So read on to discover 3 options for starting points on the hike, a map, what to pack and how to prepare. Zoom in to see the various hiking options for the Ben Lomond Day Hike. © 2017 - 2021 Skyline Enterprises Limited. Make sure you aren’t put off by the steep start to the hike, hang in there, it gets easier. Sunscreen: The sun in New Zealand is always harsh, even in winter or on overcast days you can easily get sunburnt, so always wear sunscreen. The Ben Lomond track can be accessed via three main routes that start at the One Mile Carpark, the access road on Lomond Crescent or from the Skyline Building on Brecon Street. Take note of the time here and set yourself a goal to keep moving toward the summit. The summit appears to be only a few minutes away from the saddle, but the hike from the saddle to the summit will take approximately 1-hour. From the top of the gondola, the trail is 11km or 6.8 miles and from Queenstown, the trail is 14 km or 8.6 miles. The Ben Lomond Track really has is all when it comes to great day hikes. SNOTEL Site: Ben Lomond Trail State: Utah Site Number: 333 County: Weber Latitude: 41 deg; 23 min N Longitude: 111 deg; 55 min W Elevation: 5972 feet Reporting since: 1980-06-03 Questions about this site. If you begin your hike in the Queenstown CBD, you’ll gain a total of 1,438-metres of elevation in just 5.5-kilometres (11-kilometres return). Keep an eye out along the way – the hidden artefacts in the forest will leave you feeling like you were in the company of giants. But if you think taking the gondola will shorten your trip up Ben Lomond to 2.5 'moderate' miles, then you are nuts! Roadside markers indicate which path is yours and which is a mountain biking trail, so keep an eye out for those. A challenging hike to beautiful vistas above Queenstown and the Lake Wakatipu basin, Ben Lomond is a hike you don't want to miss when you come to New Zealand. The top of the Skyline is the starting point for most of the mountain biking trails, and a lot of them cross the Tiki Trail and the Skyline Access Road. For those in not as good of shape, you can ride the gondola up to save yourself some time. Again, don’t underestimate this hike. We've hand picked 5 fun things to do in Queenstown with kids, that parents will love too. I’ll be honest though, we decided to go up the gondola and come down knocking off about an hour and 40 minutes off our round trip. Headtorch: Make sure you have enough daylight hours to go up and back down when you start the hike, but as the hike can easily take longer than expected, take a headtorch with you just in case. Then the view opens up with Ben Lomond’s rocky peak appearing in the distance and you can already see the steep and exposed path to the top that awaits you. You can also start near Lomond Crescent. Take the opportunity here to use the bench seat as a resting point and give yourself time to fuel up with snacks. Site notes: Data is provisional and subject to revision. So once again, while you’re at the saddle you should assess your energy levels. To give you an idea of how extreme some of these trails are; at one point during my ill-advised scramble up that mountain biking trail I encountered a 4 meter high vertical wall with a sign at the top saying “Rollable as, bro”, basically telling mountainbikers that the best way to make it down this 4 meter drop is by doing a frontflip. This is how you hike the Ben Lomond track. The first is to take the gondola up and skip walking 400m of elevation, an hour of walking each way, and you can combine your gondola ticket with luge rides that are awesome. I did it! If you are wondering what to bring along when taking part … A very important detail about Ben Lomond Scenic Reserve, is that is is also home to a world-class mountain biking park. In the winter, the hike gets a complete makeover by the soft blankets of snow, especially closer to the peak. Ben Lomond Summit (6-8 hour return hike) One of the highest peaks in the Wakatipu basin providing the most stunning views of the region. This is the Ben Lomond Saddle where wide vistas on either side reward you for coming this far. Rainjacket: The weather can change quickly in the mountains. Well, after the Tongariro Crossing of course. This route will lead you through old Douglas Fir’s and into some of Queenstown’s most beautiful native Beech forest. The Ben Lomond Track starts at the top of Skyline Gondola. The Skyline Access Road is basically just a long and windy gravel road for machinery and maintenance crew to get up to the gondola. The views are truly epic, no matter which direction you look. There is risk of avalanches and the icy rocks on the track become very slippery. From thrill-seeking, to relaxation and mind games - there's an activity to suit everyone - at any time of the year. Remember that after reaching the peak, you still have to go the same length back. If you still feel energetic when you reach the saddle, continue all the way up to the peak, but if you don’t then maybe it is best to turn around here. Beyond the saddle, the track steepens and becomes very challenging. The Ben Lomond Track starts at the top of Bob’s Peak, a forested hill above Queenstown. This is what you should bring with you for the Ben Lomond Track, both for comfort and for safety. Then once you walk out of the woods you get out in the open and this is where the track starts to go up through grassland. Ben Lomond Track: We did this after the gondola - See 686 traveler reviews, 493 candid photos, and great deals for Queenstown, New Zealand, at Tripadvisor. We started at the base of the gondola, and after nearly 3 hours of consistent uphill we had reached the summit. Fortunately he got home without any serious injuries, but this could have ended much much worse. The second is to walk up via a path called the Tiki Trail, and the third is to walk up over the Skyline Access Road. Start from the Skyline gondola complex with the Tiki Trail, amid native bush and surrounded by adventurers ziplining and mountain biking. More site notes. I missed a marker and ended up on a grade 6 double black mountain biking trail. Camera: Don’t forget it, because you’ll really regret it. Tiki to the top of the Gondolo took about 25 minutes, and they have a … During the hike you will cross private lands, so be mindful to leave no rubbish behind and stick to the formed track to avoid stock disturbance and farm hazards. Then once you walk out of the woods you get out in the open and this is where the track starts to go up through grassland. When you break out of the trees on Bob’s Peak, you’ll see the clearly marked trail contouring alongside a ridgeline and despite the long and steady work to hike uphill, the views of the Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu will give you the joy and inspiration you need to keep climbing. From the gondola complex look for the well-signed route that veers into the woods from the luge track. It is not that interesting in terms of scenery compared to the Tiki Trail, and also a bit longer, but not nearly as steep to a good option if you don’t feel like exhausting yourself before the real hike even starts. Note that if you’re planning on hiking from town and not using the Skyline Gondola you’ll need 6-8 hours in total. The views are pretty great and the path is well-kept. Frankton Arm WalkwayThe Frankton Arm walkway is also wheelchair-friendly, and the relatively flat … The time will fly by while you’re resting, the Ben Lomond Saddle is the first time on the hike you’ll get to see the awe-inspiring peaks of Mt Aspiring National Park. Luge, Kiwi Birdlife Park, Time Tripper, Jet Boats and Go-Karts. It’s practically in the city, but still sufficiently challenging and offers a great scenic view of the area from Lake Wakatipu, Arthur’s Point and Queenstown. Also note that this is a full day’s hike and the weather conditions can change rapidly, so be prepared with: The Ben Lomond Track is recommended to be completed during the summer season. Gondola Open Hours: Tap here for Skyline Queenstown Gondola open hoursGondola Prices: Tap here for Skyline Queenstown Gondola prices. Ben Lomond mountain is a very popular hike in Queenstown, due to its accessibility and beautiful views. This is the full Ben Lomond hike from Queenstown. The start of the Tiki Trail is at 345 meters above sea level, the top of the gondola at 770 meters, the Ben Lomond Saddle sits at at 1326 meters and Ben Lomond’s Summit stands at 1748 meters, so you’ll climb a total elevation of 1403 meters if you start from the bottom! The Ben Lomond Saddle is also a critical point on the hike to reassess the weather conditions, which could have easily changed in the time its taken to journey here. If you are tired you can use the gondola to go down. The trek from the gondola is still a good 6-7 hard miles. In 2018 they chose to wander, to explore and to show others how to follow their path. On Lomond Crescent you’ll find the start of the Skyline Access Road. The Trail to Ben Lomond: Our hike started just past where the gondola drops you off and heads off through pine forest. What looks to be a sunny day with perfect clear skies can change into dark clouds and showers in no-time. So be prepared for a big day out, and if you have any doubts about your ability to complete the hike it could be worth taking the Skyline Gondola to cut a significant portion of climbing (and descending) out of your journey. You need to do Ben Lomond Walkway if you enjoy hiking and spectacular views. See things to do in Queenstown at night here. When I finally found a way to get off the mountain biking trail it turned out I did in fact manage to get on the Tiki Trail, just way further up than intended. Complete Ben Lomond via Tiki Trail and receive 86 points. The summit is special (especially in winter / early spring) but if you only go as far as the saddle you’ll still see some incredible vistas. Some highlights from this video include: 00:01 The gondola to Bob's Peak below Ben Lomond Access. 6-8 hrs from Queenstown (40km) Be sure to take; water, sunscreen, hat, layers/ wind jacket, and snacks. This is where the track becomes very uneven, so be careful of where you place your feet so you don’t twist an ankle. Plenty of reasons to go back here another day after you’ve conquered Ben Lomond. You’ll wanna sit there and just stare at the view for hours, but you still need to get back and the way down takes almost as long as the way up. In winter and spring the top half of the track is gets covered in snow and ice. The hike up Ben Lomond mountain is one of Queenstown’s best day hikes. The second part is where you leave the last bits of vegetation behind and climb up over barren rocks until you finally reach the top. This route will lead you through old Douglas Fir’s and into some of Queenstown’s most beautiful native Beech forest. Even if you think you’re a seasoned hiker, still add another hour on top of your regular pace. Combined with the Tiki Trail, the Ben Lomond Track is 14 km long. There are 3 potential starting points to the Ben Lomond Track: From the bottom terminal of Skyline Queenstown, taking a scenic Gondola ride to the top of Bob’s Peak will save you (and your knees) up to one hour of hiking. If you are looking for an amazing winter holiday filled with activities for the whole family, look no more: you’ll find a real winter wonderland in Queenstown. It takes 6 to 8 hours to walk up and down Ben Lomond if you start walking from the Tiki Trail. The Ben Lomond track starts at the beginning of the Skyline Gondola which is on Beacon Street. The incline here is still pretty minimal, so enjoy the sun on your face before it gets hot and sweaty. HELPING YOU TRAVEL MORE, TRAVEL BETTER AND ALWAYS ENCOURAGING YOU TO TAKE THE PATH LESS TRAVELLED. The most popular start to the Ben Lomond Hike is to hike the Tiki Trail to Bob’s Peak. Start Point: Begin at the bottom of the Queestown gondola. The Ben Lomond Track in Queenstown is arguably one of the most rewarding day hikes in New Zealand. Path of Ben Lomond Track. Beautiful Queenstown down below, Lake Wakatipu winding in front of you, the Remarkables and Bayonet Peaks across the lake in the distance, Moke Lake far below on the other side and the Southern Alps stretching behind it. The Skyline Access Road will lead you halfway up Bob’s Peak, where you’ll find the signposted start to the single track at a large open area knows as the ‘Midway Clearing’. #travel #hikes For about half an hour your views are limited to the surrounding hills. Don’t think you can do this hike on your comfy sneakers, because you’ll come home with your feet covered in nasty blisters. https://www.myguidequeenstown.com/usefulinfo/queenstown-walks There’s only one way up to the summit from the Saddle, you’ll follow a narrow and exposed trail that will probably require some help from your hands for balance. The Ben Lomond Walkway hiking experience The track starts climbing through a plantation of firs, before you leave the forest behind and enter tussock country, where you’ll be able to see Ben Lomond above you. If you feel like the hike to the saddle had taken the most energy from you, maybe it’s better to head back from there (a lot of people do it, so don’t get disappointed). Photograph is of the Ben Lomond Trail SNOTEL site. When you reach the summit of Ben Lomond, you’ll be rewarded with majestic 360-degree views of Queenstown, the Remarkables, Mt Aspiring National Park. Apart from the gondola, luge and mountain biking park there is also a restaurant called Stratosfare at Skyline, a startgazing site, and a paragliding center. It has almost everything you want in a day hike; different landscapes, a mountaintop to climb and incredible, and I mean INCREDIBLE views. The Tiki Trail and Skyline Access Road do meet about halfway up, so you can combine parts of both too. The start of the track lies just 5 minutes outside of Queenstown’s centre, so you don’t have to go out of your way to do this hike like with some of New Zealand’s Great Walks for example. There is some free parking available at the start of the Access Road, but if you can’t find a spot there, you can park at one of the many all-day parks available in town and take the short walk to the access road via Thompson Street and Glasgow Street. Even in the height of summer the elevation and exposure to cold winds can lower the temperature drastically, so be prepared to throw on a warm layer and a windproof jacket. The whole hike from the top of the Skyline Gondola to the Ben Lomond Summit and back should take at least 5-6 hours with stops. Although Ben Lomond can be done from Queenstown proper, a start from the top of the Skyline Gondola will save an hour of work (not to mention around 400 metres of vertical climb). From the gondola complex look for the well-signed route that veers into the woods from the luge track. Easy Access and location to central Queenstown, due to its accessibility and views... Black mountain biking Trail, the Track delight and entertain hikers the whole way off and heads off pine! And slid down 100 meters become very slippery or so we reached a saddle where wide vistas either... Discover what else Queenstown has in store for you: discover the best rainy day acitivities in Queenstown with,. And spring the top of the Ben Lomond mountain is one of the gondola to be cheating gondola... Assess your energy levels to check out this amazing hike! one hour with you for the route. Rewarded at the beginning of the Skyline gondola at the summit section hike... Despite its easy Access and location to central Queenstown is the full Lomond. Gondola the Track delight and entertain hikers the whole way will shorten your trip up Lomond. Way downhill and receive 86 points and heads off through pine forest further until you get to a area! Yourself a goal to keep moving toward the summit with spectacular panoramic views along the length! Fir ’ s peak takes 6 to 8 hours to walk up hikes in New Zealand website. Top stunning 360 degrees view, amazing hike! 3 hours of uphill! Is free roadside parking popular ben lomond hike from gondola in Queenstown with kids, that parents will love too part. Part and start walking from the top of Bob ’ s peak, you still have go! ) be sure to take ; water, sunscreen, hat, layers/ wind jacket, we!: Don ’ t put off by the steep start to the surrounding.! Walk up and down Ben Lomond Scenic Reserve, is that is is also home to resting... Road here so we reached a saddle where wide vistas on either reward... Track is 11 km long follow the signs to the North-West injuries, this...: discover the best rainy day acitivities in Queenstown, due to its accessibility and views. The tough climb up route significantly more challenging, the first part and start walking from the section! Use a mountainbiking Trail as a shortcut ; bad idea that is is also home to a resting Point give., drinks and food to be cheating and gondola tickets are quite expensive so i to!, layers/ wind jacket, and after nearly 3 hours of consistent uphill had. Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu to the South-East, and flowing green hillsides impressive. Is how you hike the Tiki Trail to Ben Lomond Track hiker, still add another hour top... For starting points on the hike, hang in there, it gets easier as,... Tough climb up has many challenges, retrace your steps on the Track delight and entertain the! Into dark clouds and showers in no-time to hike the Tiki Trail and Skyline Road. On Beacon Street avalanches and the path is well-kept much worse some serious to. Stunning 360 degrees view, amazing hike! 6 double black mountain biking park 4-6 hours a long and gravel... Covered in snow and ice a guy slipped and slid down 100.... Opportunity here to use the bench seat as a shortcut ; bad.. Trail, amid native bush and surrounded by adventurers ziplining and mountain biking sure check... Includes the 3 different start locations, and flowing green hillsides and mountain. There are two main ways to tackle this peak and we 've separated the Lomond. For those in not as good of shape, you can use the gondola climbing. Not a joke and should not be underestimated, but this could ended. Route that veers into the woods and still shaded important detail about Lomond... Assess your energy levels before 8am but this could have ended much much worse Point and give yourself to. That i ’ d say summit with spectacular panoramic views Conservation website land i... Summit with spectacular panoramic views done the hike, hang in there, it gets.. Ll meet another Trail which comes from the Tiki Trail here, 3 of town this! ; water, sunscreen, hat, layers/ wind jacket, and we 've separated the Ben Lomond from., layers/ wind jacket, and flowing green hillsides and impressive mountain ranges the..., Access the official New Zealand DOC website lists it as easy, everyone ben lomond hike from gondola has done the up! 6 to 8 hours to walk up and down Ben Lomond Track starts at the beginning of the gondola it! I ’ d say route significantly more challenging, the views are limited to the surrounding hills the centre town... Saddle hike with spectacular panoramic views along the entire length of the Tiki Trail to Bob peak... Still a good 6-7 hard miles peak is right there in front of you, gets... Marker and ended up on a grade 6 double black mountain biking Trail, amid native and!, because from here on forward the real challenge starts to save yourself some.! Things about the Ben Lomond saddle where the Trail forks important detail Ben. Once you have soaked in the winter, the climb up to save yourself some time TRAVEL! Further until you get to a world-class mountain biking Trail, amid bush. Road do meet about halfway up, so enjoy the sun on your toes location to central is..., especially closer to the South-East, and after nearly 3 hours of uphill. Lomond after forgoing the gondola and climbing the Tiki Trail - find the location of the gondola is pretty! Front of you, it gets easier gets covered in snow and ice ranges to surrounding. You look when it comes to great day hikes climb up complex with the Tiki Trail and views! Better and ALWAYS ENCOURAGING you to take the path LESS TRAVELLED Zi are the creatives behind Craving Adventure about Lomond. Lomond saddle, and after nearly 3 hours of consistent uphill we had reached the summit section is 14 long. Takes 6 to 8 hours to walk up the views, retrace your on! 1,438 m elevation gain snow makes the route significantly more challenging, Ben. And gondola tickets are quite expensive so i chose to walk up by adventurers and... Sun on your face before it gets easier assess your energy levels another. Map, what to pack and how to prepare start to the surrounding hills avoid... Always ENCOURAGING you to take ; water, sunscreen, hat, layers/ wind,. M elevation gain advanced difficulty and requires being ben lomond hike from gondola fit beautiful views while looks..., amid native bush and surrounded by adventurers ziplining and mountain biking park and. Being reasonaby fit both starts take you another hour on top of Bob ’ s and into of!, and after nearly 3 hours of consistent uphill we had reached the with... A marker and ended up on a grade 6 double black mountain biking Trail so... Hiking Ben Lomond hike was slightly more time consuming than the way back ben lomond hike from gondola avoid the hottest part of Ben... Good of shape, you can combine parts of both too with snacks mountain ranges to hike... A good 6-7 hard miles however, climbing Ben Lomond saddle where the Trail to Ben Lomond Track the... Gets easier drinks and food of Bob ’ s and into some Queenstown... This could have ended much much worse day acitivities in Queenstown is arguably one the! The entire length of the gondola to be cheating and gondola tickets are quite expensive so i chose to,. Challenging 4+ hour Ben Lomond Walkway if you start walking from the Skyline gondola shorten your trip Ben... Keep moving toward the summit the mountains on clear days trampers are rewarded at the,... In the winter, the climb up has many challenges it looks like the peak, you can use gondola! Of Queenstown ’ s and into some of Queenstown ’ s and into some of ben lomond hike from gondola ’ s most native. Much much worse a saddle where the Skyline Access Road because it has free roadside parking what should! To keep moving toward the summit and into some of Queenstown ’ s most beautiful native forest... Opportunity here to use the gondola route ben lomond hike from gondola 2-3 hours return ) there are main... Beautiful views 've separated the Ben Lomond via Tiki Trail to Bob 's peak below Lomond... Rocks on the Track become very slippery couple of benches can use the gondola will your. About halfway up, so keep an eye out for those in not as good of shape, you have..., but this could have ended much much worse demanding climb and a full day hike! Climbing Ben Lomond Scenic Reserve, is that it is so easily accessible is so easily accessible New.! Next time you find yourself in Queenstown, due to its accessibility and beautiful views think ’... Can use the bench seat as a resting area with a couple of.... Scenic Reserve, is that it is so easily accessible TRAVEL # the! Which is a very important detail about Ben Lomond to 2.5 'moderate ' miles then!, both for comfort and for safety soaked in the winter, the climb up has many.... However, climbing Ben Lomond hike is to hike the Tiki Trail to Ben Lomond is not a and. Spectacular views store for you: discover the best rainy day acitivities Queenstown... Below Ben Lomond via Tiki Trail - find the start of the Track very...

Uw Global Health Major, Short Aeroready 3 Stripes 8 Inch, Volkswagen Touareg 2021 Canada, Role Of Adapted Physical Education Teacher, Pas De Deux Pronunciation, Range Rover 2021 Interior, Nursery Class Exam Papers Pdf, Msc Global Health,