Crown Range facts for kids
The Crown Range is a beautiful mountain area in Otago, New Zealand. It's famous for two main things: the Cardrona Alpine Resort, a popular ski field on Mount Cardrona, and the amazing Crown Range Road. This road winds steeply through the mountains. It connects Arrowtown in the south to Wanaka in the north.
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Exploring the Crown Range Road
Starting Your Journey
If you start your trip from Arrowtown heading towards Wanaka, the Crown Range Road begins with a part called the "zig zag." This section is very steep and winding. It climbs up to a wide, flat area known as the Crown Terrace. This land is very good for growing crops like grain.
As you drive, you might see Glencoe Road on your left. This road leads to Glencoe Station. A "station" in New Zealand is a very large farm, often for sheep or cattle. Glencoe Station is a big farm located behind Arrowtown. Further along the Crown Terrace, you'll find Eastburn Road. This road goes to Eastburn Station, another large farm that stretches almost to the small town of Cardrona.
Reaching the Crown Saddle
Just past Eastburn Road, the main road twists and climbs even higher. It takes you to a spot called the Crown Saddle. This is a special place at 1076 meters (3530 feet) above sea level. There's a bronze plaque here that says it's the highest sealed road in New Zealand.
It is officially the highest sealed local road and the highest sealed "pass" or through road. It's actually 2 meters higher than the Desert Road summit on State Highway 1 in the North Island. From the Crown Saddle, the road follows the Cardrona Creek. This creek eventually becomes the Cardrona River. It flows through a beautiful valley filled with snow tussock plants. Finally, the valley opens up at the small settlement of Cardrona.
Amazing Views and Scenery
Eastburn Station has created several spots where you can stop and enjoy the view. The sights are truly stunning! You can look down and see Lake Hayes, Arrowtown, and even the airport. In the distance, you can spot Queenstown. It's a great place to take photos and enjoy the landscape.
A Glimpse into Gold Rush History
The Crown Range area was once a very busy place during the Central Otago goldrush in the 1860s. Many people came here hoping to find gold. The town of Cardrona, which is now quite small, once had thousands of gold prospectors living there!
You can still see signs of gold prospecting today. If you look beside the Crown Range Road, especially over the saddle, you might spot old mining areas. There are visible remains on the west bank, opposite the East Burn Stream, about two miles past the saddle. You can also find them six miles below the saddle on the east bank.
Road Improvements
The Crown Range Road has been improved over the years. The very last section of the road was officially sealed in 2001. This work was done by the Queenstown Lakes District Council. Sealing the road means it's covered with a smooth, hard surface, making it much easier and safer to drive on.
