QUEENSTOWN GARDENS

10-40min return, located in the heart of Queenstown

This easy stroll allows you to wander the beautiful gardens in the heart of the city centre.

Stop and let your nose smell the soft perfumes of the various flowers including numerous different colour roses. Sit and watch the ducklings following suit behind their parents at the duck pond or stop and sit on the lakes edge looking upon the beautiful mountain backdrop.

SEVEN MILE

45min one way, departing directly from the Matakauri shoreline

From the lodge, this track passes by our jetty through regenerating bush and pine forest up to Seven Mile Point.

On the descent, there are good views of Wilson Bay from Kirks Terrace. This walk finishes at Wilson Bay, the perfect spot for a picnic or a dip in the lake.

This track also provides access to Seven Mile bike park.

MT CRICHTON LOOP- SAM SUMMER’S HUT

2-3hrs return, located 5kms from the lodge

A short 20-minute climb through beech forest with views from the top of Lake Wakatipu and Lake Dispute starts your walk through spectacular Central Otago scenery. The track then descends to 12 Mile Creek and Sam Summer’s Hut, an old stone hut dating back to the early settlers and follows along the floor of an extensive sluiced gully. At the head of the gully, a short side track leads to a tailrace rock fissure which has been blasted into the solid schist rock to view 12 Mile Creek.

For the moderately fit this is a fantastic trip, and the trail head is only minutes from the lodge.

BEN LOMOND TRACK

3-4hrs return to Ben Lomond Saddle

6-8 hrs return to Ben Lomond Summit

Located in Queenstown

Choose your intensity: Start among douglas fir trees on the Tiki Trail or cruise up in the Skyline gondola and enter the trail from Bob’s Peak.

At about 800m altitude, you enter alpine tussocks and shrubs, climbing to the Ben Lomond Saddle 1326m above sea level. From there the track gets a little steeper and rougher as it approaches Ben Lomond's 1748m summit however, the view includes Mt Earnslaw (Pikirakatahi) and Mt Aspiring (Tititea) and is worth every step.

This hike is recommended for guests with a moderate to high level of fitness.

BOB’S COVE

40-60min return, located 7km from the lodge

Bob’s Cove (Te Punatapu, the sacred waters) offers a stunning lakeshore walk, historic sites, swimming beaches and fishing. The cove was a campsite for Maori on the greenstone (Pounamu) trail to the head of the lake. In the 1870’s seven lime kilns were built here to burn limestone for building mortar and agricultural fertiliser. One intact kiln can still be seen alongside the track. A beautiful walk to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. This walk can be linked to the Twelve Mile Delta for an extended walk.



QUEENSTOWN HILL

2hrs return, located in Queenstown

This scenic walk climbs some 500 m to the summit of Queenstown Hill (Te Tapunui, mountain of intense sacredness). At the summit, rock tors provide grandstand seating for the 360-degree panoramic view that includes The Remarkables, Cecil Peak, the Frankton Arm and Queenstown Bay. There’s also a small tarn surrounded by bog pine.

TWELVE MILE DELTA

1.5hrs one way, located 9kms from the lodge

This beautiful walking trail follows along the shore line of Lake Wakatipu with breath-taking lake views. Kowhai, fuchsia and rata trees border Lake Wakatipu, feeding nectar loving birds such as bellbirds, tui and kereru, our native pigeon. This track also passes through one of Wakatipu’s last remaining mature stands of red beech.

SAWPIT GULLY

2-3hrs return, located in Arrowtown

For the moderately to very fit, this hike begins at the historic town of Arrowtown, a 20-minute drive from Queenstown. Starting with a visit to the old Chinese miner’s camp situated beside Bush Creek, the hike follows along Bush Creek to a 30-minute steep climb up a spur on an old pack track through larch forest to open tussock with great views back over the Wakatipu Basin. The track then descends Sawpit Gully past an old stone cottage to the Arrow River gorge. Finally, the hike follows the Arrow River back to Arrowtown.