Access

Bob’s Cove is signposted on the left 13 km north of Queenstown on the road to Glenorchy. There is a large parking area with toilets.

Track

Head left and descend through the mountain beech forest to the junction with the loop track.

Keeping left, skirt the edge of the bay with views over the turquoise waters, promontory and side face of Walter Peak.

The restored lime kiln is just before the jetty.

Return via the loop track.

Identification panels are provided for a selection of forest plants.

Flora

Some of the gum trees are descendants of original plantings used to fire the kilns.

European History

Bob’s Cove was formerly known as Fortune’s Cove and was named after Bob Fortune, an employee of William Rees. Fortune was responsible for maintaining Rees’s whaleboat, which plied Lake Wakatipu transporting men, machinery and merchandise. As the cove provided one of the few sheltered places in the northern arm of the gusty lake, Fortune’s frequency of sheltering here gave him the association.

Pastoralists were present from Wakatipu’s earliest days. As early as 1861, Mr Few and his mob of cattle grazed the area around 12 Mile Creek, which is noted as Few’s Creek on some early maps. George Beer and Thomas Kirkpatrick followed from 1874 - 81.

Early steamer services, notably run by H. Tomkin, stopped for picnics and photos at the cove.

The quarry for the lime extraction was first surveyed in 1874. In 1880, when the Wakatipu Lime Company was formed, two blocks were leased from landowner Ezra Eldred. A stone house was erected on the freehold plot. The company purchased a shed, jetty and plant. Most importantly, two kilns, each with 1000 bushel capacity were installed.

The kilns were built into or in front of steep banks, to aid top loading. Some rails probably led carts laded with rock directly to the kilns. An arched opening on the lower side allowed easy removal of the burnt lime.

The narrow limestone outcrop was trenched 30 metre long and 3 m wide up the hill.

Although the company ceased operating by 1900, over 7 kilns are now dotted around the cove. Mortar for many of Queenstown’s most notable building was supplied by the company, including the Library, Courthouse and County Building.