The air gets thin and cold quickly on the Crown Range. At this point, at about 1,121 metres, you are high on the zigzag section of the road between Arrow Junction and the saddle, where it climbs out of the Wakatipu basin in a series of tight hairpins. Look back over your shoulder: the whole basin spreads out below, with Lake Hayes, Arrowtown, the Shotover River, the mountains around Queenstown, and on a clear day the Remarkables catching the light. There is a viewpoint near the top of the zigzags where most people stop, and it is worth it.
The Crown Range Road is often described as the highest main sealed road in New Zealand, with the saddle just over 1,070 metres, and it is the shortest route between Queenstown and Wanaka. It used to be a gravel road, and it was only fully sealed in the year 2000, which changed it from a challenge to a classic ride. The hairpins on the Queenstown side are steep and tight, with gradients that will test your clutch control, especially two-up or with luggage, and the surface is good but can be slippery when wet.
Weather is the big factor here. Snow and ice can close the road in winter, from June to September, and even in summer the temperature at the top can be much colder than in the basin. Strong winds are common, and fog and rain can roll in quickly. Check the road conditions before you set out, especially in the shoulder seasons. In winter, chains may be required, and the road is not a good idea on a bike if there is any sign of ice.
Beyond the saddle the road drops into the Cardrona Valley, a long, empty, tussock-covered valley with the Cardrona River running through it. The landscape is typical of Central Otago: dry, brown hills, schist rock outcrops and vast skies. There are no services on the pass itself, so make sure you have fuel and water before you set off from Queenstown or Arrowtown. The nearest towns with fuel are Arrowtown, Queenstown, Cromwell and Wanaka. If you have time, ride the road in the late afternoon, when the low sun turns the tussock gold and the shadows of the hills stretch across the valley.