Walking

ActivitiesLand ActivitiesWalking

Queenstown Region

The Early Start is Everything

The Queenstown Region has no shortage of great walks, but the one thing that makes or breaks most of them is timing. Once the gondola starts releasing hikers around 9.30-10am, the popular trails fill up fast. The Ben Lomond Track is a big day out with a serious ascent and genuinely great views at the top, but get going early. On the way back, the Tiki Trail gets congested through the day, so consider looping back via Fernhill instead.

Head Out to Glenorchy

My pick for the best walking in the region is out at Glenorchy, about an hour's scenic drive from town. If you can stay the night at Sylvan DOC Campsite, you'll beat the tour buses and get an early crack at the Lake Sylvan Track - a 1.5-hour return walk to a really beautiful lake with a brand new bridge. If you want something easier, the Routeburn Nature Walk takes about an hour and suits pretty much any fitness level.

For the fit and keen, the Earnslaw Burn Track is seriously rewarding but genuinely tough - it needs an overnight if you want the full experience. Pack sandfly repellent for anything out this way.

57 items with the highest ranking score first, showing page 1 of 2.

Lake Alta

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.9 6 reviews

3 km return | 1 hour 30 minutes return

Lake Hayes in magic morning light

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.9 7 reviews

Time: 2 hour loop

View from Sawpit Gully Walk back to Arrowtown

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.9 4 reviews

Time: 2 - 3 hour round trip

Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown Hill

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.8 36 reviews

9 km return | 3 hours return

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.8 1 review

Time: 45 min

South IslandQueenstown Region

Fernhill

One Mile Track

4.8 1 review

Time: 3 - 4 hr

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.8 1 review

Time: 6 hours return

Sunshine bay

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.8 1 review

Time: 45 min

View along the Routeburn Track

South IslandQueenstown Region

Routeburn Track

Fiordland National Park / Mt Aspiring National Park

4.8 138 reviews

Time: 3 days, Distance: 32 km

Queenstown Gardens up close

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.7 21 reviews

A bit of serenity among the Queenstown craziness. A great place to relax and recollect your thoughts, the lake side track starts from here and...

Moke Lake

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.6 14 reviews

approx 7 km return | 2-3 hours return

Rees Dart Vista

South IslandQueenstown Region

Rees-Dart Track

Mount / Mt Aspiring National Park

4.6 12 reviews

Time: 4 - 5 days

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.6 4 reviews

50 mins return

Lake Sylvan

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.5 13 reviews

4.6 km if returning via old tramline | 1 hour 40 minutes return via old tramline

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South IslandQueenstown Region

Tiki Trail

Queenstown

4.5 9 reviews

Gondola Base Building - 1 hour return

Views from Ben Lomond

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.4 39 reviews

approx 17 km return | 6 - 8 hours return

Old Chinese miners hut

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.4 14 reviews

400 m return | upto 40 minutes return

Views from the top of the Glacier Burn Track

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.4 5 reviews

approx 6 km return | 3 hours 30 minutes return to bushline

South IslandQueenstown Region

Tobins Track

Arrowtown

4.4 1 review

Time: 30 mins one way

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.4 1 review

Time: 1 hour return

Big Hill Circuit - Arrowtown. Do it.....

South IslandQueenstown Region

Big Hill Trail

Arrowtown

4.4 1 review

Time: 5-6 hours return, Distance: 20.7 kms

South IslandQueenstown Region

Greenstone & Caples Tracks

Fiordland National Park

4.3 23 reviews

Time: 4 - 5 days

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.3 6 reviews

Time: 1 hr loop track

South IslandQueenstown Region

Hollyford Track

Fiordland National Park

4.3 10 reviews

Time: 4 days one way, Distance: 56 km

Lake Wakatipu from Bob's Cove

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.3 6 reviews

1 km return | 20 minutes return

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.1 7 reviews

Time: 4 - 6 hr

South IslandQueenstown Region

Moonlight Track

Arthurs Point to Moke Lake

4.1 4 reviews

Walking time: 4 - 5hrs one way, Mountain biking time: 3-5hrs loop track (38km)

South IslandQueenstown Region

4.1 1 review

South IslandQueenstown Region

Sugarloaf / Rockburn Track

Mount Aspiring National Park

4 2 reviews

Time: 8 hr

Old mine wheels

South IslandQueenstown Region

4 1 review

approx 5 km return | 3 hours return