From the beautiful scenic centre of Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu to the
beautiful scenic centre of Wanaka on Lake Wanaka by way of the Crown Range,
the highest main road in New Zealand, with great views and gold mining
history - it's a unique trip not to be missed.
After experiencing some of the wonderful sights and activities Queenstown
has to offer you are ready to move on to Lake Wanaka and drive through the
Haast Pass to the West Coast.
Leaving Queenstown by State Highway 6 you drive to Frankton and continue
along SH 6 - the road signposted as leading to Cromwell. The drive to
Wanaka via SH6 is 120 km (75 miles) and takes you through the scenic
Kawarau Gorge to Cromwell
and on to Wanaka. You may have already driven through the Gorge on your
way to Queenstown. Anyway why not add a very special experience and drive
over the Crown Range to Wanaka?
Add some extra scenic variety and choose to drive over the Crown
Range.
The Crown Range Road is the highest main road in New Zealand and offers
some fascinating views. It is a shorter trip - 70km (44 miles) - than
going through Cromwell, but don't allow less time as the travelling will be
slower and you will want to stop to look at the views and take photographs.
The clearly marked turnoff to the Crown Range is just past Lake Hayes -
18.8 km (11.7 miles) - from Queenstown.
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Looking down at the zigzag
Photo source Bill Moore
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The road zigzags up to the Crown Terrace and from there you can look down
to Arrowtown in the Arrow Valley, and across at the end of the Remarkables
and the road to the Remarkables skifield.
The road then climbs steeply to the summit - 1119,7 metres above sea level.
From there you can see Frankton, part of Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown. For
another impressive view walk up the track to the viewing point which opens
up the view of the end of the Carrick Range sloping steeply down to the
Kawarau Gorge.
Much of the road beyond this point was unsealed, but sealing has been
completed this year and has made for easier travelling. The road crosses a
plateau of farmland and then descends steadily through the steep-sided
Cardrona valley and the little Cardrona River. On the left is the Crown
Range and on the right the Criffle Range. This land growing mainly tussock
is old goldmining country and heaps of tailings are evidence of the earlier
presence of the miners who must have rejoiced to slake their thirst at the
Cardrona Hotel built in 1870.
Lesley wrote a recommendation for stopping for coffee at this historic
hotel in NZine's feature, Recommended in New Zealand - where to eat and drink.
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Historic Cardrona Hotel
Photo source Peter Hunt
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"The historic Cardrona Hotel on the Crown Range Road is a great place to
stop for a drink. Their coffee is just great. There is a lovely garden in
which to have your coffee if the weather is suitable. It is warm and
welcoming indoors on cold days. There are many old books, old photos and
even old sewing machines
to look at."
Cardrona Skifield
A short distance past the hotel you will note the access road to the
Cardrona Skifield. Instead of using a skifield near Queenstown many skiers
think it is worth the extra travel to Cardrona via the Crown Range Road
because of the quality of the snow and the excellent beginner slopes.
There are three chairlifts and beginners' fixed rope tows. On the field
there is a ski school, a cafeteria, equipment hire, a souvenir/ski shop and
a helipad.
The Crown Range Road gives the shortest access from Queenstown to Wanaka,
but the winding road will demand great care from drivers in conditions of
snow and ice.
Cycling over the Crown Range
If you are planning to cycle over the Crown Range we recommend that you
begin at the Wanaka end as riding up the zigzag would be a very tough
challenge.
The last stretch to Wanaka
From the Cardrona hotel the valley opens out and willows grow beside the
little Cardrona River. When we did the trip last, in late spring, the sun
on the willow trees heightened our awareness of the greenness after driving
down through barren hills. Poplar trees also grow in the valley, beautiful
in spring and promising some of Central Otago's famous golden tints in the
autumn. After the steep gradients earlier in the trip the traveller is
scarcely aware of the how the road drops steadily towards Wanaka.
Glimpse of Mt Aspiring
Don't be tempted to speed over the last few kilometres to Wanaka or you may
miss on your left the first view of distant snowy mountains, in particular
of Mt Aspiring, towering on the skyline at 3.033.6 metres (9953 feet).
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Mt Aspiring from the Cardrona Valley
Photo source Peter Hunt
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Looking across Lake Wanaka to the mountains
Photo source Peter Hunt
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Wanaka
The township of Wanaka has changed a lot in recent years with the building
of beautiful modern homes, more tourist accommodation and shopping
facilities, but the memorable aspect of Wanaka does not change - the
magnificent views across Lake Wanaka to the mountains.
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Glendhu Bay Station, Wanaka - painting by Bill Moore
Photo source Bill Moore
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If you have time to pause drive around the western shore to Glendhu Bay where you can also enjoy viewing the grandeur of Mt Aspiring. The road leads to Glendhu Bay Station with dark trees and poplars which turn gold in autumn and in the background there is the majesty of the mountains.
For further information read about Neville Peat's guide book Wanaka: The Lake Wanaka Region.
