Fabulous 360 degree views from the summit of Bowen Peak (1631m) above Queenstown, the quieter neighbour of Ben Lomond.
If you’ve already climbed Ben Lomond, or just want a quieter summit experience, then I can highly recommend an ascent of its neighbour, Bowen Peak (1631m). Taking the One Mile Track starts you off in attractive native forest including beech, followed by pine forest, and finally you’re above the bushline to the summit. Once out of the trees there are ever improving views, with the best from the saddle to the summit. The two mountains offer a similar experience in terms of the scenery on offer, so the choice is yours.
Clouds on the way up obscuring Ben Lomond. Luckily they all cleared by time we got to the summit. The feral animals were more numerous and more confident than on previous visits to this area. These guys took little notice of me until I got quite close. At the saddle. The view north from the saddle. Ben Lomond. My wife Sophia visible bottom centre-right. On our way up Bowen Peak from the saddle. Looking over the backcountry from the summit. Sophia looking over Queenstown Hill to the Remarkables. This was our lunch spot. Wide panorama from the summit of Bowen Peak (1631m). Some of the landmarks from left to right are the Remarkables, Lake Wakatipu, Cecil Peak, and Ben Lomond. Ben Lomond (1748m) Panorama from just a bit below the summit. Queenstown and the Kelvin Peninsula centre of image.
A video of the 360 degree views from the summit…
And now shots from on the way down…
Different lighting on the way down made the backcountry mountains very colourful. Ben Lomond Nice native forest on the lower slopes makes the One Mile Track my favourite route up to either Ben Lomond or Bowen Peak.
Track Notes
On a marked track until the saddle, then off track north-west for a while until you meet an impact track which takes you the rest of the way to the summit. It’s fairly easy walking over grass in this section.
This route is the same as for Ben Lomond until you reach the saddle, then you head up off track towards Bowen Peak summit, meeting up with an impact track which takes you the rest of the way. At the hard end of moderate and will take maybe 5+ hours.
I found the route a little confusing through the pine forest and mountain bike park, so keep a close eye out for the orange markers. Once out of the pine forest the route is obvious.
You can also start on the Tiki Trail although this is through only pine forest and I’ve never actually tried it.
There’s parking near the trail head as marked below…
