Historic Skippers School
Historic Skippers School
Historic Skippers School
4.5
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4.5
37 reviews
Excellent
22
Very good
9
Average
5
Poor
1
Terrible
0
mike s
Bradenton, FL122 contributions
Feb 2023
I did this tour in the second week of January this year With Queenstown Heritage tours. It was a memorable tour! My guide Wolfie was an excellent guide and an amazing driver. As required, we went in a four wheel drive on a mostly gravel and narrow road. The views of the valley and the river were spectacular. There was high tea at the end of the drive which was really good. Strongly recommend this trip if you would like to do something off the beaten track in Queenstown. Beware this trip is not meant for people who are afraid of heights!
Mike
Mike
Written 15 February 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.
PhilQT66
Nelson, New Zealand23 contributions
Oct 2017 • Family
Summon up the courage to head up towards Coronet Peak, take the Historic Skippers Canyon Road and visit the restored historic Skippers School House.(But first check that your Rental Car agreement allows you to),
The drive into Skippers is, in my humble opinion, one of the best in the country...but not always for the faint hearted.
The scenery on the way in is absolutely superb. From the Lord of the Rings type rock formations and vistas, to the untamed Shotover River, that winds through the valley below for much of the trip, it is a spectacular drive.
I will admit it is a true back country road. It is metal, narrow, winding, and requires your attention....but its a total blast. One just needs to take your time, mind your speed, and enjoy it.
Remember to take a moment to wonder at how the heck they ever got the road in there in the first place!
Skippers Canyon and the Shotover River are steeped in history so there are numerous points of interest on the drive in.
When you finally cross the Historic suspension bridge, and wind your way through the trees to reach the School House, you are immediately impressed by the setting, the quality of the restoration and the wonderful information boards that describe the history of the area. Be prepared to wonder at the fact that this remote, hard to reach location, once was home to a good number of souls, had its own cricket team, and that the Shotover River produced more gold than many other places in the world.
Sitting in the School house, and visiting the other neighbouring historic buildings and sites, really takes you back and makes you wonder what it must have been like to live back then....and its really not that long ago.
There is also a camp ground there for the hardy amongst us and I can vouch for the fact that its a fantastic site for a picnic on a summers day.
Well worth the effort to visit. Not just for the scenery but also to get a feel for what life was like during the Gold Rush.
The drive into Skippers is, in my humble opinion, one of the best in the country...but not always for the faint hearted.
The scenery on the way in is absolutely superb. From the Lord of the Rings type rock formations and vistas, to the untamed Shotover River, that winds through the valley below for much of the trip, it is a spectacular drive.
I will admit it is a true back country road. It is metal, narrow, winding, and requires your attention....but its a total blast. One just needs to take your time, mind your speed, and enjoy it.
Remember to take a moment to wonder at how the heck they ever got the road in there in the first place!
Skippers Canyon and the Shotover River are steeped in history so there are numerous points of interest on the drive in.
When you finally cross the Historic suspension bridge, and wind your way through the trees to reach the School House, you are immediately impressed by the setting, the quality of the restoration and the wonderful information boards that describe the history of the area. Be prepared to wonder at the fact that this remote, hard to reach location, once was home to a good number of souls, had its own cricket team, and that the Shotover River produced more gold than many other places in the world.
Sitting in the School house, and visiting the other neighbouring historic buildings and sites, really takes you back and makes you wonder what it must have been like to live back then....and its really not that long ago.
There is also a camp ground there for the hardy amongst us and I can vouch for the fact that its a fantastic site for a picnic on a summers day.
Well worth the effort to visit. Not just for the scenery but also to get a feel for what life was like during the Gold Rush.
Written 11 October 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.
OVERSZ
South Island, New Zealand1,079 contributions
Jan 2015 • Friends
This is not a road to be tackled in Winter. Its high in the mountains. Has huge cliffs on one side of the road and huge drop offs to the river below on a narrow road.You need to take your time and be prepared to meet vehicles coming towards you.
That done the rewards are truly amazing.
Its almost impossible to believe that early gold miners eventually carved this road out of rock.
Then you get to the huge bridge over the Shot Over River. And on to the historic Cemetery and onto the DOC restored School House.
Then you need to consider that this area is a farm. A big one too.
But even this far up there is another property further up the rive. Branches Station. I have been in here several times and those who join me for their first trip are overwhelmed with the pure incredible beauty of the area.
If you dont want to drive yourself there is a couple of 4WD companies in Queenstown that run tours into here.
Its just WOW
That done the rewards are truly amazing.
Its almost impossible to believe that early gold miners eventually carved this road out of rock.
Then you get to the huge bridge over the Shot Over River. And on to the historic Cemetery and onto the DOC restored School House.
Then you need to consider that this area is a farm. A big one too.
But even this far up there is another property further up the rive. Branches Station. I have been in here several times and those who join me for their first trip are overwhelmed with the pure incredible beauty of the area.
If you dont want to drive yourself there is a couple of 4WD companies in Queenstown that run tours into here.
Its just WOW
Written 5 August 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.
John C
Auckland, New Zealand16 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
Well woth the skippers tour to see. well kept and well restored. A door into the history of the area.
Written 2 May 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.
Fabien D
Queenstown, New Zealand46 contributions
Mar 2017
The time has just stopped ! this renovated area, hosting a small camping ground, is coming out of nowhere ! after an 1 h travelling on the skippers road and crossing a scary bridge (70 m high) you see a ghost village, where time has frozen ! A travel back in time, a century ago
Written 10 April 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.
Lhm43
White Plains, NY6 contributions
Feb 2016 • Friends
This was last photo stop on Skippers Canyon tour. Beautiful setting and fabulously rugged drive to reach this destination
Written 21 February 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.
99Jo-Ann
Amersfoort, The Netherlands54 contributions
Jan 2016 • Friends
Interesting place to visit. Take a picnic as it is worth visiting and staying for a picnic. We went there in summer (not advisable in winter or with poor weather). We were driven by our New Zealand family. Would certainly not advies tourists to drive the road up. We had a four wheel drive and this is certainly needed as the road is not asfalted. Worth the trip and along the way passed the hanging bridge and fantastic views. Interesting history of the place where gold miners lived for years.
Written 8 February 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.
Salesi A
Canberra, Australia8 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
Went on the four wheel tour of Skipper's canyon which included this school. The tour was fantastic and the tour guide - a bloke from NSW Australia was very knowledgeable and friendly. Included a history of the area during the gold rush and a tour of the close by cemetery and also some Lord of the Rings special places.
Written 14 January 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.
eater2016
Christchurch, New Zealand93 contributions
Dec 2015 • Couples
Finally made it to the end of the Skippers Canyon road after three attempts over 30 years. Previous attempts were thwarted by winter driving conditions! Brilliant if slow drive in with spectacular views. Bridge near end of road is very cool. Well restored/preserved collection of historic buildings at the end of the road.
Written 11 January 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.
Alan H
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand31 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
hard to believe hat people lived out there - fascinating part of a good afternoon out at skippers canyon
Written 5 January 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.
How did it gets it name and why is there an anchor above the school on the hill?
Written 12 May 2018
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