Unforgettable Skippers Canyon Tour

Unforgettable Skippers Canyon Tour

Unforgettable Skippers Canyon Tour
5
7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
About
The scenery of Skippers Canyon is without a doubt a subject you will talk about. You are picked up from your hotel in a comfortable 4WD Minibus. You visit this secluded area in small groups. Your local Guide provides a commentary about the Goldrush Heritage of Skippers and serves some refreshments with cheese. Plenty of photo stops and short walks make this sightseeing experience truly unforgettable. Daily departures from Queenstown.
Queenstown, New Zealand

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Tours and Tickets by Unforgettable Skippers Canyon Tour
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.

5.0
223 reviews
Excellent
208
Very good
13
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1

Rebecca W
Wellington, New Zealand71 contributions
Mar 2020
Wow! This is an amazing tour, promoted as unforgettable - it certainly is! This is a small group, half day, personalized tour in a four wheel drive vehicle taking you a scenic and historical gorge, on one of the worlds most dangerous roads. So not for the faint hearted. However, I never felt at risk and totally trusted the skills of my experienced driver, who carefully manoeuvred to the side when encountering another vehicle . This gravel road was carved by hand by miners over 140 years ago after gold was discovered and is made from a very narrow cut in the middle of a sheer cliff face, along side the Shotover River. This place is seeped in history from the gold rush days 140 years ago to the farming of today and Greg, our tour guide, was an excellent source of knowledge. photos don't do it justice, its definitely worth experiencing it in person.
Written March 8, 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.

Meg P
3 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
Unforgettable Skippers Canyon Tour went above and beyond expectations! We called really last minute and they were able to accommodate two of us in a private tour of the Canyon (which is absolutely breathtaking by the way!). We had freedom over our experience and we’re able to ask for specific spots to take photos. Our guide led us to the best photo spots. He was very knowledgeable and had impressive driving skills. Once we mentioned we were LOTR fans he made sure to point out filming locations and showed us images directly from the movie so we could see exact locations. Would definitely recommend to everyone!
Written May 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.

mabnoxweed
Perth Western Australia24 contributions
Mar 2012 • Friends
Whilst when travelling through New Zealand (God's own country), every day is a highlight and around every corner is something else to completely blow you away, we (four travelling companions) tried with great difficulty to narrow it down to one only thing that stood out more than the rest. With fierce competition from Huka Falls, a night out on the Ipipiri catamaran on the Bay of Islands, a helicopter landing on the glaciers, the Agradome show, thermal pools both at Rotorua and Hanmer Springs, jetboat ride, the swingbridge and zipline at Buller Gorge and a fabulous flight over Mount Cook and the glaciers with Air Rangitata - we all finally came up unanimously with our unfogettable Skippers Canyon tour. Breathtaking scenery, excellent driving and great stories held us in awe for four hours. It is a trip noone should miss!! Thankyou.
Written April 12, 2012
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.
We are humbled by this review - I made sure that my entire team received this feedback, which very much motivates us to keep up our work. Thanks so much for sharing!
Written April 22, 2012
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Lets_Cruise_13
Ottawa, Canada1,414 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
On April 11, 2017, my wife and I with other travellers of the 9 Day Taste of South Island with Grand Pacific Tours had the option of purchasing the half-day Skippers Canyon Tour with Heritage Tours.

From downtown Queenstown, Wolfgang our guide and driver, also known as “Wolfy” drove us in a 4WD minivan directly to the canyon using Skippers Road one of New Zealand’s most scenic road. We were three Heritage minivans following each other. As described in the literature, Skippers Canyon was formed by glaciers over 25,000 years ago and was finally carved out by the Shotover River. Skippers Road is a breath taking dirt road that circulates around mountains, is mostly a one-way road which is very narrow and steep with sheer drops of several hundred metres.

Wolfy our guide was a very experienced driver full of knowledge of the history of the canyon and liked to keep us on our toes with stories, comments and jokes. At various scenic spots, we stopped for short walks and took photos of these panoramic views of the canyon and river. In a specific area wide enough for our 4WD we had to stay off the road to let a beef farmer and his cattle go by. Further ahead Skippers Road brought us to the historic Skippers Bridge. There, a Skippers Canyon Jet Boat was speeding below us on the Shotover River as we walked across the bridge. What a stunning photo opportunity. At noon, we stopped for a picnic break at the old town site of Skippers where Wolfy and the other guides had prepared for us a few tables presenting tea, water, wine, cheese and cookies. We also had the chance to visit the old Skippers schoolhouse and other historical buildings of the time.

Using the same Skippers Road, we returned to our Queenstown Hotel. What a great morning! For anyone who is a nature lover and visiting Queenstown and the surrounding area, this tour is another must see. We would recommend it to friends and family.
Written December 14, 2017
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.

TeresaN_11
Moorhead, MN39 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
We really enjoyed our tour! Beautiful scenery, interesting history. Wolfy was very personal and interesting. We felt very safe with him at the wheel on dicey Backcountry roads. We made lots of stops to take photos, both up high and down at rivers edge. Loved this tour! It won't soon be forgotten!!
Written May 26, 2017
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.
It's great to read that we created some lasting memories for you - so wonderful! thanks for taking some time to write this review!
Written October 22, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

FyingKiwi
Christchurch, New Zealand940 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
Some attractions absolutely require comment and yet this is one of those rare experiences where words on their own dramatically fails to adequately describe the event. From the moment Wolfy (actual name Wolfgang) picked us up from the Motel in a four-wheel drive, nine seater van, to the time he dropped us off again on return, the entire tour was one continuing, and at times, adrenaline pumping adventure.
The “Heritage Tours: Unforgettable Skippers Canyon” tour is unique in many ways, which makes it far outshine all other alternative operators touting the same style of tour. Regrettably, major hotel chains and tour operators in Queenstown actively promote only their own tour operators, so Heritage Tours is more dependent on those willing to do the research than being commercially promoted. Yet, Heritage Tours offers a superior means of travel (as opposed to large buses or cramped (sit in the back sideways four wheel drives), many more stops (as opposed to the customary two offered by most other operators), and a tour right up to the historic Skippers Township (offered by only one other operator). All this also at less cost than their competitors. Add to this a very informative tour driver (Wolfy), and the exceptionally wonderful opportunity to ride in the front seat, and magic was made.
Wolfy provided a very informative commentary throughout the entire journey, highlighting historical facts along with geological features. While negotiating a very tricky unsealed road (if it could be called that), through an at times very precipitous environment (as you would expect in a canyon), Wolfy was also able to add a bit of white knuckled driving into the mix. Once Skippers was reached, he did offer Wine as part of the luncheon package. One wonder though if the intent was for it to act more as a pacifier for what had just been endured or an anaesthetic for what was to come. Nothing of this trip should however be missed, and every opportunity taken (including the Wine). Forget the alternative Skippers Canyon tours offered, and treat yourself to the most spectacular of them all. Guaranteed Gold!
Written April 29, 2016
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.

RetiredFolk
Gloucestershire, UK266 contributions
Feb 2020
Many people asked me why I was booking a tour of NZ rather than doing a self drive. This tour to Skippers Canyon is the reason as I am absolutely sure that either I would never have found this and/or I would have given up driving on the shale tracks long before reaching the best parts.

Great experienced drivers with good knowledge made this tour exceptional. The narrow shale track is not for the faint hearted as the slips and sheer drops at the side are both spectacular and daunting. On reaching the school house at the top of the track, coffee and wine were served with nibbles - very much like a sundowner on an African safari - and most welcome. The aerial view of the Shotover river with the jet boats hurtling through the gorges was spectacular from such a height as was the view of the miners' tracks, now used by mountain bikers, coursing through the valleys.

Absolutely stunning and a must do.
Written March 9, 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.

SamVanDonut
Munich, Germany1 contribution
Oct 2015 • Couples
If you have the luck to have Wolfgang as your guide, you sure get the best Skippers canyon tour experience. He took as to all the nice photo shots and knew everything about the history of the canyon, the mining, the flora and fauna and about New Zealand in general! Great value for money. The four hour tour goes further into the canyon than the tours offered by other companies and allows for nice strolls around the canyon and over the bridge etc. Would book it again anytime.
Written October 8, 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.

Chris D
Orland Park, IL56 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
After researching the different alternatives for touring Skipper’s Canyon, we decided that the Unforgettable Skippers Canyon offered by Queenstown Heritage Tours covered everything that we were looking for, and we couldn’t have been happier with our decision. Not only does the tour take you further into the canyon than all of the other tours, it also offers a picnic with wine and cheese, and the opportunity to walk over the Skipper’s Canyon Bridge. Our guide’s name was Wolfgang, and we were fortunate to have only one other person on our tour, so we essentially had a private guide for the entire trip. At the start, he asked if we were on a time schedule, and since we weren’t he extended the tour by almost 2 ½ hours. His love of the area and his knowledge of its history is impressive, and it was a great time from start to finish. We were able to get out and walk at multiple spots, and this truly enhanced the experience. During our 3 weeks in New Zealand, we wanted to stay away from the more touristy activities and tried to book smaller tours that gave us a true feeling for the area. This trip fit the bill perfectly, exceeding our expectations, and was easily one of the highlights in a country that it filled with highlights. I would highly recommend this tour for those looking to experience Skipper’s Canyon in all its glory without the hype and gimmicks. On a side note, we are big LOTR fans. Other tours mention seeing the Ford of Bruinen where Arwen took Frodo across the river, which then rose up to swallow the Black Riders. On this tour, you stand on the rocks at the river where the scene was filmed, instead of just looking at it from 14 km away. Ok, so that may be a bit touristy, but it wasn’t advertised ahead of time, so it was a surprise that we loved.
Written December 29, 2014
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.

123LS
Sydney, Australia345 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
There are a number of options for Skippers Cannyon but this one is defiantly the one. Wolfe picked us up in a 4WD we were the only two felt like a private tour. Great guy very good driver. His knowledge of the area is limitless. He models the tour around your interests. Lots of stops for photos, sit on the right hand side for draw dropping cannyon views. Liked the fact you get droped off for walks whilst Wolfie drives ahead so you can see and feel the atmosphere. Stunning views of the river and mountains everywhere you look. Wolfies a great guide we learnt a lot and had fun. This tour goes further than others literally. Worth every cent.
Written November 1, 2014
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.
Thanks for taking your time to leave your feedback. It is our pleasure to share the stunning area with you!
Written November 4, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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