Skippers Canyon, Mountain canyon in Otago Region, New Zealand.
Skippers Canyon stretches along the Shotover River with steep rock walls that wind through schist formations. The valley was shaped over millions of years by water and stone, revealing layered patterns in the rock face today.
Gold was discovered in 1862 by Thomas Arthur and Harry Redfern, triggering a major mining rush to the area. The find drew many workers and permanently changed the valley.
The canyon holds mining structures from the 1880s, including water races and sluicing areas that remain visible today. These remnants show how settlers once worked and shaped the landscape.
The unpaved road through the canyon is not passable for rental vehicles, as insurance policies do not cover this route. Visitors should check ahead about available transport options.
The road was built through decades of manual labor, with workers using black powder and hand drills to cut through solid rock. This painstaking work made the canyon accessible to people.
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