Wanaka is a fantastic alternative to the very popular tourist town of Queenstown in the South Island of New Zealand. Like Queenstown, Wanaka is situated in a beautiful position on a glacial lake surrounded by stunning mountains. There are excellent facilities, an easily walkable town centre and world class ski fields close by, all without the huge crowds that Queenstown is known for. It is also the gateway to the road over the Haast Pass which leads to the wild West Coast. This is where we were heading next, so Wanaka would be our next stop.
To get to Wanaka from Queenstown the main road goes back up the valley to Cromwell to get around the mountains. However, an alternative (depending on the weather) is to take the Crown Range Road. This road winds its way up and over the Crown Range, providing a very scenic “short cut” between the two towns. Naturally, this is the route we chose to take.
View to the Remarkables Mountains at night in Queenstown
It was Springtime when we visited the South Island of New Zealand, so the ski season was at its end and there was little snow around, apart from the high mountains. However, during our last day in Queenstown we had a change in the weather, with a lot of rain and drizzle settling across the town for most of the day and night. When we awoke in the morning to a beautiful sunny day, the hills and mountains surrounding Queenstown were all covered in a blanket of fresh snow. We had no idea if the Crown Range Road would be open. There was only one way to find out.
View of snow covered hills along the Gibbston Valley Highway
The Crown Range Road in the snow
We packed up our campervan early and set out, taking the main road out of Queenstown along the Gibbston Valley Highway. The scenery looked particularly beautiful this morning. The lush green farmland contrasting beautifully with the snow capped mountains and perfect blue sky. Eventually we turned off the main road and onto the Crown Range Road. The road immediately climbed steeply, winding its way up the mountain until it reached a plateau with lush green paddocks full of sheep, sitting below snow covered hills. As it was springtime, there were also lots of little lambs around and we had to resist constantly stopping to look at them.
View back across the Valley on the way up the Crown Range
Sheep and lambs in a paddock on the way up the Crown Range
After a while the road began to climb again gradually. With each turn the snow looked to be coming closer. It wasn’t long before we reached the snowline, but luckily the road was clear and safe to drive. We reached the summit of the Crown Range and parked our van in a stunning landscape covered in fresh powdery snow.
Parked near the summit of the Crown Range
Cyclists in the snow on the Crown Range. That would have been a tough ride!
Playing in the snow on the Crown Range
The Crown Range Road
We could have lingered here for hours, but we had a long drive ahead and had to continue on. The road descends down the other side of the range through a landscape of snow dusted tussock grass. This side of the range is a much more gentle incline and we descended gradually, the road following beside a small stream. Eventually we left the snow behind and entered into the lush green farmland of the Cardrona Valley.
Cardrona
The Crown Range Road eventually changes to the Cardrona Valley Road, leading to the small village of Cardrona. We hadn’t heard of the town before but were pleasantly surprised to find a cluster of beautiful old historic buildings, giving a good reason to stop for a break. Cardrona dates back to the 1860’s gold rush. The Cardrona Hotel is still standing today and is full of interesting antiques from the era. It would be a fantastic place for a drink or a meal, sitting by the open fire place. There is apparently a very good ski resort nearby if you are visiting during the winter.
Cardrona Hotel
We wandered along through the little village to another historic building housing a little art studio and gallery by a local artist. She had some truly incredible pieces, one of which was added to our collection.
The historic village of Cardrona
Onwards to Wanaka
From Cardrona it is only a short drive to Wanaka, and before long we were parked on the shores of Lake Wanaka, looking out over the lake to the snow covered mountains. We would have liked to stay longer to explore the town, but we still had a long drive ahead to get over the Haast Pass to the West Coast. We will have to come back another time.
Lake Wanaka
This really is an incredibly beautiful part of the world. The drive over the Crown Range Road from Queenstown to Wanaka was spectacular, even more so with the fresh snow around. Another one of New Zealand’s must do road trips.
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