NEVIS VALLEY
TAG ALONG
BEGINNER + LEVEL
JOIN QUEENSTOWN'S MOST EXPERIENCED 4WD
GUIDE ON A PRIVATE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TOUR
GUIDED TAG ALONG TOUR | BEGINNER + LEVEL
NEVIS VALLEY
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 including river flats and tussock grasslands in the high country, huge rock tors and the spiked native spear grass plants covering the mountain saddles, this expedition provides an adventurous day out in an area rich with gold mining history.
A great day out exploring the remote Nevis Valley for the whole family, this expedition showcases what Central Otago has to offer.
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 including river flats and tussock grasslands in the high country, huge rock tors and the spiked native spear grass plants covering the mountain saddles, this expedition provides an adventurous day out in an area rich with gold mining history.
A great day out exploring the remote Nevis Valley for the whole family, this expedition showcases what Central Otago has to offer.
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 including river flats and tussock grasslands in the high country, huge rock tors and the spiked native spear grass plants covering the mountain saddles, this expedition provides an adventurous day out in an area rich with gold mining history.
A great day out exploring the remote Nevis Valley for the whole family, this expedition showcases what Central Otago has to offer.
TAG ALONG
NEVIS VALLEY
PRIVATE TOUR
PRICE PER VEHICLE : $1190 (1), $680 (2), $470 (3), POA 4+
-
INFORMATION
INFORMATION
- Vehicle insurance suitable for this tour.
- Travel insurance is highly recommended.
- Road tyres are not suitable, All terrain tyres preferred with minimum 60% tread.
- A full list of vehicle requirements is on our booking form. Contact us for details.
- This tour is suitable for people with beginner + off-road driving experience.
- This tour operates on public roads, backcountry tracks and DOC land. As per most backcountry routes this tour has narrow tracks, and tracks at height. Drivers need to be confident driving on back country roads.
- The Nevis Road is a public road. It has creeks and streams to cross. These can be done without a snorkel.
- Due to hazard identification over hand held radios, clients must be fluent in english.
TRACK CONDITIONS
The tracks we use for this tour through the Nevis Valley is mainly a public road. We require tag along drivers to be familiar and competent with the following:
- Steep, loose surface climbs
- Heights
- Narrow tracks
- Creek crossings
That all said, this tour is achievable for most people that have been off- roading before ; it is not suitable for beginners or drivers that lack confidence on narrow tracks.
If in doubt give me a call and we can discuss this.
SELF DRIVE BOOKING
3 steps for booking
- Email us at info@4wdexpeditions.nz
- We will send you a link to the booking forms. Please read, sign and return.
- Pay online or on the day, Visa, Mastercard, eftpos, Direct bank transfer.
INCLUDED
- Hand held radio supplied (Private tour)
- Hand held radios available, limited supply on public tours.
- Includes 15% NZ Goods & Services Tax
- Professional guide
- Satellite phone / safety equipment
- Commercial DOC access fees
- Morning tea (Private tour)
NOT INCLUDED
- Vehicle hire
- Fuel
- Insurance
- Vehicle recovery
DATES AVAILABLE
- Public tours run on set dates.
- Private tours run on demand, we confirm for one vehicle.
- Private tour start times can be flexible.
- Private tour pick-ups at local accommodation by prior arrangement.
-
ITINERARY
ITINERARY
From Queenstown we head south following Lake Wakatipu to the small township of Garston for a last takeaway coffee and fresh muffin.
Leaving 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 until it opens out 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 an old settlement and turn off to explore the old cemetery.
After lunch, we leave the Nevis valley and river behind to climb up and over Duffers Saddle where we 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 stop at the local pub for a dust quenching drink and debrief. From Bannockburn we say our goodbyes and head back to Queenstown in our own time.
-
TESTIMONIALS
We thoroughly enjoyed our day with 4WD Expeditions. We started in Garston with a safety check and issue of radios and then followed Del in our own vehicle up over the southern end of the Hector Range and into the Upper Nevis Valley. Del has a lot of knowledge about the area and its history of settlement and gold mining. After a picnic lunch we left the Nevis for a memorable side trip to the Kopuwai Conservation Area on the Old Woman Range. Here the 4WD was more technical and challenging and after some steep climbing we were rewarded with spectacular panoramic views of the Central Otago landscapes.
We returned to the Nevis Road and finished the trip at the bottom of Duffers Saddle just before Bannockburn.
Del runs a professional tour with good briefings, a well equipped lead vehicle with safety gear and plenty of stops for photographs and sightseeing.
We have no hesitation in recommending Del and 4WD Expeditions for a memorable, entertaining and challenging day trip. John - Christchurch
We booked the Pisa Range tour to see something a bit different and we were not disappointed. The road trip to the summit was full of interest and beautiful vistas. A stop at an alpine hut for morning tea was well timed. More climbing in our comfortable vehicle led us to the summit and 360 degree views of the Southern Alps, Lake Wanaka, Lake Hawea, Lake Dunstan, Cromwell and Alexandra – breath-taking! We enjoyed a tasty lunch at the summit taking in the views. At times we were above pockets of snow. Then there were the side trips to view alpine lakes and impressive rock tors. Plenty of opportunities for photos, we were never rushed and Del was full of information about the area’s rock formations, plant and bird life. This would have to rate as one of the best tours we have done. Del is a fantastic driver and tour guide, full of information and humour and gave us a wonderful day on Mt Pisa. We have no hesitation in recommending him and this tour.
Peter and Jacquie, Hamilton NZ.2020
Fantastic bespoke 4WD tour. We had a 3 day tour with Del. Travelled with my
Father and his good mate both in their late 70s. Del really went out of his way to taylor the tour to our needs. We all had a great time. This part of NZ is really beautiful and interesting. Lots of little surprises along the way. Brought back a lot of memories for my dad and our friend who both grew up in this area. Del has been doing this for a long time, we always felt looked after and safe. Thanks Del. Auckland
Wonderful 2 day tour with 4WD Expeditions in Queenstown area, tag-along in our own trucks - magic! Highly recommend this time of year - autumn with trees all shades of brilliant yellow,orange and red, set off the already impressive mountain and river landscape. We saw some amazing out-of-the-way spots with superb photo opportunities - truly NZ at its best.
Our guide Del was safety conscious, thoroughly professional, very knowledgeable both historically and geographically, with lots of anecdotes to make our tour come alive, nothing was a problem. Very quick and easy communication in the pre-tour phase too. His sense of humour kept us chuckling, very friendly, a good all-round Kiwi bloke with a passion for what he is doing.
A++ experience - you will not regret touring with 4WD Expeditions!. Ashburton
My family and I had a great trip with 4WD Expeditions back in February. It was the highlight of our time in New Zealand - a truly wonderful way to see the countryside that tourists seldom see, while learning off-road driving skills. We started off the trip pretty easy, but we moved on to some challenging stuff that I wouldn’t have liked to have tried on our own. It was great to see how the lead vehicle took the river crossings and rougher terrain before approaching it ourselves, and Del also coached us over the radio. There were lots of opportunities for pictures and the scenery was spectacular – every photo I took looked like a postcard! Del was extremely knowledgeable about the area, and had entertaining stories to tell about many of the places we saw. I highly recommend a trip with 4WD Expeditions. Laurel - England
Excellent 3 days. Excellent guide. (Thank you Del). Views magnificent. Tracks very good. Would do it all again. Alan - Auckland
Very good expedition. Well guided and some great places were seen. Del was very good and
informative. Bob - Ashburton
We thoroughly enjoyed our day with 4WD Expeditions. We started in Garston with a safety check and issue of radios and then followed Del in our own vehicle up over the southern end of the Hector Range and into the Upper Nevis Valley. Del has a lot of knowledge about the area and its history of settlement and gold mining. After a picnic lunch we left the Nevis for a memorable side trip to the Kopuwai Conservation Area on the Old Woman Range. Here the 4WD was more technical and challenging and after some steep climbing we were rewarded with spectacular panoramic views of the Central Otago landscapes.
We returned to the Nevis Road and finished the trip at the bottom of Duffers Saddle just before Bannockburn.
Del runs a professional tour with good briefings, a well equipped lead vehicle with safety gear and plenty of stops for photographs and sightseeing.
We have no hesitation in recommending Del and 4WD Expeditions for a memorable, entertaining and challenging day trip. John - Christchurch
-
HAZARD STATEMENT
Hazard statement.
Any off road / back country driving can lead to unexpected incidents. This can include but is not limited to - accidents, injuries, vehicle damage, property damage & loss of life. All participants, drivers & passengers have to accept & acknowledge this on our booking form.
PRIVATE TOUR
PRICE PER VEHICLE :
$1190 (1) $680 (2) $470 (3) POA 4+
DATES :
RUNS DAILY ON DEMAND
TIME :
UP TO 8 HOURS
-
INFORMATION
SELF DRIVE REQUIREMENTS
- Vehicle insurance suitable for this tour.
- All terrain tyres preferred with minimum 60% tread.
- Road tyres can be used on dry days but will need to be deflated to a lower pressure if necessary.
- Hi/low ratio not required during summer
- A full list of vehicle requirements is on our booking form. Contact us for details.
- This tour is suitable for people with beginner off-road driving experience, however the tour operates on backcountry tracks and DOC land. As per most backcountry routes this tour has narrow tracks, and tracks at height. Drivers need to be confident driving on back country roads.
- Due to hazard identification over hand held radios, clients must be fluent in english.
- Skippers Canyon is a public road. Private and rental vehicle insurance policies must be checked to make sure they include Skippers Canyon. We can direct you to rental companies in Queenstown that allow their vehicles in Skippers.
- During summer the road does not require 4WD vehicles, but further up the canyon there are small creeks to cross and areas that require vehicles with suitable ground clearance. Please contact us to check vehicle suitability.
SELF DRIVE BOOKING
3 steps for booking
- Email us at info@4wdexpeditions.nz
- We will send you a link to the booking forms. Please read, sign and return.
- Payment options, Visa, Mastercard, eftpos, Direct bank transfer. Tour day, visa, mastercard, eftpos or cash
INCLUDED
- Hand held radio use
- Includes 15% NZ Goods & Services Tax
- Professional guide
- Satellite phone / safety equipment
- Commercial DOC access fees
- Includes 15% NZ Goods & Services Tax
NOT INCLUDED
Vehicle hire / fuel / insurance / vehicle recovery
DATES AVAILABLE
- Public trips are run on posted dates.
- We are able to confirm for one vehicle.
- Full day tours depart 8:00 am
- Different start times can be arranged if necessary. Pick-ups at local accommodation by prior arrangement.
-
ITINERARY
ITINERARY
We meet at the Skippers Canyon turn off up Coronet Peak Road for a compulsory safety briefing, radio distribution and the plan for the day.
Following this, we begin our adventure by crossing 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.
Highlights of the day include:
- Hells and Heavens Gates
- Lighthouse Rock
- Historic gold mining relics
- Shotover River
- Major Lord of the Rings locations
- Engineering marvel Pinchers Bluff
- Traversing Skippers Bridge (1901)
- Skippers School (1889)
- Skippers Cemetery
- and much more..
Your local kiwi guide, Del has guided tourists into Skippers Canyon since 1990. His knowledge and experience on the road conditions, history and region make this a truly remarkable adventure into the high country.
We aim to be out of the canyon by late afternoon.
-
TESTIMONIALS
Fantastic bespoke 4WD tour. We had a 3 day tour with Del. Travelled with my
Father and his good mate both in their late 70s. Del really went out of his way to taylor the tour to our needs. We all had a great time. This part of NZ is really beautiful and interesting. Lots of little surprises along the way. Brought back a lot of memories for my dad and our friend who both grew up in this area. Del has been doing this for a long time, we always felt looked after and safe. Thanks Del. Auckland
Wonderful 2 day tour with 4WD Expeditions in Queenstown area, tag-along in our own trucks - magic! Highly recommend this time of year - autumn with trees all shades of brilliant yellow,orange and red, set off the already impressive mountain and river landscape. We saw some amazing out-of-the-way spots with superb photo opportunities - truly NZ at its best.
Our guide Del was safety conscious, thoroughly professional, very knowledgeable both historically and geographically, with lots of anecdotes to make our tour come alive, nothing was a problem. Very quick and easy communication in the pre-tour phase too. His sense of humour kept us chuckling, very friendly, a good all-round Kiwi bloke with a passion for what he is doing.
A++ experience - you will not regret touring with 4WD Expeditions!. Ashburton
My family and I had a great trip with 4WD Expeditions back in February. It was the highlight of our time in New Zealand - a truly wonderful way to see the countryside that tourists seldom see, while learning off-road driving skills. We started off the trip pretty easy, but we moved on to some challenging stuff that I wouldn’t have liked to have tried on our own. It was great to see how the lead vehicle took the river crossings and rougher terrain before approaching it ourselves, and Del also coached us over the radio. There were lots of opportunities for pictures and the scenery was spectacular – every photo I took looked like a postcard! Del was extremely knowledgeable about the area, and had entertaining stories to tell about many of the places we saw. I highly recommend a trip with 4WD Expeditions. Laurel - England
Excellent 3 days. Excellent guide. (Thank you Del). Views magnificent. Tracks very good. Would do it all again. Alan - Auckland
Very good expedition. Well guided and some great places were seen. Del was very good and
informative. Bob - Ashburton
We thoroughly enjoyed our day with 4WD Expeditions. We started in Garston with a safety check and issue of radios and then followed Del in our own vehicle up over the southern end of the Hector Range and into the Upper Nevis Valley. Del has a lot of knowledge about the area and its history of settlement and gold mining. After a picnic lunch we left the Nevis for a memorable side trip to the Kopuwai Conservation Area on the Old Woman Range. Here the 4WD was more technical and challenging and after some steep climbing we were rewarded with spectacular panoramic views of the Central Otago landscapes.
We returned to the Nevis Road and finished the trip at the bottom of Duffers Saddle just before Bannockburn.
Del runs a professional tour with good briefings, a well equipped lead vehicle with safety gear and plenty of stops for photographs and sightseeing.
We have no hesitation in recommending Del and 4WD Expeditions for a memorable, entertaining and challenging day trip. John - Christchurch
-
DATES 2022 | 2023
SEPTEMBER 2022
22nd, 29th
OCTOBER 2022
12th, 19th, 26th
NOVEMBER 2022
2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
DECEMBER 2022
7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
JANUARY 2023
4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
FEBRUARY 2023
1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd
MARCH 2023
1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
APRIL 2023
5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
-
INFORMATION
SELF DRIVE REQUIREMENTS
- Vehicle insurance suitable for this tour.
- Travel insurance is highly recommended.
- Road tyres are not suitable, All terrain tyres preferred with minimum 60% tread.
- A full list of vehicle requirements is on our booking form. Contact us for details.
- This tour is suitable for people with Beginner + off-road driving experience. This tour operates on public roads, backcountry tracks and DOC land. As per most backcountry routes this tour has narrow tracks, and tracks at height. Drivers need to be confident driving on back country roads.
- The Nevis Road is a public road. It has creeks and streams to cross. These can be done without a snorkel.
- Due to hazard identification over hand held radios, clients must be fluent in english.
TRACK CONDITIONS
The tracks we use for this tour through the Nevis Valley is mainly a public road. We require tag along drivers to be familiar and competent with the following:
- Steep, loose surface climbs
- Heights
- Narrow tracks
- Creek crossings
That all said, this tour is achievable for most people that have been off- roading before ; it is not suitable for beginners or drivers that lack confidence on narrow tracks. If in doubt give me a call and we can discuss this and possible alternatives entry points into the Oteake Conservation Area.
SELF DRIVE BOOKING
3 steps for booking
- Email us at info@4wdexpeditions.nz
- We will send you a link to the booking forms. Please read, sign and return.
- Pay online, options, Visa, Mastercard, eftpos, Direct bank transfer.
INCLUDED
- Handheld radio supplied (private tour)
- We have a limited supply of hand held radios, please indicate if you require one.
- Includes 15% NZ Goods & Services Tax
- Professional guide
- Satellite phone / safety equipment
- Commercial DOC access fees
- Morning tea (Private tour)
NOT INCLUDED
- Vehicle hire
- fuel
- Insurance
- Vehicle recovery
- and anything else not listed above.
DATES AVAILABLE
- Public tours run on set dates.
- Private tours run on demand, we confirm for one vehicle.
- Private tour start times can be flexible.
- Private tour pick-ups at local accommodation by prior arrangement.
-
ITINERARY
ITINERARY
From Queenstown we head south following Lake Wakatipu to the small township of Garston for a last takeaway coffee and fresh muffin.
Leaving 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 until it opens out 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 an old settlement and turn off to explore the old cemetery.
After lunch, we leave the Nevis valley and river behind to climb up and over Duffers Saddle where we 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 stop at the local pub for a dust quenching drink and debrief. From Bannockburn we say our goodbyes and head back to Queenstown in our own time.
-
TESTIMONIALS
We thoroughly enjoyed our day with 4WD Expeditions. We started in Garston with a safety check and issue of radios and then followed Del in our own vehicle up over the southern end of the Hector Range and into the Upper Nevis Valley. Del has a lot of knowledge about the area and its history of settlement and gold mining. After a picnic lunch we left the Nevis for a memorable side trip to the Kopuwai Conservation Area on the Old Woman Range. Here the 4WD was more technical and challenging and after some steep climbing we were rewarded with spectacular panoramic views of the Central Otago landscapes.
We returned to the Nevis Road and finished the trip at the bottom of Duffers Saddle just before Bannockburn.
Del runs a professional tour with good briefings, a well equipped lead vehicle with safety gear and plenty of stops for photographs and sightseeing.
We have no hesitation in recommending Del and 4WD Expeditions for a memorable, entertaining and challenging day trip. John - Christchurch
Fantastic bespoke 4WD tour. We had a 3 day tour with Del. Travelled with my
Father and his good mate both in their late 70s. Del really went out of his way to taylor the tour to our needs. We all had a great time. This part of NZ is really beautiful and interesting. Lots of little surprises along the way. Brought back a lot of memories for my dad and our friend who both grew up in this area. Del has been doing this for a long time, we always felt looked after and safe. Thanks Del. Auckland
Wonderful 2 day tour with 4WD Expeditions in Queenstown area, tag-along in our own trucks - magic! Highly recommend this time of year - autumn with trees all shades of brilliant yellow,orange and red, set off the already impressive mountain and river landscape. We saw some amazing out-of-the-way spots with superb photo opportunities - truly NZ at its best.
Our guide Del was safety conscious, thoroughly professional, very knowledgeable both historically and geographically, with lots of anecdotes to make our tour come alive, nothing was a problem. Very quick and easy communication in the pre-tour phase too. His sense of humour kept us chuckling, very friendly, a good all-round Kiwi bloke with a passion for what he is doing.
A++ experience - you will not regret touring with 4WD Expeditions!. Ashburton
My family and I had a great trip with 4WD Expeditions back in February. It was the highlight of our time in New Zealand - a truly wonderful way to see the countryside that tourists seldom see, while learning off-road driving skills. We started off the trip pretty easy, but we moved on to some challenging stuff that I wouldn’t have liked to have tried on our own. It was great to see how the lead vehicle took the river crossings and rougher terrain before approaching it ourselves, and Del also coached us over the radio. There were lots of opportunities for pictures and the scenery was spectacular – every photo I took looked like a postcard! Del was extremely knowledgeable about the area, and had entertaining stories to tell about many of the places we saw. I highly recommend a trip with 4WD Expeditions. Laurel - England
Excellent 3 days. Excellent guide. (Thank you Del). Views magnificent. Tracks very good. Would do it all again. Alan - Auckland
Very good expedition. Well guided and some great places were seen. Del was very good and
informative. Bob - Ashburton
Fantastic bespoke 4WD tour. We had a 3 day tour with Del. Travelled with my
Father and his good mate both in their late 70s. Del really went out of his way to taylor the tour to our needs. We all had a great time. This part of NZ is really beautiful and interesting. Lots of little surprises along the way. Brought back a lot of memories for my dad and our friend who both grew up in this area. Del has been doing this for a long time, we always felt looked after and safe. Thanks Del. Auckland
Wonderful 2 day tour with 4WD Expeditions in Queenstown area, tag-along in our own trucks - magic! Highly recommend this time of year - autumn with trees all shades of brilliant yellow,orange and red, set off the already impressive mountain and river landscape. We saw some amazing out-of-the-way spots with superb photo opportunities - truly NZ at its best.
Our guide Del was safety conscious, thoroughly professional, very knowledgeable both historically and geographically, with lots of anecdotes to make our tour come alive, nothing was a problem. Very quick and easy communication in the pre-tour phase too. His sense of humour kept us chuckling, very friendly, a good all-round Kiwi bloke with a passion for what he is doing.
A++ experience - you will not regret touring with 4WD Expeditions!. Ashburton
My family and I had a great trip with 4WD Expeditions back in February. It was the highlight of our time in New Zealand - a truly wonderful way to see the countryside that tourists seldom see, while learning off-road driving skills. We started off the trip pretty easy, but we moved on to some challenging stuff that I wouldn’t have liked to have tried on our own. It was great to see how the lead vehicle took the river crossings and rougher terrain before approaching it ourselves, and Del also coached us over the radio. There were lots of opportunities for pictures and the scenery was spectacular – every photo I took looked like a postcard! Del was extremely knowledgeable about the area, and had entertaining stories to tell about many of the places we saw. I highly recommend a trip with 4WD Expeditions. Laurel - England
Excellent 3 days. Excellent guide. (Thank you Del). Views magnificent. Tracks very good. Would do it all again. Alan - Auckland
Very good expedition. Well guided and some great places were seen. Del was very good and
informative. Bob - Ashburton
We thoroughly enjoyed our day with 4WD Expeditions. We started in Garston with a safety check and issue of radios and then followed Del in our own vehicle up over the southern end of the Hector Range and into the Upper Nevis Valley. Del has a lot of knowledge about the area and its history of settlement and gold mining. After a picnic lunch we left the Nevis for a memorable side trip to the Kopuwai Conservation Area on the Old Woman Range. Here the 4WD was more technical and challenging and after some steep climbing we were rewarded with spectacular panoramic views of the Central Otago landscapes.
We returned to the Nevis Road and finished the trip at the bottom of Duffers Saddle just before Bannockburn.
Del runs a professional tour with good briefings, a well equipped lead vehicle with safety gear and plenty of stops for photographs and sightseeing.
We have no hesitation in recommending Del and 4WD Expeditions for a memorable, entertaining and challenging day trip. John - Christchurch
-
HAZARD STATEMENT
Hazard statement.
Any off road / back country driving can lead to unexpected incidents. This can include but is not limited to - accidents, injuries, vehicle damage, property damage & loss of life. All participants, drivers & passengers have to accept & acknowledge this on our booking form.
NEVIS VIDEOS
VIDEOS
VIDEOS
