TOUR DESCRIPTION

This full day expedition provides an opportunity to explore the Waikaia Bush Road, a fairly rugged 4WD track requiring a reasonable amount of off road experience to safely traverse. From the serene Waikaia river, lush beech forest, tussock plateaus, gold mining and massive rock tor covered scenery, this road provides access to the beautiful Umbrella and Old Man Ranges.

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ITINERARY

This is a big day.

From Queenstown we head west through the Kawarau Gorge  to historic Bannockburn. From Bannockburn we start climbing steeply to 1280m on the Duffers Saddle Road, providing commanding views over Lake Dunstan and Cromwell. 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.

We negotiate the old gold mining tracks and trails traversing the Old Woman and Old Man 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 left, and the Nevis Valley and Hector Mountains on our right.

Unlike our Kopuwai tour which exits via the Obelisk Rock, this tour proceeds onto the Waikaia Bush Road, Piano flat and Waikaia. Once we hit the ridge the countryside has commanding views over the Garvie and Umbrella mountains. Rock tors are a common feature in this landscape adding to the dramatic views.

There is a  rock step section that requires vehicles have good entry and exit departure angles (vehicles with low overhanging front or rear bumpers and tow-bars are not suitable for this trip).

From the ridgeline we descend via a zigzag track down through stunning beech forest at Piano Flat beside the Waikaia River and onto Waikaia township, Lumsden and back to Queenstown.

Due to safety with conditions, if it is wet or raining at Piano Flat we will not attempt the zigzag track section before Piano Flat. Instead we will exit as per our Kopuwai tour at the Obelisk and Central Otago.

HISTORY

The first visitors were Māori hunting moa on the tussocklands of the Garvie Mountains and Old Man Range. As a results of gold discoveries further up the valley in 1862,  a rambunctious town known then as Switzers grew complete with hotels, dancing halls and gambling dens. The last productive claim was King Solomon’s Mine, which closed in 1937. A rail line operated from 1909 to 1959.

Article about the Waikaia Bush Road

TUAPEKA TIMES, VOLUME VIII, ISSUE 437, 24 FEBRUARY 1875

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TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Waikaia Bush Road
• Umbrella Range
• Old Man Range
• Obelisk rock
• Potters
• Historic Clyde
• Mitchells cottage
• Gold mining history

PASSENGER TOUR

FULL DAY

​ ADULTS        2 Adults     3 Adults     4 Adults    Child PRICE            $445pp      $315pp      $250pp     $40

• Minimum 2 adults
• Child (16 and under)
• Maximum 4 passengers

DURATION

• 8-10 hours ex Queenstown

INCLUDED

• Morning tea and lunch
• Extremely comfortable 4x4 vehicle

These prices are for private vehicle charter and guide.

TAG ALONG TOUR

PRICE

• • $799 single vehicle - private tour
  • $POA - 2 or more vehicles

DURATION

• • 8-10 hours ex Queenstown

INCLUDED

• • Hand held radio use
  • Morning tea

We offer discounts off the standard price with the following.

• • Booking 2 or more vehicles
  • Multi day bookings

TAG ALONG REQUIREMENTS

• Vehicle insurance suitable for this tour.
• All terrain tyres preferred with minimum 60% tread.
• Hi/low ratio.
• This tour requires a medium level of off-road driving experience. It is not considered a beginner trip.
• Due to safety with track conditions, if it is wet or raining at Piano Flat we will not attempt this track.
• A full list of vehicle requirements is on our booking form. Contact us for details.
• This tour operates on farm 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.

TAG ALONG BOOKING

3 steps for booking

1. Email us at info@4wdexpeditions.nz
2. We will send you a link to the booking forms. Please read, sign and return. We can collect these on tour day.
3. Payment options
   1. Online link we will supply - visa, mastercard, eftpos
   2. Direct bank transfer
   3. On the day, visa, mastercard, eftpos or cash

TRIP DEPARTURES

Full day tours depart 7:30 am

DATES AVAILABLE

These trips run from mid December to mid April, depending on snow conditions.

Please contact us to discuss dates.

​CONTACT US˃

EARLY IMAGES

click on image to view

​Gold mine sited near Waikaia / Switzers MuseumChinese on the Otago goldfields / Hocken Collections, Uare Taoka o Hakena, University of OtagoChinese at work near Winding Creek, Waikaia / Hocken Collections, Uare Taoka o Hakena, University of OtagoA dredging operation, 1890s / Toitu Otago Settlers Museum The original Switzers, 1867 / Otago Witness The Otago GoldfieldsChinese Miners at Muddy Creek, Waikaia / Toitu Otago Settlers Museum Miners on a claim / Toitu Otago Settlers Museum The Rev. Don at a Chinese house near Waikaia / Toitu Otago settlers Muse umChinese Village, Waikaia / Hocken Collections, Uare Taoka o Hakena, University of Otago A sluice at Switzers Claim. Five men stand on either side of the stream of water.The image above of a notice in Chinese characters from a 19th-century gambling house in Switzers (Waikaia), Southland, sets out rules for gambling. The text, translated into English, reads: A notice announcing to people that:, Gold rings will be taken by weight, If you pawn your ring you have one month to redeem it, One ounce of gold is worth 90 shillings, You cannot pawn your suit or watch, You must follow these rules, You can compare these rules with other places, these are considered fair rules. Dated the 21st day of the 9th month [1887].<>1 - 12x