7 Best Hikes & Scenic Walks in Queenstown: Alpine Peaks, Glacial Basins & Forest Trails
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7 Best Hikes & Scenic Walks in Queenstown: Alpine Peaks, Glacial Basins & Forest Trails

7 Best Hikes & Scenic Walks in Queenstown: Alpine Peaks, Glacial Basins & Forest Trails

Queenstown doesn’t just sit next to the mountains—it is swallowed by them. Perched on the zig-zagging glacial shores of Lake Wakatipu and hemmed in by the jagged saw-tooth crest of The Remarkables and the alpine bulk of Cecil Peak, Tāhuna is New Zealand’s undisputed adventure capital.

While commercial jet boats and bungy jumps grab the headlines, the truest, rawest way to experience this landscape is on foot with a daypack on your back. The variety here is staggering: in a single weekend, you can conquer a 1,748-metre alpine peak with views deep into the Southern Alps, wander along secluded turquoise lake coves flanked by red beech forest, or explore historic 1860s gold-mining tailraces.

Here is the local tramper’s guide to the seven best hikes and scenic walks in and around Queenstown.

(Looking for après-hike craft beers, Fergburger strategies, and alpine day trips? Check out our Queenstown Travel Guide.)

1. Ben Lomond Summit Track (via Skyline Saddle)

  • Distance & Duration: 11.0 km return (from Skyline Gondola) or 14.0 km from town | 6–8 hours full return
  • Elevation Gain & Difficulty: +1,438 m (from town base) or +990 m (from Gondola) | Strenuous / Alpine (steep rocky switchbacks, scree scrambling)
  • Trailhead & Parking: Starts at the bottom of the Skyline Gondola (Brecon Street) via the Tiki Trail, or shave off 450 m of climb by taking the Gondola up to the trailhead.
  • Dog Policy & Facilities: Strictly No Dogs (active conservation & alpine farming land). Toilets at Skyline complex; zero facilities above the saddle. The undisputed king of Queenstown day hikes. Starting through dense Douglas fir plantations above the town, the track breaks out into high alpine tussock country at the Ben Lomond Saddle (1,326 m). From the saddle to the 1,748-metre summit peak, the trail transforms into a rugged, calf-burning ridge scramble over exposed alpine rock. At the top, you are rewarded with an astonishing 360-degree panorama: Lake Wakatipu snaking into the distance below, the sheer jagged wall of The Remarkables, and on clear days, the pyramid peak of Mount Aspiring / Tititea glinting on the northern horizon.

Local Trail Tip: This is a genuine alpine mountain peak. In spring and late autumn, the final summit ridge is coated in ice and snow—carry crampons and trekking poles. Start by 7:30 AM in summer to beat the midday sun and descending afternoon storm clouds.

2. Queenstown Hill Time Walk (Te Tapu-nui)

  • Distance & Duration: 4.2 km return | 1.5–2 hours
  • Elevation Gain & Difficulty: +400 m | Moderate (continuous, well-graded uphill gradient)
  • Trailhead & Parking: Belfast Terrace car park (Queenstown Hill). Limited parking (roughly 12 spaces)—walk from the CBD in 10 minutes.
  • Dog Policy & Facilities: Dogs allowed on leash. No toilet facilities along the trail. The perfect half-day acclimatization hike right on the doorstep of the CBD. Te Tapu-nui ("Mountain of Intense Sacredness") climbs through fragrant Scots pine and European larch forest, passing historic information plaques detailing Māori heritage and early European pastoral farming. Above the treeline, you’ll reach the famous Basket of Dreams wrought-iron sculpture. Continue 10 minutes past the sculpture to the actual 907-metre summit cairn for unobstructed views looking down onto Frankton Arm, the Remarkables, and the Kawarau River outlet.

Local Trail Tip: The uphill climb is continuous and gets your lungs working right from step one. Take breathers at the forest clearings. Come at twilight to watch the Queenstown streetlights sparkle to life around the bay.

3. Bob’s Cove Track & Picnic Point (Glenorchy Road)

  • Distance & Duration: 3.2 km return (or 4.5 km loop via Picnic Point) | 1–1.5 hours
  • Elevation Gain & Difficulty: +110 m | Easy (gentle lakeside forest path)
  • Trailhead & Parking: Bob's Cove car park (State Highway 6A / Glenorchy-Queenstown Road, 14 km west of Queenstown).
  • Dog Policy & Facilities: Dogs allowed on leash. Public toilets at the car park. One of Lake Wakatipu's most serene and photogenic hidden spots. Because Bob’s Cove is sheltered from prevailing alpine winds, the water here is crystal-clear and takes on a luminous Caribbean-turquoise hue on sunny days. The track meanders through ancient native red beech (tawhai raunui) and kōwhai trees to a historic 1870s stone lime kiln. A short spur trail climbs to Picnic Point, an elevated rocky peninsula offering sweeping views straight up the lake toward the snow-dusted peaks of Glenorchy.

Local Trail Tip: Pack your swimsuit (and a lot of bravery) in summer. The historic wooden jetty in Bob’s Cove is Queenstown’s favourite local spot for leaping into the bracing, glacier-fed waters of Lake Wakatipu.

4. Mt Crichton Loop Track (Sam Summers Hut & Gold Tailrace)

  • Distance & Duration: 6.4 km loop | 2–2.5 hours
  • Elevation Gain & Difficulty: +280 m | Easy to Moderate (well-formed bush track with stream crossings)
  • Trailhead & Parking: Mt Crichton Scenic Reserve car park (Glenorchy-Queenstown Road, 12 km from Queenstown).
  • Dog Policy & Facilities: Dogs allowed on leash. Historic DOC hut and toilet mid-loop. A fascinating blend of pristine native rainforest and 1860s Otago gold rush history. The track follows the cascading torrent of Twelve Mile Creek through towering red and mountain beech forest dripping in moss and native ferns. Midway along the loop, you’ll discover Sam Summers Hut, a rustic stone-and-corrugated-iron dwelling built in the 1930s by a hardy local prospector. Just above the hut, the trail passes right through a 30-metre deep, hand-drilled rock tailrace gorge carved out by miners blasting for gold.

Local Trail Tip: Walk the loop in a clockwise direction. This gets the main uphill climbing done through the shaded beech forest and saves the dramatic creek canyon views and cascading waterfall crossings for the descent.

5. Lake Alta Track (The Remarkables Alpine Cirque)

  • Distance & Duration: 3.5 km return | 1.5–2 hours
  • Elevation Gain & Difficulty: +210 m | Moderate (rocky alpine trail and scree slopes)
  • Trailhead & Parking: The Remarkables Ski Area base building car park (end of Remarkables toll road). Note: Access road may have gravel sections; check winter ski closures.
  • Dog Policy & Facilities: Strictly No Dogs (conservation reserve). Toilets at the ski lodge during operating periods. For high-altitude drama with relatively modest hiking effort, head up the Remarkables access road to 1,600 metres above sea level. Starting behind the main ski lodge, the track ascends through alpine wetlands and alpine herb fields before revealing Lake Alta—a pristine glacial cirque lake tucked beneath the jagged, sheer 2,300-metre rock towers of Single Cone and Double Cone. Fans of The Lord of the Rings will immediately recognize this bleak, dramatic bowl as the filming location for the Fellowship's escape from the Mines of Moria (Dimrill Dale).

Local Trail Tip: This track is located in an extreme alpine environment. It is typically covered in snow from late May through November and is only accessible as a walking track in summer and early autumn (December to April). Bring sunglasses—the alpine glare off the scree is intense.

6. Routeburn Nature Walk & Flats Day Section (Glenorchy / Routeburn Shelter)

  • Distance & Duration: 6.0 to 13.0 km return (customizable day hike) | 2–4 hours
  • Elevation Gain & Difficulty: +180 m | Easy to Moderate (wide, exceptionally maintained Great Walk standard)
  • Trailhead & Parking: Routeburn Shelter car park (25 km past Glenorchy via Routeburn Road). Large sealed car park with DOC visitor boards.
  • Dog Policy & Facilities: Strictly No Dogs (Mount Aspiring National Park). Flush toilets and shelter at trailhead. If you don't have the time or multi-day backcountry bookings to hike the full 33 km Routeburn Great Walk, this day tramp gives you the absolute best of its world-famous scenery. Starting over a sweeping swing bridge above the crystalline, ice-blue Routeburn River, the trail winds beneath an ancient canopy of red beech carpeted in luminous green moss and delicate ferns. You'll follow the river gorge, crossing cascading side streams on sturdy suspension bridges, before emerging into the wide glacial amphitheater of Routeburn Flats.

Local Trail Tip: The drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy (and on to the Routeburn Shelter) is one of the most scenic road journeys on earth. Give yourself at least 1 hour and 15 minutes for the drive from Queenstown, and fuel up your vehicle before leaving town.

7. Arrowtown to Macetown: Tobins Track & Big Hill Spur

  • Distance & Duration: 5.2 km return (Tobins Track) | 1.5 hours
  • Elevation Gain & Difficulty: +270 m | Moderate (steady, wide gravel 4WD gradient)
  • Trailhead & Parking: End of Ford Street, Arrowtown (near the Arrow River car park).
  • Dog Policy & Facilities: Dogs allowed on leash. Full cafes, historic bakery, and public toilets in Arrowtown heritage village. Perched just 20 minutes from Queenstown, the historic gold-mining settlement of Arrowtown is the gateway to the rugged tussock valleys of the high country. Tobins Track is a historic 1860s bridle path cut into the hillside by early merchant Thomas Tobin to beat the borough toll fees. Climbing out of the Arrow River gorge, the track emerges onto the Crown Terrace plateau, delivering an iconic sweeping view of the entire Wakatipu Basin, Lake Hayes, and the Remarkables.

Local Trail Tip: Visit in autumn (mid-April to early May). Arrowtown’s hillsides erupt into a breathtaking blaze of gold, copper, and amber foliage, making this one of the most photographed walking spots in New Zealand.

🏔️ Alpine Tramping Rules & Queenstown Safety Checklist

  1. Mountain Weather Reality: Alpine storms in the Southern Alps roll in with terrifying speed. Blue skies can turn to near-freezing rain, high winds, and dense cloud cover within 45 minutes. Always pack a thermal merino base layer, a fleece, and a seam-sealed waterproof rain jacket.
  2. Hydration & UV Protection: Queenstown’s thin alpine air means UV radiation levels are extreme. Wear SPF50+ sunscreen, polarized sunglasses, and carry at least 2 litres of water per person on summit hikes (Ben Lomond, Lake Alta).
  3. No Alpine Stream Drinking: While Queenstown's glacial rivers look crystal-clear, water in high-visitation areas can carry Giardia. Always filter or boil backcountry river water before drinking.

Before You Hit the Trail: Queenstown Trail Answers

Do I need a DOC permit or booking for day hikes?

No. All day walking and hiking tracks around Queenstown (including day sections of the Routeburn and Ben Lomond) are completely free and do not require advance permits. You only need paid bookings if you plan to stay overnight in DOC backcountry huts.

Can I do Ben Lomond if I am not an experienced mountaineer?

In summer (December to April), Ben Lomond is a standard non-technical hiking trail suitable for anyone with good general cardio fitness and sturdy footwear. However, the last 45 minutes to the summit is very steep and exposed. If you suffer from severe vertigo or if bad weather rolls in, turn around at the Saddle (1,326 m).

What is the best way to get to trailheads along Glenorchy Road?

Having a rental car or campervan gives you total flexibility to stop at Bob's Cove, Mt Crichton, and Glenorchy. Alternatively, local track transport operators (such as Info & Track or Buckley Track Transport) run daily scheduled hiker shuttles from Queenstown to Glenorchy and the Routeburn Shelter.