- Est. Median Value
- $522K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $485/wk
- Safety Score
- 97/100
- Green Space
- 60%
- Current Weather
- 0.8°C
- Median Age
- 48 yrs
~28 crimes/1k/yr
clear sky
Living in Skippers
Skippers Canyon is the road that most rental car companies specifically exclude from their insurance and most drivers refuse to believe exists until they're already on it. The unsealed track cut by gold miners in the 1880s clings to the Shotover River gorge walls above Arthurs Point, dropping several hundred metres in a series of single-lane bluffs that the 19th century considered adequate engineering for a dray track and the 21st century mostly agrees to consider a feature.
At its depth, the canyon runs the historic Skippers Settlement, where a thousand miners worked the river at the height of the rush and the evidence remains in the stone schoolhouse, the suspension bridge and the gold dredge tailings that line the riverbed. The Skippers Historic Reserve protects what the river hasn't taken, and the canyon road itself is now a heritage attraction for drivers and passengers whose relationship with heights is either uncomplicated or enthusiastically complicated.
The permanent population is negligible by design: the access road discourages the casual establishment of anything that requires deliveries, and the canyon's hydrology has always kept the riverbed more productive than the banks. The Shotover still yields gold for the patient fossicker.
Queenstown is 22 km back down the canyon road, which takes considerably longer than 22 km usually does.
Is Skippers a good place to live?
Skippers is home to roughly 513 people across 888.3 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Skippers scores 67 out of 100, with a safety score of 97/100 and 60% green space.
Schools: Skippers has 1 school in or near the suburb, spanning early-childhood through to secondary education. See the Schools tab below for the full list.
Housing: The estimated median value is around $522K, and weekly rent typically sits around $485.
Lifestyle: Skippers has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. Public transport stops are within easy reach. The current temperature is 0.8°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Skippers is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. Use the data and community tips below to decide if it suits your lifestyle, family and budget.
Map
Livability Breakdown
- Safety97
- Amenities10
- Schools77
- Housing Affordability72
- Green space100
- Community89
- Transport10
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $522K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $485/wk
- Median HH Income
- $129K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +3.0%
- Data Year
- 2023
Key Financial Indicators (NZD)
† Est. Median Value is suburb.co.nz's own estimate, modelled from available public data. We aim for accuracy, but where data is limited, estimates may be imprecise.
Nearby Suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Skippers Canyon?
- Skippers Canyon is in the Queenstown Lakes district, around 22 km from Queenstown via the Skippers Road from Arthurs Point, a narrow unsealed track cut into the Shotover River gorge walls.
- Can you drive to Skippers Canyon yourself?
- The Skippers Canyon Road is unsealed, narrow and rated as unsuitable for most rental vehicles, with most hire car contracts explicitly excluding it. 4WD tours run from Queenstown if you'd rather someone else do the driving.
- What is the history of Skippers Canyon?
- Skippers was one of the Otago goldfields' richest sites, with around 1,000 miners working the Shotover in the 1860s. The stone schoolhouse, suspension bridge and dredge tailings remain as part of the Skippers Historic Reserve.
- Is there gold in the Shotover River at Skippers?
- The Shotover River has yielded gold continuously since the 1860s and still produces for recreational fossickers with patience and the right equipment. Commercial operations also work the river.
- How do I get to Skippers Canyon from Queenstown?
- By guided 4WD tour from Queenstown, departing via Gorge Road and Arthurs Point, around 22 km each way. Self-drive is technically possible but most rental agreements prohibit it.
- Which schools are in zone for Skippers?
- Children living in Skippers are in zone for Queenstown Primary School. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.
- How do I check my school zone in Skippers?
- Use the School Zone Checker on this page. Enter your address to check your school zone and see which schools you have a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Schools & Enrolment Zones in Skippers
Schools in zone for Skippers
Children living in Skippers have a guaranteed right to enrol at these school, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Queenstown Primary School
Full Primary · roll 506 · decile 10
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Skippers. School enrolment zones (home zones) decide which schools your child has a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Address matching is approximate and based on OpenStreetMap geocoding — confirm an exact result near a zone boundary directly with the school.
Explore Skippers
Things to do(4)
Site of the first hydro-electric power scheme in NZ
Old siphon
Old dredge
Skippers Canyon NZ
Parks & green spaces(1)
Skippers Canyon NZ
Healthcare
Pharmacies and clinics for this area haven’t been catalogued yet.
Stay in Skippers
Places to stay(2)
Skippers Campsite
Skippers Freedom Campground
Skippers Weather
Current conditions: 0.8°C, clear sky
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 16.5 | 5.95 | 98.8 | 11.45 |
| ☀️ Feb | 14.81 | 5.03 | 129.47 | 10.42 |
| 🍂 Mar | 12.41 | 2.8 | 114.73 | 9.55 |
| 🍂 Apr | 10.55 | 0.86 | 146.53 | 8.07 |
| 🍂 May | 6.37 | -1.1 | 142.87 | 5.96 |
| ❄️ Jun | 2.12 | -3.79 | 131.6 | 5.06 |
| ❄️ Jul | 0.36 | -5.69 | 155.17 | 5.01 |
| ❄️ Aug | 1.18 | -5.07 | 176.5 | 6.71 |
| 🌸 Sep | 3.11 | -3.9 | 278.37 | 7.5 |
| 🌸 Oct | 5.31 | -3 | 218.67 | 9.09 |
| 🌸 Nov | 10.93 | 1.21 | 152.53 | 10.06 |
| ☀️ Dec | 14.25 | 5.13 | 140.27 | 11.11 |
Skippers Community
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Local tips
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