Crown Range Road
Crown Range Road
4.5
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The Crown Range Road is the highest main road in New Zealand and offers amazing views.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
149 reviews
Excellent
105
Very good
38
Average
4
Poor
2
Terrible
0
mischa642016
Melbourne, Australia43 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
Not for the faint hearted. Patience and excellent road skills are required for this road. Some very sharp corners and high areas with minimal barriers so make sure you enjoy heights or sit in the back seat. Be prepared for locals zooming past you when they can as the tourists are driving with their brakes on most of the way. The views are amazing for passengers who like heights and are into adventure. We drove to Lake Wanaka and it is certainly worth the anxious drive. I’m not sure why there is a 100km speed limit on this road. I think tourists need to travel slower than this. In town, the speed limit is 40km and the roads are wider and safer. Very Interesting.
Written December 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Akshat
Singapore, Singapore6 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
Something to avoid if you are a tourist. Locals overtake you at high speeds and the road s full of tricky turns so you end up stressing yourself when the original objective of the trip is to de-stress. The alternate route is a lot more scenic and an easier drive...
Written November 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah B
58 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
We took this road from Wanaka to Queenstown in our Jucy Campervan with no real warnings that the road might not be suitable. The drive to the peak was hard work in the van but the views were absolutely incredible.
The drive from the peak down to Queenstown was absolutely terrifying with hair pin bends that came almost 360 degrees back on themselves. Add to that some impatient locals who did not like us driving slowly made it stressful at times.
You definitely wouldn’t want to try and do this towing a caravan or even in a big motor home.
That being said the views were incredible
The drive from the peak down to Queenstown was absolutely terrifying with hair pin bends that came almost 360 degrees back on themselves. Add to that some impatient locals who did not like us driving slowly made it stressful at times.
You definitely wouldn’t want to try and do this towing a caravan or even in a big motor home.
That being said the views were incredible
Written March 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joyman L
Perth, Australia1,728 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Visited in May 2023
One of the most scenic drives in the South Island, coming from Wanaka and driving into Arrowtown/Queenstown the road ascends up the range gradually after Cadrona and it just opens up to this expansive view sitting at 3, 540ft above sea level.
There is a stop-over car park scenic lookout that allows tourist to drink in the views before approaching the Arrow junction lookout point which is another lookout over the multiple hairpin turns descending down to 1,227ft above sea level.
Definitely a must-do!
One of the most scenic drives in the South Island, coming from Wanaka and driving into Arrowtown/Queenstown the road ascends up the range gradually after Cadrona and it just opens up to this expansive view sitting at 3, 540ft above sea level.
There is a stop-over car park scenic lookout that allows tourist to drink in the views before approaching the Arrow junction lookout point which is another lookout over the multiple hairpin turns descending down to 1,227ft above sea level.
Definitely a must-do!
Written October 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle S
Auckland Central, New Zealand497 contributions
Jan 2020
Ever thought of standing on top of the world and looking down... now is your chance. This road trip is worth it!.
Take care around the bends but the scenery is exceptional!
Get out on top of the Crown Ranges Look out. View are like nothing else.
Early morning is best without the crowds.
Michelle S
Auckland
Take care around the bends but the scenery is exceptional!
Get out on top of the Crown Ranges Look out. View are like nothing else.
Early morning is best without the crowds.
Michelle S
Auckland
Written January 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Toni3452
Barcelona, Spain745 contributions
Feb 2023
Absolutely mandatory to take this road when driving from Quenstown to Lake Wanaka. Only the first 4.5 km. are unpleasant with steep curves and danger. But after these, the road and the landscape is gorgeous. And you save plenty of time to reach Wanaka,
Written March 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BangkokSachse
Bangkok, Thailand51,640 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We drove from Queenstown to Wanaka on Crown Range Road. The road is winding at the beginning and uphill and at the end. We stopped a few times. The views at the summit were beautiful. You could hike at the summit. The drive was fun.
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveling Family of Four
10 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Nice quick half day trip if you are in Queenstown. I have never seen so many lupines in my life. However they are invasive so I think they will eventually be culled from the area. Lavender, rose, cream are the main colours and on the hillsides are yellow gorse. Beautiful.
There is an old refurbished hotel and pub that is ~150 years old in Cardrona at the bottom of the 1100 metre pass.
This is one of the centres of the rare kārearea falcon. New Zealand’s only indigenous falcon.
The surrounding mountains and fields look like Montana or Idaho.
There is an old refurbished hotel and pub that is ~150 years old in Cardrona at the bottom of the 1100 metre pass.
This is one of the centres of the rare kārearea falcon. New Zealand’s only indigenous falcon.
The surrounding mountains and fields look like Montana or Idaho.
Written December 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
justordinary
Dongara, Australia70 contributions
Mar 2023 • Family
It’s not a bad road, in fact it’s spectacular but OMG it’s hairy scary! If you like to live on the edge, of a cliff then drive this road! Omg I’ve never been so scared in my life. I suffer from vertigo and I’m usually fine driving, it took all my might to simply focus on the road ahead and I couldn’t look left or right. My husband was in awe it was spectacular scenery with hairpin turns and 15km road speed. The biggest drama is it has a 100km road speed and the locals like to go that fast. It needs to be 50km the whole way!!
Written March 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sally A
Wanaka, New Zealand563 contributions
Jun 2015 • Business
Don't be fooled by reports indicating that this is the 'scenic route' from Queenstown to Wanaka. It is the highest public road in NZ but it is NOT a State Highway. Unless you are a very experienced driver who is confident on narrow steep roads with lots of bends, you should take the main road that goes through Cromwell. It is treacherous in winter, with some sections that are permanently shaded from the sun (therefore very icy) Chains must be carried during winter months, and rental cars do not usually have chains. There are no passing lanes, but plenty of Chain Bays where you can pull over - so if there are cars on your tail, please pull over & let them pass!
Written June 25, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, how's the road condition driving 4am in May.
Unfortunately, we need to travel as early as possible to catch up Milford Sound.
Written May 14, 2019
This road is not for the faint hearted in Autumn/Winter. Chains may be required at times. Suggest you go through Cromwell to be on the safe side
Written May 15, 2019
Driving North to South recommended because of hair-pin bends. Why particularly?
Would it be OK in a Campervan?
Written June 7, 2015
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