Queenstown Hill Walking Track | Details & Photos

Want to see a beautiful view of Lake Wakatipu, The Remarkables, and the Cecil and Walter Peaks in Queenstown? Walk the Queenstown Hill Walking Track. This short but steep track is 2-3 hours with return up Queenstown Hill, known as Te Tapu-nui by the Maori, or “mountain of intense sacredness”. It’s within walking distance of the center of town and manageable for those with a good level of fitness, making it a perfect way to spend an afternoon. This post covers the Queenstown Hill Walkway, how to get there, and what to expect.

Queenstown Hill Walking Track

Queenstown Hill Walking Track is a 3 mile (4.8 km) out and back trail with 1,309’ (399 m) of elevation gain. You can hike to a viewpoint of Lake Wakatipu at the ‘Basket of Dreams’ sculpture, or all the way to the summit, at 2,976’ (907 m), for gorgeous panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

This trail is southeast of the epic Ben Lomond Track. The viewpoint also faces the same direction, so offers a similar view, although at a lower elevation than the Bob Lomond summit. Queenstown Hill Walking Track is not easy, but much easier than Ben Lomond. It’s a more family-friendly option, and provides gorgeous views. Especially on a clear day.

The following is an overview of the hike and what to expect.

Time Walk Gateway

The official entrance to Queenstown Hill Walking Track is this beautiful metal gate which commemorates the millennium. It’s a short walk up beyond the parking area on Belfast Terrace.

The plaque by the gate reads:

“This pathway leads to our future. With each step, we seek the guidance and wisdom of those who have gone before us; we walk with a sense of hope, that those who follow in our footsteps beyond the year 2000 can do so with the same sense of pride in, and protection for, this beautiful place”

The climb past this gate is steadily steep, but manageable. Most of the trail is in the shade up to the Basket of Dreams below, so it is a perfect way to escape the heat on a sunny day.

Fairies Meeting Place

A short distance into the walkway, you will find an area with many rocks stacked by hikers, called rock cairns. If you look a little closer, you’ll also see cute, colorful, tiny fairy houses with doors around the area and sometimes red wooden mushrooms. This is called the Fairies Meeting Place.

I could not find any information on it, but it is a nice place to stop and take a breath while looking at the fairy houses.

Loop Walk

Shortly after the Fairies Meeting Place, you will come to the start of the loop track portion of the Queenstown Hill Walking Track. You can choose to go either to the right, which is a gentler, but longer path up, or the left, which is a shorter and steeper path up. Whichever you start with, try the opposite direction on the way back down to see both.

The path to the right also has several story boards along the trail, so you can stop and read about the history of Queenstown, the Maori, and some of the unique animals here. The path to the left is a little more exposed, so there are more places to see the view on the way up.

Basket Of Dreams

The loop paths converge just above the tree line near the Basket of Dreams. This wire basket artwork commemorates the millennium. It was created by artist Caroline Robinson.

It sits at a viewpoint of Lake Wakatipu and the mountains in the distance.

A plaque by the Basket of Dreams has this inscription:

“The Basket’s spiral of steel follows you inward to reflect to draw inspiration from the mountains, lake and from those who are with you outward to dream for the future. Time flies, eternity awaits.”

If you’re tired, make this the end of your hike. Or continue on up to the summit for an even better view.

Queenstown Hill Summit

After the Basket of Dreams, it’s another short, but steep, walk to the summit, where you get the best views. The trail here is more exposed and is washed out in some areas, which means it’s not as well-groomed as the trail before this point. It’s still walkable, but you need to able to walk on uneven terrain. As the ground is a little looser here, some rocks that can also shift when you step on them.

There are two hilltop viewing points here. The first one you come to shows more of a birds-eye view of Queenstown (below). You can see the small oval shaped peninsula below that is Queenstown Gardens on the edge of Lake Wakatipu, The Remarkables to the left and Cecil Peak to the right.

As you move higher, to the second and final summit, you will see more of Queenstown and a better view of the mountains in the background.

To the right of Cecil Peak (below left) is Walter Peak (below right).

To get a feel for the scale here, notice the tiny people on the trail to the right (above).

The view is simply gorgeous, so it’s ideal to bring snacks to sit for a while and enjoy it. You can find a place on the hill to casually sit on the rocks or bring a blanket and have a formal picnic.

The view mostly faces south, but with its elevation and expanse, it’s still a great place to watch the sunset to the west.

How To Get To Queenstown Hill Walkway

Queenstown Hill Walkway is located on Belfast Terrace near Kerry Drive. There’s a very small parking area at the base of the walkway, or, it’s just a short walk from town. About a 20-minute walk from Ferberger.

If you do walk from town, know that much of the walk to get there is uphill. Your heart will be definitely be pumping by the time you arrive. If you don’t want the extra elevation, drive or take a taxi.

What To Expect At Queenstown Hill Walkway

Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress in layers as the temperature can be very different between the woods and out in the sun. It’s also a good idea to wear sunscreen and bring a hat for the sunny parts of the trail.

Make sure to check the weather before you leave. Even if it calls for sunny skies, it’s still a good idea to bring a rain jacket as the weather can change quickly here. And if you plan to watch the sunset, make sure to bring a flashlight or torch for the way back down.

If you plan to enjoy snacks or a picnic at the summit, bring a blanket to lay on the dirt or rocks.

Unfortunately, no dogs are allowed here, so you need to leave them at home. The city is very strict on this and issues fines for this.

Where To Stay in Queenstown

Budget

• I stayed at Absoloot Hostel Queenstown, which is set on the lakefront and centrally located in Queenstown. The options at Absoloot range from budget (for a dorm) to moderate for a suite (which is what I stayed in). They have a communal kitchen that overlooks the lake, which is a great way to meet other travelers while still enjoying a private room.

Inexpensive

• Awesome Studio – Amazing Mountain & Lake Views is centrally located in Queenstown. It offers studios with a kitchenette and mountain and lake views.

Moderate

• Blackrock Apartments Queenstown is centrally located in Queenstown with an equipped kitchen and balconies and terraces.
• Lomond Lodge Motel and Apartments is centrally located in Queenstown near the lake. There’s a kitchen and view of the mountains and lake.

Splurge

• Alpine Home With Amazing Mountain & Lake Views is a 4-bedroom house with stunning views and a balcony.
• Belfast Terrace Gem is a spacious 4 bedroom apartment with stunning views of Lake Wakatipu from its balcony, living room and bedroom. It also has a fully equipped, modern kitchen. This stunner is a short walk from the start of the Queenstown Hill Walking Track.

Want More Of New Zealand?

For other great hikes in New Zealand, see my posts on Routeburn Track, Tongariro Abel Tasman Coastal Track, Cape Brett Walkway, Key Summit Track, Ben Lomond Track, and A Day Hike on Kepler Track. Routeburn, Tongariro, Kepler, and Abel Tasman are 4 of New Zealand’s 10 “Great Walks”, but these are all spectacular treks!

Of course, make sure to read the Best Things To Do In Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world. There’s also the unmissable Milford Sound, and all the stops along the way on the drive from Queenstown To Te Anau and Te Anau to Milford Sound. Franz Josef Glacier and Wānaka are also incredible places to visit.

If you’re a wine lover, stop in Marlborough to taste some of the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc. There are many famous wineries (a non famous ones) to stop at and enjoy great food and wine. Even better, many now also offer beer as well.

To help plan your trip, see my New Zealand Travel Guide. It covers the top destinations, how to get around, when to visit, safety tips, and more.

Safe Travels!

Julie