It’s the best day hike in Queenstown (and one of the best in New Zealand) and I highly recommend doing at least some of it. FREE PHONE: +64 3 595 20801800 459 511 1-877-796-04160800 920 2011, © Copyright The Real New Zealand Limited 2020. Overview Ben Lomond is a prominent peak just outside of Queenstown. There, you’ll find a café/restaurant, luge track and a paragliding, bungy jump and ziplining base – plenty of options to entertain you after your soul-nourishing hike. Check the weather forecast before you go. It’s one of the bigger backcountry loops around Queenstown, offering about 5 hours of undulating riding. The marked track is relatively smooth all the way up to the saddle. I spy another path. The Tiki Trail begins here. The route up to the saddle and summit are quite exposed. The hike up Ben Lomond mountain is one of Queenstown’s best day hikes. The Ben Lomond Walkway hiking experience The track starts climbing through a plantation of firs, before you leave the forest behind and enter tussock country, where you’ll be able to see Ben Lomond above you. More than 30,000 people a year are walking the trail up the 1748m mountain behind Queenstown. Experience magnificent lake and mountain views as you climb up the saddle. Hiking poles are key here. Give yourself plenty of time to complete the hike during daylight hours. The track gets more challenging from here and the walk requires an advanced level of fitness as the last push towards the top of Ben Lomond is very steep as it approaches the summit at 1748m. So, fill your day pack, put your sunscreen on and get yourself up Ben Lomond peak. Although Ben Lomond can be done from Queenstown proper, a start from the top of the Skyline Gondola will save an hour of work (not to mention around 400 metres of vertical climb). The Ben Lomond track starts right in Queenstown town center at the end of Brecon Street. When you reach the sundial (1,748m), you can commence celebrations with a snack and a refreshing drink of water as your eyes adjust to the sweeping views and broad horizon. We recommend hiking Ben Lomond any time from late spring all the way through to early autumn (November to March), as it is when Ben Lomond weather is at its most stable. Ben Lomond Lavender Farm is situated in the stunningly beautiful Wakatipu Valley, a short 10-minute drive from Queenstown or Arrowtown. The Ben Lomond Summit hike is a difficult hike that winds its way steadily above Queenstown to the Ben Lomond Saddle before taking on a rocky trek circling the mountain to arrive at the summit 1748m high. The most iconic (and surely the best) day hike in Queenstown takes you above picturesque Lake Wakatipu to the summit of Ben Lomond, the mountain which looms over Queenstown (but is hidden from view from most parts of town). Although not a technically difficult climb the mountain looks quite rugged as many other peaks in the Southern Alps.This mountain can be climbed beginning from the town of Queenstown or if you'd like a shorter and easier day you can ride the Skyline Gondola up and down to shorten your day. However, from the saddle to the summit, there is a bit of scrambling over rocks required. From the gondola complex look for the well-signed route that veers into the woods from the luge track. At the bottom of the Skyline Queenstown Gondola, you will see signs pointing to the Tiki Trail.The Tiki Trail is a 45-minute uphill zig zagging path that takes you up the mountain and meets up with the Ben Lomond track … Ben Lomond track is a challenging track with a 1438m elevation gain of the walk. After our introductions, we’ll take the gondola up to the top of Bob’s Peak (Cemetery Hill), cutting off the initial climb up the Tiki Trail, to begin our hike along one of Queenstown’s most famous tracks. 0800 920 2011. 5-14 day, all-inclusive, guided adventure tours, FREE PHONE: First climbed Ben Lomond in 2000, so coming back with my family in 2020 this was top of my Queenstown list - and it’s still an epic day hike! On the top of Bob’s Peak (Cemetery Hill) sits the Skyline Complex. The route is very well marked from the top of the gondola (and i would recommend using this, despite the cost - your feet and knees will … Super accessible from the centre of town, this challenging climb has a 1,438m elevation gain that will keep you on your toes. At the top, you'll be rewarded with exceptional views and on clear days, you can spot Mount Earnslaw/Pikirakatahi and Aspiring/Tititea. In addition, you’ll also save yourself another hour hike on the way back down. At the summit, find a free rocky outcrop to perch yourself on for a well-deserved picnic lunch, bask in nature’s serenity and soak up the world-renowned vistas. Click the link for more information about this trail. On a clear day, you’ll look out in awe over Queenstown, the azure waters of Lake Wakatipu, The Remarkables’ craggy mountainsides and Cecil and Walter Peaks. In fact, it was actually named after it, by Duncan McAusland; an early shepherd in the Queenstown area. This is also the place where you catch the gondola to the Skyline complex above Queenstown up at Bob’s Peak (where the Luge is!) Start early! The summit is special (especially in winter / early spring) but if you only go as far as the saddle you’ll still see some incredible vistas. The Ben Lomond Track is a demanding climb and a full day's hike with an 1,438 m elevation gain. Therefore, if you see a small seedling of Douglas fir sprouting, please feel free to pull it out! Ben Lomond is an incredible introduction to hiking in New Zealand and the adventure of your lifetime! Douglas fir create a monocultural forest which inhibits the growth of our native vegetation. If you want to find out more about the incredible 5-14 day hiking tours we run in New Zealand, you can request a free copy of our brochure here. Queenstown Hill Hike. Hiking Ben Lomond will take you the majority of the day, so bring a packed lunch, lots of snacks and water. Experience magnificent lake and mountain views as you climb up the saddle. Located in Queenstown area in the Otago region Alert for the Ben Lomond Track View saved (0) The Ben Lomond Track is a demanding climb and a full day's hike with an 1,438 m elevation gain. This is just a small portion of the panoramic view awaiting you at the summit of Ben Lomond mountain. Tiki Trail or Lomond Crescent. We also use cookies to show you the best of New Zealand on other platforms. The Douglas fir that you see as you hike up the Tiki Trail is a non-native species. There are so many amazing views on the Ben Lomond Track, but the hike isn’t without its difficulties, especially in winter. To view cookie details and how to opt-out, please see our Cookie Policy. The alternative is to take the gondola up to Bob’s Peak (Cemetery Hill), which will allow you to skip the initial climb through the Douglas fir forest. It’s the perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of Queenstown. Ben Lomond Station is a 33,000 acre high country station nestled right behind Queenstown. Ben Lomand Summit Track(opens in new window). As the hordes increase, the area’s becoming increasingly littered by piles of faeces and toilet paper. Ben Lomond track is a challenging track with a 1438m elevation gain of the walk. In the height of summer it can get very warm so it’s best to get the climb out of the way in the coolness of the early morning rather than the baking afternoon sun. 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