Queenstown Hill Walk, Queenstown NZ

As the name suggests, Queenstown Hill is on the very edge of the town itself. For just moderate effort you can climb 500m on a well formed track to 907m of elevation and grandstand views of Lake Wakatipu, The Remarkables, Cecil Peak and Ben Lomond.

Queenstown Hill Walk

The Queenstown Hill Walk provides excellent views for moderate effort, and it’s highly convenient, starting just on the edge of town. From the small car park you ascend steadily through a forest of wilding pines, some of them humongous, then after emerging above the tree line it’s a short but steep ascent to a minor peak at 841m. The 360 degree views include the Remarkables, Lake Wakatipu, Cecil and Walter Peaks, and Ben Lomond. The pictures below were taken after snow. I’ve also included a couple of shots from the airport as we flew out later than day. (I’ve now also added a few shots from the summer of 2015/16).

Info on this straightforward walk can be found on the a DOC pdf of walks in the Wakatipu area: see walk 15. It starts on Belfast Terrace. You can walk an extra 100 vertical metres from in town to the start of the walk, or there’s a small car park and street parking available. The track through the pine forest can be done as a partial circuit.

Queenstown Hill Walk
An obvious track the whole way. I don’t think the public are allowed to walk on to the summit, but the views are seen from point 841m.

Queenstown Hill Walk: The Scenery

Queenstown Hill Walk
Sophia with Ben Lomond in the background.
Queenstown Hill Walk
Ice is a novelty for us.

Queenstown Hill Walk

Queenstown Hill Walk
Ben Lomond on the left, and Bowen Peak to the right.
Queenstown Hill Walk
Lake Wakatipu, Cecil Peak and Walter Peak.
Queenstown Hill Walk
Cecil Peak and Walter peak.
Queenstown Hill Walk
Looking towards Peninsula Hill and the Remarkables in the distance.
Queenstown Hill Walk
Double Cone (2319m) on the Remarkables poking out of low lying clouds, and Peninsula Hill (834m) in the foreground. (This shot needed a digital zoom so it may not be so clear when viewed on a large screen.)
Queenstown Hill Walk
Me and Sophia.
Queenstown Hill Walk
Sophia’s snowman standing guard.

A couple of shots from later in the day at the airport…

Queenstown Airport
The views in Queenstown start as soon as you hit the tarmac.
Queenstown Airport
This was the only moment during the day when I could get a clear shot of the Remarkables, taken just as we we were entering the airport ready to fly out. 2319m of elevation, and about 2000m of prominence.
December 30th 2015

A few shots from an earlier summer…

Queenstown Hill Walk
Lots of small stone ‘pagoda’ cairns in the pine forest.
Queenstown Hill Walk
Lots of small stone ‘pagoda’ cairns in the pine forest.
Queenstown Hill Walk
Seasons greetings encountered on December 30th 2015.
Queenstown Hill Walk
A panorama of the area with low lying cloud ‘decapitating’ some of the taller peaks.

Author: Edward Hathway

I'm a clinical psychologist and keen hiker.

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