From the North we pass the ancient Cardrona hotel then follow the trail up a beautiful once gold rich narrowing high creek valley via the region’s first gold trail. 

When we reach 1119 metres (NZ’s Highest public highway) the whole of the spectacular Queenstown basin opens up to us with great views of the ski fields and the lovely Lake Wakatipu.  We take a slow, very steep descent to meet up with the massive Kawarau River.