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 could 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 intermediate off-road driving experience. This tour operates on public 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.

ROAD CONDITIONS

The public road we use for this tour through Skippers Canyon requires tag along drivers to be familiar and competent with the following:

• Heights
• Narrow tracks

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. 

That all said, this tour is achievable for most people that have been off- roading before ;  it is not suitable for total beginners or drivers that lack confidence on narrow tracks. If in doubt give me 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.
• Payment options, 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)
• Lunch available as optional extra, $25pp (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

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.

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.

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.