Queenstown Trails - Best of the best
Summer in Queenstown is epic. Think long days, warm temperatures, BBQs and rivers and lakes to swim in; it’s the perfect recipe for putting a big smile on everyone’s face. Throw in a healthy dose of bike riding, and you’ll soon see how awesome the Queenstown Trail network is and you are likely to discover something new about this incredible place we live in.
With so many trails on our doorstep, you’d be hard to find one that doesn’t run near to where you live, or is only a short drive away. We’ve put together some of the best trails for whatever sort of summer mood you’re in or activity you’re after. You’ll be surprised by how accessible and inclusive the trails are, ranging from easy peasy to longer intermediate trails.
The Queenstown Trail is New Zealand’s most popular Great Ride and offers up over 130kms of off road trails, providing an ideal way to access awe-inspiring scenery, tranquil picnic spots, historical points of interest, crystal clear rivers and lakes, plus fantastic local food and wine.
The Queenstown Trails Trust has a vision for a happier, healthier and cleaner Queenstown, all because more people have the opportunity to walk and cycle. We want people of all ages and abilities to utilize the network of trails safely, easily and enjoyably around the Wakatipu. If everyone who used the trails regularly donated as little as $30 per year we’d be safeguarding the future of the trails. Help us achieve our vision and support us by becoming a Friend of the Trust.
For more information about the trust, the trail network and our supporter programme please visit: www.queenstowntrail.org.nz
Queenstown Gardens to Frankton Marina Return
Time: 1-2 hours
Level: Easy (Grade 2)
Distance: 12km return
Starting at the Queenstown Gardens, it’s a flat and easy ride to Frankton Marina. If you are with children, you might want to check out the new destination playground at the entrance to the Queenstown Gardens, you could spend hours of fun here so bribe the kids with a promose of more play after the ride.
Circumnavigate the Queenstown Gardens and enjoy the stunning views around the bay, across the lake to Cecil and Walter Peak and to Kelvin Peninsula. Follow the trail onto Park Street to the beginning of the Frankton Track where the road ends. The trail is an easy trail with plenty of places to stop and enjoy the view or fossik by the lakeside beaches. It’s 4 kms from the start of the Frankton Track (from road end) to the Frankton Marina and the trail follows the shore of Lake Wakatipu.
Gibbston River Trail
Time: 2-2.5 hrs
Level: Easy (Grade 2)
Distance: 8.7km
Kawarau Suspension Bridge to the Gibbston Back Road. Part of the Queenstown Trail ‘Great Ride’ network, this trail begins at the Kawarau Suspension Bridge and winds its way high above the Kawarau River through Central Otago’s premier wine-growing region, Gibbston the ‘Valley of Vines’.
As you leave the AJ Hackett car park (accessible from SH6) follow the signs to the Gibbston River Trail. From here, your journey takes you into dramatic wine country. Take your time in Gibbston.
To return, head back on the trail and make your way back towards the Kawarau Suspension Bridge, your options from here are to return to Arrowtown via the Arrow River Bridges Trail or back to Queenstown via the Twin Rivers Trail and Frankton Track.
Lake Hayes Trail / Wai Whaka Ata
Time: 1 hr
Level: Intermediate (Grade 3)
Distance: 8km
Wai Whaka Ata / Water that Reflects. Part of the Queenstown Trail ‘Great Ride’ network, Wai Whaka Ata / Lake Hayes Trail is one of the most scenic short loops in the trail network and is very popular with walkers and cyclists. The lake is often very calm, producing incredible reflections of the mountain ranges that surround it.
Starting at the Rutherford Road end of the trail, there’s a gradual climb to an elevated bench high above the lake where the trail meanders along the contours of the hill before dropping down to the southern boardwalk section of trail.
The trail can be narrow in sections with steep drop offs down to the lake. However its not a technical trail and is the perfect place for begginers to hone their skills, to the more experienced riders looking for a great circuit.
If you’d like to take a plunge, Lake Hayes is a popular swimming spot during the summer months as its significantly warmer than the other lakes in the district.
Frankton Track & Kelvin Peninsula Trail
Time: 2-3 hrs
Level: Easy (Grade 2)
Distance: 16.4km
Part of the Queenstown Trail network and the start of the ‘Great Ride’. If you only have a couple of hours, then this trail is for you! It’s a relatively flat and easy ride or long-ish walk with wide trails designed for walkers and riders to share. It’s ideal for families with young children or those new to cycling!
Begin at the Queenstown Gardens entrance by the Bathhouse on Marine Parade and follow the signposts all the way along the lakefront. Stop at the Frankton Marina for coffee at the Boatshed Cafe or a craft beer at Altitude Brewing, then follow the signs to the historic Kawarau Falls Bridge, which in 2018 became pedestrians only. This is where the Lake Wakatipu flows into the Kawarau River - it’s well worth pausing here to admire the crystal clear waters below.
Continue along past the Hilton Hotel and the lakeside trail which hugs the Frankton Arm, passing lakeside mansions and numerous jetties and beaches until you reach Kelvin Grove and the Queenstown Yacht Club. Following the Kelvin Heights Sculpture Trail around the Queenstown Golf Course for more sweeping views across the lake. As the trail nears Jardine Park, there is an optional technical section called the Kelvin Peninsula Lakeside Trail, suitable for more advanced riders. Otherwise, follow the signs via a short stretch of road, cycle along Grove Lane to Peninsula Road, turning right onto Poplar Drive for an easier route to Jardine Park.
Return the same way, or carry on around the trail and enjoy more stunning views from the south side of the golf course towards Jardine Park and the Jack’s Point Trail and beyond.
