Write Up Skippers Canyon New Zealand

[NZ00Z3]

Last weekend was a 3 day gravel road tour of Central Otago New Zealand. The Sunday was spent driving the 22 km into Skippers Canyon and back. Think of a one way gravel goat track. Its so rough and remote in there that its one of the few roads in N.Z. where rental car firms state that you can't go there.

Well, 18 Classic cars heading in for the adventure. Second gear travel and lots of dust. Poor Mora's polished coat seemed to attract the dust and she looked quiet forlorn by the end of the trip. Only had problems at two obstacles, on a rock ledge across the road and the approach to a swing bridge. Scraped a bit at both of these, otherwise all obstacles driven over or around with care.

Lots of fun and shows that a Z3 can get into (and out of) all sorts of places.

A couple of photos to show the cars on the trip

 

[hard top]

That looks fantastic Murray, great selection of cars there.

 

[Jjim]

Looks like a good trip

As long as you take someone else’s car

 

[Grumps]

Your car looks about the same as when we went into Clumber Park car show last year! Never seen dust like it eh @t-tony @Paul Rice

 

[Dino D]

.... so rough and remote in there that its one of the few roads in N.Z. where rental car firms state that you can't go there...

Didn’t think you all had gotten so soft down south, that looks like an average A road in Kent, and a lot better than @andyglym ’s driveway! NZ hire firms wouldn’t do any business here...


Some proper classic in there, bet they did well with bouncy suspension and tyres!

 

[Ianmc]

Somehow, cars look better in "used, well maintained condition" as pics, rather than polished to death, often as garage queens. Appreciate other opinions are available, just saying.

 

[andyglym]

A quality drive, scenery and cars


Looks like Mora was a tad hungry on the way

 

[Jack Ratt]

Looks like you all had a great day

 

[brilie]

Looks a great event
Loving the1600E. My dream car a few years ago

 

[Geophys]

Love Skipper's Canyon, I spent a very happy six weeks touring New Zealand from top to bottom at the back end of last year, fabulous country, I'd be there in a shot if I was 30 years younger. One of the many highlights of the trip was driving a 4X4 out from Queenstown and taking the road up Skipper's canyon. It's reputed to be the third most dangerous road in the world, you just have to be careful, but I don't think I'd take my Zed up it though! All hire car contracts specifically exclude taking them up Skipper's but the day I went up it someone had ignored the sign and dropped their inside wheels into a ditch and wrecked the suspension, hate to think of their bill!

Scenery is spectacular with your wheels a few inches away from a 500ft drop into the river.

They made me walk out onto a small promontory, only a 500ft drop all round!

We also stopped at the school and considering the drive back were rather rash in consuming a few glasses of wine!

Colin

 

[NZ00Z3]

Thanks @Geophys for the scenery photos. I didn't get any this trip as I was busy driving and the wife was busy holding on and looking for cars coming the other way. Your description of the road is correct.

 

[Sean d]

Wow, I'd love to drive that road

 

[Dino D]

Thanks @Geophys for the scenery photos. I didn't get any this trip as I was busy driving and the wife was busy holding on and looking for cars coming the other way. Your description of the road is correct.

It’s a two way road

 

[2DunnsZ3]

It’s a two way road

that's friggin crazy that you could meet a car on that road

 

[NZ00Z3]

We had two 25 seater buses towing trailers of river rafts come at us at one point. We all dived for any pull off places we could find to let them past. Luckily we saw them some distance away and could get prepared.

 

[Redline]

Murray - that’s brilliant. Makes our trips around the Peaks and Lakes look rather tame. Thanks for sharing.