Crown Range Summit Lookout

About

Dividing Queenstown and Wanaka, the soaring Crown Range poses a challenging alternative route between the two cities. Reaching an altitude of over 1100 meters, the road is the highest in New Zealand, and offers breathtaking vistas at every turn. These high-altitude lookouts are the stomping grounds of the endangered and entertaining kea parrots, and offer a rare opportunity to see these featherbrains up close. This winding route through the mountains also offers the opportunity to visit one of the country’s oldest and most iconic buildings: the Cardrona Hotel, a relic from the days when the area was a major goldmining region.