New Zealand high country adventure away from mainstream tourism.
ITINERARY
From Queenstown we head west through the Kawarau Gorge past Cromwell and Lake Dunstan to historic Clyde, where we have time to grab a coffee and see Clyde Dam up close. From Alexandra we start climbing steeply to 1682m, providing commanding views over Central Otago, and the 26-metre rock, Kopuwai, also known as the Obelisk or Old Man Rock. This area has an average annual temperature close to zero degrees Celsius. As a result the ranges are dotted with distinctive schist rock tors and bisected by fields of freeze-thaw hummocks and mounds, creating a wave-like effect across the slopes and basins. The ground cover is dwarf, tundra-like vegetation of wind- blasted cushion plants. The low growing dracophyllum plant dominates these areas, along with several mountain daisies. The area is rich in Maori and European history. You can find native flora typical for the windy, mountainous region, and observe a variety of birdlife. The Old Man Range is a sub-alpine island for lizards and invertebrates.
We negotiate the old gold mining tracks and trails traversing the Old Man and Old Woman Ranges which run from north-west to south- east, creating a rain shadow that blocks and absorbs southerly fronts, making Central Otago New Zealand’s driest area. Attaining the height of 1740m we start travelling through the Kopuwai Conservation area, with stunning Central Otago vistas on our right, and the Nevis Valley and Hector Mountains on our left.
We come out at Duffers Saddle on the Nevis Road and proceed down through to the old gold mining township of Bannockburn, where a cool drink awaits in the old local pub.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Full day ex Queenstown adventure
- Commanding views over Central Otago
- Historic Clyde and Clyde dam
- Available on our guided passenger tour or tag along
- Explore the wild remote Kopuwai Conservation area
- Explore the rock tors on Duffers Saddle
- Amazing views down to Lake Dunstan, Cromwell and the Pisa Range
- A photographers dream!
DATES AVAILABLE
Trips run on demand
4WD Expeditions offer ½, full, multi day and charter passenger tours. Our tours are based on 3 to 4 passengers maximum. Being small charter groups we can offer more flexibility, personalised experiences and individual attention. All our 4WD tag along tours can be enjoyed as a passenger in the lead vehicle with our guide.
Below is a selection of tours based out of Queenstown for passengers with a sense of adventure. Contact us to further details.
Private Passenger Tours
4WD Expeditions Limited
PO Box 1046
Queenstown 9348
New Zealand
From New Zealand
Email : info@4WDexpeditions.nz
Freephone : 0800 4WD FUN (493 386)
Cell : 021 244 3920
© 2016 4WD Expeditions. All rights reserved.
