Loading Is the Crown Range Open?…
Live status of the Crown Range Road pass from QLDC's own road-status feed — the council-controlled route to Wānaka and Cardrona that the state-highway feed doesn't cover.
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The Crown Range is the direct way to Wānaka and Cardrona, and it's a council road, not a state highway — so it never shows up on the state-highway feed. This reads QLDC's own live road-status service for the pass, alongside the forecast on Snow on the Passes.
Crown Range Road is open. No events reported.
QLDC lists nothing on this route right now. As of 24 Aug, 1:47 pm.
New Zealand's highest sealed road, cresting the 1,076 m Crown Saddle between Queenstown/Arrowtown and Cardrona/Wānaka. QLDC (not NZTA) controls it, closes it and clears it.
QLDC is the live source — check it before you drive
This is a council-managed road, and since May 2026 not fitting chains when conditions call for them can mean a $750 fine. It is the first local road to ice or snow over in a cold snap.
The Kawarau Gorge (SH6) is the lower, safer alternative to Cromwell and Central Otago — longer, but a state highway that opens more often. Check the Are the Roads Out Open? tool for SH6.
Checked 24 Aug, 1:47 pm (NZST). Road-status data from Queenstown Lakes District Council’s own Road Status service, which covers council-controlled roads — a separate feed from Waka Kotahi’s state highways. Events can lag the road, and a very new one takes a few minutes to appear.
Crown Range Road is open.
Nothing on the QLDC feed for this route.