Quick facts

• Departures: 8:00 am and 1:00 pm (other times by request)
• Total time: roughly 3½–4½ hours door to door
• Private vehicle: max 4 guests, Queenstown pickup
• Includes: 4WD transfer both ways, map + radio, morning or afternoon tea by the lake
• Payment on the day

Good to know

• Most of the best frames are within a few minutes of the vehicle. The full loop is optional if you want more shoreline and wetland compositions.
• Easy ground. Sturdy shoes and a jacket cover it for most people.
• No phone reception at the lake.
• Gravel road — fine for our 4WD year-round. Winter can be icy after snow.
• Weather dependent. We can shorten, stay close to the water, or reschedule if the light isn’t right.
• Swim in summer if you want (alpine water — cold).

Medical fitness

You need to be able to move around the shoreline and, if you choose the full loop, walk up to 6–7 km on an uneven track for up to 2½ hours with short climbs. Not suitable if you have an injury, heart or breathing issue, or any condition that makes that distance unsafe. Tell us before the day if anything could affect it — we don’t need your history, just whether the location is sensible. You work the light at your own pace and at your own risk. Radios are for contact, not a rescue team on the track.

A medical waiver is required for the full walk.

My friend and I recently took 3 tours in the Queenstown region with Del - half day trips to Glenorchy and Paradise and Skippers Canyon and a full day in the Nevis Valley. All 3 outings were thoroughly enjoyable, made even more so by Del's skillful driving and informative comments, particularly with regard to Otago's gold mining history. We learned a great deal about the huge effect mining had made on the local environment and also of the work and conditions braved by the early Chinese immigrants who came mostly with the modest ambition of earning enough money to buy a small farm back in their home province, but suffered terrible hardship in their endeavours. 

The scenery and countryside of each of these 3 trips was surprisingly different as the Glenorchy tour took us alongside the lake, through farmland and beech forests to the eastern end of Mt Aspiring National Park, with glorious views of the Rees and Dart Rivers, numerous mountains and location sites used during the filming of Lord of the Rings. 

The drive through Skippers Canyon, generally recognised as New Zealand's most dangerous road, was a doddle with Del at the wheel. At no stage did I feel nervous, though normally I'm sure I would have been very anxious looking down on the sheer drop to the Shotover River below. In an entirely different way, the scenery here was completely stunning, enhanced by the autumn colours and certainly a photographer's dream. 

Both Skippers and the Nevis Valley had been high on my bucket list and again I was not disappointed. We were blessed with beautiful golden light during the early part of the tour through the Lower Nevis where the colours of the windswept tussock contrasted with rocky outcrops and the last smattering of snow. A number of fascinating buildings scattered through the valley provided great photographic opportunities and we made a sobering visit to the bleak little cemetery before climbing to Duffers Saddle with its grotesque rocky tors and magnificent views in every direction from Lake Dunstan and Cromwell all the way back to the Remarkables. 

I highly recommend all of these tours and only wish I had been in Queenstown longer to take a couple of other 4WD adventures with Del. His driving skills, knowledge and unfailing good humour combined with the most stunning scenery added to a truly memorable Queenstown holiday. Sincere thanks Del for sharing your obvious love of this region with us.

Pauline May 2021

Do it

Highlight of our holiday so far. This time in NZ we wanted to get off the beaten track. Absolutely amazing! So completely different from the Queenstown side of the mountains. We are coming back in June 2020 to do it all again in the snow. Can't wait. Highly recommended. If you want a tour without sharing in a group this is perfect.

Rosemary, Australia

My wife and I recently did the Skipper’s Canyon tour with Del as our driver and guide. Del was fantastic - incredibly knowledgeable and experienced and showed us all the best features and views the canyon has to offer. He was great to have a chat with and share a few laughs - we learned so much along the way. My wife doesn’t normally do too well heights or steep drop offs on a bumpy road, but with Del’s experience on that road, she felt very safe and had the best time. We stopped in one of the most spectacular spots I’ve ever had the pleasure to have a delicious morning tea - supplied by Del (he even did an amazing job catering to our dietary requirements). Before going, I was a little concerned about heading out the same way as we came in, thinking that travelling the same route twice would take away from the experience - I couldn’t be more wrong! It was amazing travelling the same picturesque track with a completely different perspective, this was also enhanced by the different lighting and low lying cloud we experienced on the way in. I couldn’t recommend this tour with Del highly enough, we want to come back and do the same trip again, but in winter with some snow - we also want to see all the other trips Del has to offer. This is a must do!

Toby Pickering, Australia

- This tour is  PRIVATE, flexible and personalised to meet your needs.

- We are a local, family run business who make time for you, take pride in what we do and aspire to give you the best experience possible.

- Del has been guiding tourists locally for over 35 years and has a wealth of knowledge about the area.

- We are professional, safety conscious and pay attention to detail.

- You will travel in a modern vehicle with comfortable seats, great leg room, large windows and all mod cons (no buses or vans).