Crown Range and Lake Wānaka to Cromwell
Over New Zealand’s highest main road to Wānaka’s lakeshore, Puzzling World and the orchards of Cromwell.
- Distance
- 150 km (93 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 38 min
- Suggested days
- 2
- Stops
- 11
- States
- New Zealand
- Updated
- May 5, 2026
At a glance: 2-day road trip of about 150 km (93 mi) with 11 stops, from Queenstown to The Big Fruit, Cromwell. About 1 h 38 min of driving in total.
More road trips in New Zealand · More road trips from Queenstown
Route description
Leave Queenstown for the Crown Range Road, a 60-kilometre route over a summit of about 1,076 metres, the highest sealed main road in the country. It is steep and has hairpin bends, and snow chains are required in winter; some rental companies do not permit it, so check your rental terms. Stop at the Cardrona Hotel, about 20 minutes beyond the summit, for lunch and photographs.
Continue down the Cardrona Valley to Wānaka, about an hour from Queenstown. In town, walk the lakefront to the willow known as That Wānaka Tree, best at first light. Roys Peak is a long climb of about six hours return and is closed for lambing from 1 October to 10 November, so check the DOC website. The shorter Mount Iron loop on SH84 is an alternative.
Visit Puzzling World on the edge of town, then take SH6 north about 15 kilometres to Lake Hāwea, which has a lakeshore campsite and picnic area. Hāwea is a quieter lake than Wānaka and has good walking tracks. Check fuel before leaving, as services between Hāwea and the Lindis Pass are far apart. If you have time, walk part of the lakeshore track in the evening; the wind often drops then, and the water is calm and clear.
Turn back south on SH6 through Luggate and Tarras to Cromwell, about 60 kilometres and an hour from Wānaka. Cromwell has fruit stalls beside the highway, with The Big Fruit marking the entrance; stone fruit are in season from December to March. Old Cromwell Town on Lake Dunstan has craft shops and cafés and a walking track along the lake. Cromwell has holiday parks and shops, so it is a sensible place to stay before the long drive on to the Rail Trail.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Queenstown
New Zealand - 234 km
Cardrona Hotel
HistoryWānaka, New ZealandA gold-rush hotel dating from 1863 in the Cardrona Valley, with a restored corrugated-iron façade, a log fire and a garden bar. It sits on the Crown Range road between Queenstown and Wānaka. The road is steep and winding in winter, when snow chains are required.
- 329 km
Wānaka
New Zealand - 41 km
That Wānaka Tree
ViewsWānaka, New ZealandA lone willow growing out of the shallows of Lake Wānaka, a favourite for sunrise and sunset photographs with the mountains behind. The tree is reached along the lakefront path and a short wade or walk along the shore. Do not climb it, as it is fragile.
- 58 km
Roys Peak Track
ViewsWānaka, New ZealandA steep zigzag track above Lake Wānaka that climbs about 1,200 metres to a ridge with a view over the lake and Mount Aspiring. Allow five to six hours return. The track is closed for lambing each year from 1 October to 10 November, so check before setting out.
- 610 km
Mount Iron
ViewsWānaka, New ZealandA rocky hill on the edge of Wānaka with a loop track of about 1.5 hours that climbs to a view over the lake, the town and the surrounding valleys. The track starts from a car park on SH84. It is a good short walk when the higher mountains are in cloud.
- 71 km
Puzzling World
OdditiesWānaka, New ZealandAn attraction beside Wānaka Airport with a large maze, rooms with optical illusions and a famously leaning tower, with a café and gift shop. Entry is paid and there is plenty of parking for large vehicles. It is a reliable wet-weather stop for children.
- 812 km
Lake Hāwea
New Zealand - 954 km
Cromwell
New Zealand - 100 km
Old Cromwell Town
HistoryCromwell, New ZealandA heritage precinct of restored gold-rush buildings on the shore of Lake Dunstan, saved when the Clyde Dam flooded the original town centre. Craft shops and cafés occupy the buildings, and a walking track follows the lake. Free to explore.
- 111 km
The Big Fruit, Cromwell
OdditiesCromwell, New ZealandA group of oversized fruit sculptures beside SH6 at the entrance to Cromwell, marking the town’s role as a fruit-growing centre. There is a car park, and fruit stalls nearby sell stone fruit in season, mainly from December to March.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
2 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Queenstown → Roys Peak Track · 72 km · 0 h 47 minOn the way: Cardrona Hotel, Wānaka, That Wānaka Tree.
- Day 2: Roys Peak Track → The Big Fruit, Cromwell · 78 km · 0 h 51 minOn the way: Mount Iron, Puzzling World, Lake Hāwea, Cromwell, Old Cromwell Town.
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually February–April and November–December. Still fine, with some compromises, in January and October. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Crown Range and Lake Wānaka to Cromwell?
2-day road trip of about 150 km (93 mi) with 11 stops, from Queenstown to The Big Fruit, Cromwell. About 1 h 38 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Crown Range and Lake Wānaka to Cromwell?
We suggest 2 days: about 1 h 38 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Crown Range and Lake Wānaka to Cromwell start and end?
It starts in Queenstown and ends in The Big Fruit, Cromwell.
Which states does Crown Range and Lake Wānaka to Cromwell pass through?
New Zealand.
When is the best time for Crown Range and Lake Wānaka to Cromwell?
The most pleasant months are usually February–April and November–December. Still fine, with some compromises, in January and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
