Skippers Canyon 4WD Tour

Nomad Safaris offers a complete 4WD tour into the historic Skippers Canyon. The Nomad Safaris Skippers Canyon adventure is a half-day heritage tour that travels along the rugged and treacherous Skippers Road. As your guide navigates along this awe-inspiring canyon you will visit many historic sites and scenic viewpoints.

British Automobile Association voted Skippers Canyon road as one of the 25 most scenic roads in the world. Travel the road that was hacked by hand into the sheer cliff sides of the Shotover River Valley. This is an exciting adventure the whole family will enjoy.

Trip Details
The Skippers Canyon 4WD tour departs from Queenstown heading out towards Coronet Peak. As you head up the peak towards the entrance to this spectacular canyon there are stunning panoramic views of the Wakatipu Basin.

After entering Skippers Canyon you will travel to Lighthouse Rock, which provides a dramatic lookout over the entire valley. Follow in the footsteps of pioneers, adventurers and explorers as this winding road takes you past historical mining areas and showcases the impressive scale of the gold mining operations that have taken place throughout the canyon. There will be several stops for photos along the way including viewing the historic Skippers Bridge offering a striking photo opportunity.

During the tour you will indulge in morning or afternoon tea while enjoying the stunning scenery.

Returning along the road you will stop at Deep Creek where you can immerse yourself in the heritage of the local area by trying your hand at gold panning. Our trained guides will teach you traditional techniques used on one of the richest gold-bearing rivers in the world.

You may also recognise locations along the Skippers Road featured in The Lord of The Rings.

Can we book a Private Charter?
If you’d like a more private trip, you can book a whole vehicle for your group, our maximum group size is 6.
What is 4 Pax max?
Choose this option to guarantee everyone a window seat. A maximum of four passengers per vehicle, each guest enjoys their own window seat. This differs from our standard tours, which accommodate up to six passengers per vehicle, and do not guarantee a window seat throughout the experience. Please note, our guides always encourage seat rotation so everyone has the opportunity to enjoy a different window view during the tour.
Why is the Skippers Bridge closed and when will it reopen?
The Bridge is closed indefinitely due to long-term maintenance and safety works. We do not have an expected opening date.
What are your Child rates/ Child ages?
We do have child rates available. Infants (0-3 years) travel for free and children (4-14 years) travel at a discounted price.
Can my child come on this tour?
Our 4WD tours in Queenstown welcome all ages; there’s no minimum age requirement. We provide child and booster seats upon request at booking.
Important Information: Tour Itinerary Adjustments
Your safety is our top priority. In certain situations, it may be necessary to alter the tour itinerary due to conditions beyond our control, such as high water levels or adverse road conditions. This could mean we are unable to cross rivers or drive certain roads or drive the full length of roads like Skippers Canyon. When booking, please understand that these adjustments may be required. Please also see our full weather cancellation policy.

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Disclosure of Risk 4WD

Nomad Adventures Limited (t/a Nomad Safaris) Disclosure of Risk for Four Wheel Drive Tours. Wakatipu, Glenorchy, Skippers Canyon, Macetown, Gold Seeker, Essential Queenstown and Private Charter

We, Nomad Adventures Limited, are committed to the protection of our employees, clients & property from accidental injury or damage from work carried out by, and on behalf of, the business. We, Nomad Adventures Limited, adopt health, safety, and welfare as a fundamental business objective.

In meeting this commitment, management will comply with all legislative requirements and take all practicable steps to:

• Provide a safe place of work, safe equipment, and proper materials.
• Activities are reviewed by competent staff (internal technical advisors).
• Establish and insist that safe work methods be always practiced.
• Provide supervision and training.
• Ensure employees and clients understand and accept their responsibility to promote a safe and healthy place of work and are part of the safety management process.
• Comply with all Health and Safety Legislation.
• Prevention of serious harm.
• Continually improve.

Whilst we undertake all reasonably practicable steps to minimize, remove, or isolate risks during our tours, it still exists as it does in everyday life.

Risks you may be exposed to during your tour include, but are not limited to:

• Motor vehicle accident including collision with other vehicles, stationary objects, or the land, rollovers, or vehicle fires.
• Your own failure to heed safety warnings, both verbal and written.
• Actions of other road users or members of the public which could cause harm.
• Risk of falling from alighting the motor vehicle.
• Risk of falling or injury due to uneven, loose, or slippery terrain.
• Risk of drowning.
• Risk of injury or death due to natural events such as Earthquakes, Landslide, Flash Flooding, Treefall, Wildfire, Lightning, Blizzards, Volcanic Eruption, Tsunami, Cyclones, and any ongoing consequences of these events.

Disclosure of Risk 4WD v1.2 – Nov 2025

Weather Cancellation Policy

Weather cancellation policy Nomad Adventures Limited (t/a Nomad Safaris, Info & Track, Info & Snow)

As part of this commitment, we reserve the right to delay or cancel any tours or activities if weather conditions are not suitable. This decision will be made by the Operations Manager or a delegated representative. Guides and Drivers are also authorized to modify their routes, or shorten a tour if weather conditions unexpectedly change.

Reasons for this could include, but are not limited to:

• Excessive rain causing risk of flooding
• Extreme high winds
• Snowfall closing roads
• Excessive ice on roading network
• Risk of lightning strike during tours
• Weather-related State of Emergency declared by authorities
• Any other extreme environmental or weather event, such as Earthquake, Landslide, Wildfire, Tsunami, Cyclone, Volcanic Eruption

Weather Cancellation Policy v1.2 – Nov 2025

“Worth every cent” Amazing drivers and nature is just beautiful! Seeing pictures of the road we were going to, I was a bit nervous, but the drivers are so skilful and they really know what they're doing. If you want to go to Skippers Canyon, this is the company to go with!
~ Anna K, Oslo, Norway  
“Amazing heart-pounding trip”
They take you to places that I will never drive. The road to skippers canyon was terrifying yet exciting - so glad we did that trip. The young lady who drove us was a superb driver and very knowledgeable. If you are scared of heights don't look down. ~ Abu K, Baltimore, Maryland
“Thanks NOMADS and Graham. Great fun, stunning views”
I really enjoyed my trip with NOMADS, we had a great bunch of friendly people on board and the driver Graham was an awesome guy, very informative and great fun. The drive up the mountains was an experience and the views were incredible. We got lots of opportunities to stop and take photos whilst admiring the views all around.
We couldn't actually get into the skippers' canyons due to the slip that had happened on the mountain so instead at the end of the tour we went down to the rivers and drove through them in the 4x4 which had us all screaming with laughter. This more than made up for not getting into skippers canyon. Thanks again guys!
~ Kelly T, United Kingdom