Crown Range Road
Arrowtown to Wanaka · Otago
Distance14.2mi · 23 km
Drive time33 minon the road
DifficultyDemanding
MountainValleyLakes
New Zealand's highest sealed through road between Queenstown and Wanaka.
Crown Range Road climbs over the Crown Range between Arrow Junction near Arrowtown and Wanaka via the Cardrona Valley, topping out at the Crown Saddle around 1076 metres, which makes it the highest sealed public through road in New Zealand. The Queenstown side drops through a set of tight hairpin bends with wide views over the Wakatipu Basin, and the road was fully sealed in 2001. Mind the steep hairpins, ice and snow in winter when chains may be required.
Where it runs
ArrowtownStart · Otago
WanakaEnd · New Zealand
Character
Corners90bends
Tightness8of 10
Max gradient11%≈ 1-in-9
Hairpins6tight bends
Climb671 mtotal ascent
Summit1098 mhighest point · 3602 ft
SummerAutumn
Elevation
669 m rangeKnow before you go
- Tight hairpin bends on the Queenstown side
- Snow and ice in winter, chains may be required
- Strong crosswinds near the summit
Along the road
- viewpoint The Zig Zag
- viewpoint Crown Range Summit
Sources
In these collections
Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Crown Range Road.
