Climbing Ben Lomond (1748m) is a must do for any reasonably fit hiker visiting Queenstown. The route we take to the top starts on the edge of town, and at first passes through beech forest, then pine forest, and once above the treeline it’s tussock grass until the summit, where there are 360 degree views of the Southern Alps, the Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu.
Standing on the summit of Ben Lomond on a clear enough day, you can blindly point your camera in any direction and come away with an epic landscape shot. There are 360 degree views of the Southern Alps, Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables, and depending on the weather conditions these views might look very different, as the photos that follow will demonstrate.
The steep but steady 1400m climb is very satisfying if you like that sort of thing (as I do). There’s quite a variety of vegetation, starting in native beech forest, then non-native pine, and above the tree line it’s tussock grass until the summit. If you only make it to the saddle at 1316m of elevation the views over the Southern Alps are already excellent, and you can also take a turn off about half way up, and take a short walk up to point 1121m for great views of Queenstown Hill and the Remarkables. For the less fit or the time poor there’s a cable car/gondola that runs up to 812m above sea level from where there are also grand views (although I’ve never been). You can walk from the gondola viewing point to meet up with the main track to the summit. The photos that follow are from a few different occasions. Track notes at the end.
One of the problems with being a world famous hiking blogger is the paparazzi are always trying to get photos of me doing my thang 😉
Ben Lomond Track: The Scenery
17th May 2017
Sophia was sick this day so I climbed the mountain by myself, and was very pleased to find two kea hanging around at the summit, no doubt waiting for an opportunity to steal somebody’s food. I set off late and was really shifting it to make sure I got back before nightfall, so I only took pictures from the summit.
I was fully stoked to get this shot. The world’s only alpine parrot, kea are an impressive size, and when they spread their wings they reveal a bright reddish orange underside. Very grand. Another stately kea shot. Kea doing what kea do best: breaking into people’s bags and stealing shit. One appears to be standing guard, meaning ‘they’re organised!’ (quote from Chicken Run). I know their reputation so I didn’t take my bag off or get any food out. Look at that beak! Lake Wakatipu behind low lying cloud. Lake Wakatipu, with a tiny hiker in the foreground. (Not actually tiny; just looks tiny in this shot.) Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables in shadow. Dark mountains. No filter applied to this shot – the light just did strange things. Looking north-ish. Non-native fauna. Another shot looking north-ish. Fuzzy clouds to the left. Autumn colours at the bottom. Probably not native trees. No filter applied to this shot, just an insanely red tree.
June 19th 2016
When attempting to climb Ben Lomond in 2016 we stopped at about half way because the summit was clouded in, and I think we had set off rather late as it was. Nevertheless, our short side trip to point 1121m was a nice variation that I can recommend. We walked to the summit just the next day in quite wintery conditions. Those photos to follow.
The Remarkables through a gap in the pine trees. Us at point 1121m, looking schmick in our hiking gear. Picture taken by a young lass from New York. The Remakables (2319m) in the background and Queenstown Hill (907m) in the foreground. Queenstown Hill in the foreground. Not seen it from this angle before. These clouds stopped us from continuing on to the summit, but it cleared not long after we descended. Love those clouds. The Remarkables behind.
20th June 2016
Up to the summit this time.
Sophia climbs through beech forest. Early on the track follows an old pipeline. Just above the bushline. Ben Lomond summit ahead. The summit getting a bit closer. Views of the Remarkables from about half way. The hill to the right was were we walked the day before (point 1121m). Views from a bit above the saddle, on the final ascent to the summit. Views from the summit. Pretty misty by this time. We should have got up a bit earlier but I needed my beauty sleep. Remarkables (2319m) to the right, Bowen Peak (1631m) to the left, and the Crown Range behind. Sophia arriving at the summit (1748m). Sophia begins the descent. Bowen Peak (1631m). A where’s Wally moment; only it’s Sophia hiding there somewhere (to the right). When I grew up it was Lowly Worm by Richard Scarry, rather than Wally, that I looked for on each page of a book. Me doing my bit for the wilding pine eradication program. Hiking cred.
28th December 2014
Ben Lomond summit from about half way. The Remarkables with Frankton to the left and Kelvin Peninsula to the right. The Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu. I don’t think I was using my panorama function much at this time because I could have taken in a bit more and framed this better. The colours also look a bit dull. Looking roughly north.
31st December 2012
Just one shot from our first time up the mountain. It was a beautiful clear day but the shots I took with my point and shoot camera are not quite as good as my later photos: a bit washed out.
Sophia and me on our first time up the mountain in 2012. I look painfully young here even though it was less than 6 years ago.
Track Notes
The route depicted here passes at first through beech forest (which is why I recommend this route), then pine forest, and then it’s tussock to the summit.
There are brief notes on the DOC website. They recommend starting at Brecon St or Skyline access Rd, but we’ve always started at a different spot up a short unnamed road off the roundabout at the junction of Lake Esplanade/ Queenstown to Glenorchy Road/ Fernhill Road, where there’s a car park and a small disused hydro power station. I recommend this because it starts in attractive beech forest. The track is pretty straightforward except for one spot in the beech forest, where it’s possible to miss a right turn and follow a false track until it peters out. Just turn back and pick up the track again. This section follows an old pipeline which used to service the power station. The track later enters pine forest where it crosses mountain biking trails, and eventually emerges from the trees and climbs steadily to the saddle, and then rises steeply to the pointy summit. It’ll take about 6 hours at a steady pace, although if you’re full of beans it can be done in under 4 hours. It’s also possible to walk up Ben Lomond from Arthurs Point, but we’ve never done it and I think it’s quite a bit longer (as in longer than a day walk).
