As a child in the '60's we would travel up to Skippers in my Father's old 1958 International pickup, all the kids would be in the welldeck with a blanket over us enjoying the views. We would stop at the Skippers bridge and find the largest flattest rocks we could and drop them over the side, if they hit the water right we'd get a massive sound like a gunshot going off.  I remember the lovely tree lined avenue going up to the remains of the Schoolhouse in the 60's but it was destroyed and all gone by the 1980's, obviously they rebuilt it, but that's definitely not original. The old cemetery at Skippers was very interesting, with a few Chinese graves, which is quite unusual as most Chinese goldminer's bodies were repatriated to their homeland after death. Many goldminers died from getting caught in flash floods down in the gorge.
As a school age  teenager we all had trail bikes and would spend many weekends in the Branches camping out in the old homestead and hiking up into the hills or sitting in the river letting it carry us downstream.
Great memories!

Thanks, Neil, the best video I've seen in the Skippers. Your enthusiasm for the landscape and the sheer joy of 4WDing really comes through. The station you couldn't drive to on the Branches Rd was the Branches Station. I've been up a few big valleys into the Alps but Branches Station must be one of the most remote. Certainly one of the hardest to reach in winter. True isolation. Thanks for the trip and keep it up. You've got some real fans who love the high country tracks.

Tp me it is Just another back country road in NZ. You can find this type of road all over the country.

Been a long time but I have been in this road a few times

I've been up there, and way, way further up the valleys with a group of fellow Trail-Riders on motorbikes; back in the 80's, really.
When were all the larch trees burnt over at Skippers? That must have been a substantial fire.

Great video and photos Neil. Kind of wish I old have come with you up there. Can’t believe how beautiful the old  school looks.

Wow! Way cool road.

first of all, as always, a great video. i once rode a bus on this road, or at least part of this road. the bus driver had a really sick driving style. it was the first and only time i was scared on a bus ride.

Dont know how i was recommended this but glad it happened great video totally enjoyed it.

I went out there in 1962 on my Mac  Vellocette.The growth of the greenery  is amazing.At Maori Point there was still evidence  from sluicing.The swing bridge is 300 long and 300 feet above the river

It’s such a great drive.
One time I went into the Branches Station to TB test their cattle with my dad. It started raining early afternoon and didn’t stop for the rest of the day. Probably should have stayed there overnight, but my old man being a stubborn old bugger drove us out as the river was just beginning to lap over the road in a few spots. Definitely one of the more frightening journeys I’ve had, but a great memory!

Wow, what an awesome drive.  I think our Kand Rover has a date!  Thanks for sharing

Cool. Beautiful area.

“New Zealand’s best road”. Yeah right best scare value road!  Great driving and video - thanks for posting as despite the beautiful scenery and solitude NEVER going there😮. Amazing to contemplate the creation of the road all those years ago with horses, hand tools and hard work.

Great video - thanks for sharing.

Brand new subscriber here.  You're a natural when it comes to making great content, many thanks!
I own a 1996 Toyota Surf diesel and I can't wait to take it up that road!  I also have a 1997 Toyota Surf petrol which my husband will use to join me.  The '97 is in mint condition (drives like it's brand new, only 78000 kms on the clock!) so I'm more worried about getting a scratch on the paint job than falling off the cliff faces 😅 Can't wait to take up my beloved Surfs for an adventure!

Been down there numerous times,done a jet boat ride up the river to just beyond the skippers bridge with 3 of our kids ,another time we did a raft trip down part of the river with our 2 youngest kids ( youngest daughter wat only 5 or 6 years old,1st time my wife and went up over the Skippers bridge ( at least 30 yrs ago) AJ Hakett were doing bungee jumps off the bridge and they tied the bungee to an old land rover that they had to move to let us pass,a truly awesome place!!

This is such a stunning drive, beautiful scenery and incredible engineering! We've never gone beyond the settlement - was cool to see what the track beyond was like. Very tight & plenty of exposure! 😅

Londonderry terrace  bit of Irish naming there

I had never heard of this place until now. Definitely adding to my bucket list, absolutely have to visit someday