From your accommodation, a short drive takes us from the bustle of Queenstown through rolling rural countryside to Skippers Saddle. This is the beginning of a 22km dirt road, hewn over a hundred and thirty years ago through mountains and backcountry to reach the rich gold deposits of the Shotover River. The one-lane road winds above precipitous valleys, past fantastic, sculptural landmarks and mountain vistas to reach the crystal blue Shotover River winding through a spectacular ravine. Encounter aptly named waypoints like Hell's Gate, Bus Scratch Corner and Pincher's Bluff. Around every corner, awe-inspiring features such as Gorilla Rock, the Lighthouse and Castle Rock. Every bend in the road bringing a view of distant ranges and snow-capped peaks. Your guide is an award-winning local landscape photographer who knows this road intimately in all its moods. You'll be guided in techniques of composition and camera use to create images that capture the beauty and majesty as you see it.