Start : Arrowtown

Finish: Branches Road

Distance: 47 Km ( one way)

Terrain: Tarmac, Gravel

Water crossings: Yes a few streams

Gates: No

Challenge Grade, 1-easy to 5-hard:  2.5

Comments: Starting in Arrowtown, the ride into Skippers Canyon is one of those South Island adventures that quickly changes from a scenic cruise into a serious back-country experience. As you climb away from the valley and onto the historic Skippers Road, the track becomes narrow, winding and exposed, with spectacular views dropping away towards the Shotover River far below. Skippers is often referred to as New Zealand’s most dangerous road, and it’s easy to understand why, with sheer drop-offs, tight corners and very little room for mistakes.

For an adventure bike, this is a ride where the journey is as much about the road as the destination. The route follows a road built during the gold-mining era, eventually reaching the famous Skippers Canyon Suspension Bridge, constructed between 1898 and 1901. Unfortunately, the historic bridge is currently closed to all vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians after inspections found failures in the suspension cables, meaning it is no longer considered safe to cross.

If you’ve got the time, keep the adventure rolling and head further up the valley along The Branches Road, following the spectacular landscape all the way to where the public road finally ends at The Branches Station. This is where the real sense of remoteness kicks in, with towering mountains, rugged terrain and the feeling that you’ve ridden right back into the region’s gold-mining past.

Keep your eyes peeled along the way for the little hidden stone huts and houses built by the early gold miners. Tucked away among the rugged landscape, these weathered remnants are easy to miss, but they’re a fantastic reminder of the tough characters who once lived and worked in this unforgiving country. It’s well worth slowing down and exploring—you never know what piece of history you might spot around the next bend.

 Check current road conditions before setting out, as Skippers Road can also be affected by slips and rockfalls following severe weather.