Walking Tracks
There is an abundance of walking options in and around Queenstown with many of the walking tracks accessible from Azur Lodge or Queenstown centre.
Below are a few options that we would recommend
Arawata Bridle Track
Time: 45 min one way
Getting there: The track starts on the bend of Arawata Terrace and travels to the Glenorchy Road near 5 Mile Creek.
Description: This track is part of the original bridle trail from Queenstown to Glenorchy. The track has good views of the lake and its surrounds and passes interesting rock formations – often scaled by rock climbers.
Sunshine Bay Walk
Time: 45 min into town
Getting there: This walk starts 1 kilometer past the Fernhill roundabout and continues around to Sunshine Bay public jetty.
Description: A native bush walk along the lakeshore to the Sunshine Bay jetty and carpark. A side track leads to Two Mile Creek Falls (8 meters).
*This is a walk that can be taken from Azur Lodge into Queenstown*
Queenstown Hill Walk
Time: 3 hr return
Getting there: This track starts and ends on Belfast Street in Queenstown
Description: The 500-metre climb through pine forest to the summit of Te Tapu-nui (mountain of intense sacredness) is well rewarded by the views. Rock tors provide ideal seats from which to admire an excellent
360-degree panorama of the Remarkables Range, upper Kawarau River, Cecil Peak, the Frankton and South Arms of the Lake and Queenstown Bay (Tahuna).
Tiki Trail
Time: 1 – 3 hr
Getting there: This track starts at the Gondola base building in Queenstown centre
Description: Starting at the base of the gondola the Tiki Trail goes up the left hand side of the mountain and takes between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours up depending on how well your legs last. Good shoes are recommended and a medium level of fitness is required, but it’s just the first half that’s particularly steep.
Keep your eyes peeled for downhill mountain bikers, as the tracks cross back and forth with the hiking trails. Be on the lookout when crossing these tracks – it’s not dangerous but if you’re walking with music they MTB guys and gals can sneak up on you very quickly.
Mt Crichton Loop Track
Time: 2 – 4 hr loop
Getting there: Start/Finish: 10km from Queenstown on Glenorchy Rd
Description: This track is in the Mt Crichton Scenic Reserve and passes through mountain beech and manuka, with red beech in the gullies.
Twelve Mile Creek Gorge was worked intensively by gold miners and signs of sluicing can still be seen. A short side track below Sam Summers Hut leads to an impressive rock fissure once used as a tail race.
Bob’s Cove & Nature Walk
Time: 20 min
Getting there: 14 kilometers from Queenstown on the Glenorchy Road.
Description: Bob’s Cove (Te Punatapu, the sacred waters) offers lakeshore walks, 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 1870s, seven limekilns were built here to burn limestone for building mortar and agricultural fertiliser. One intact kiln can still be seen alongside the track. Native red beech / tawhi raunui was extensively logged for
this industry and gum trees were planted to provide future firewood.
Glenorchy Walkway
Time: 1 – 2 hr loop track
Getting there: Located in the Glenorchy township.
Description: Glenorchy Walkway offers excellent opportunities to view bird life, including black swans, as its boardwalk traverses wetlands just north of Glenorchy. A great family walk ideal for picnics with views of Mt Earnslaw / Pikirakatahi.
For further information on any of the walking/hiking options please speak to the team at Azur.
