Crown Range and Central Otago

The Crown Range Road between Queenstown and Wanaka is New Zealand's highest sealed road — a 1,076-metre pass that delivers some of the most exhilarating driving in the Southern Hemisphere. But this route is about far more than one mountain pass. We have curated a journey that begins with the Crown Range ascent, continues through the wine country of Central Otago — the world's southernmost wine region, producing pinot noir of extraordinary quality — and crosses the Lindis Pass into the vast Mackenzie Country, where the turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki lead the eye to Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak. The landscape here is unlike anything else in New Zealand. Tussock-covered mountains, schist rock formations, and a continental climate that produces hot summers and cold winters give Central Otago a character more reminiscent of Patagonia or Central Asia than the Pacific. The light is extraordinary — golden, clear, and endlessly photogenic. This is a drive for those who appreciate stunning scenery, world-class wine, and the thrill of a challenging mountain road.