Luge, Kiwi Birdlife Park, Time Tripper, Jet Boats and Go-Karts. Complete Ben Lomond via Tiki Trail and receive 86 points. #travel #hikes The Ben Lomond Track is of medium - advanced difficulty and requires being reasonaby fit. Read on to discover what else Queenstown has in store for you: Discover the best rainy day acitivities in Queenstown. The most popular start to the Ben Lomond Hike is to hike the Tiki Trail to Bob’s Peak. 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. The views are truly epic, no matter which direction you look. The Ben Lomond Track starts at the top of Skyline Gondola. The Ben Lomond Track is a demanding climb and a full day's hike with an 1,438 m elevation gain. Take note of the time here and set yourself a goal to keep moving toward the summit. Plan your trip to be down before the sun sets! I don’t recommend hiking outside up Ben Lomond outside of summer and autumn unless you have experience hiking with alpine gear over snow and ice. We've hand picked 5 fun things to do in Queenstown with kids, that parents will love too. This is an option for those who want to check out the activities offered at Skyline Queenstown, but aren’t too keen on paying for a gondola ticket.The top of the Tiki Trail branches off into the Ben Lomond Track on the left and the Skyline Access Road on the right. Rest up here, because from here on forward the real challenge starts. Hiking Ben Lomond: the gondola route (2-3 hours return) There are two main ways to tackle this peak. 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. Roadside markers indicate which path is yours and which is a mountain biking trail, so keep an eye out for those. 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. Through their in depth and easy to follow travel guides & itineraries they help you travel more, travel better and always encourage you to take the path less travelled. While it looks like the peak is right there in front of you, it will take you another hour to reach it. Make sure you aren’t put off by the steep start to the hike, hang in there, it gets easier. As you walk up the Tiki Trail you can already see more and more of Lake Wakatipu under you, and when you get to the top of the gondola you should definitely check out the view from the Skyline Viewpoint to give you a taste of the kind of views you’ll get from the top. In the winter, the hike gets a complete makeover by the soft blankets of snow, especially closer to the peak. 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. 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 hike to the summit does not require any specialised mountaineering equipment or experience, but it’s recommended to keep your focus and body weight pointing toward the uphill side of the trail to avoid an uncomfortable fall. Hiking to the Saddle After making your way up, either through the Douglas fir forest or by gondola, you will start your ascent to the Ben Lomond Saddle. The Tiki Trail and Skyline Access Road do meet about halfway up, so you can combine parts of both too. Both starts take you up a steep path climbing about 400 meters in one hour. This part is no joke - the incline is serious and the track gets really technical, but hopefully the ever expending views can motivate you enough to keep going. 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. Take the Gondola to Skyline, follow the signs to the saddle and the steep ascent on your left to the summit (1747m). So if you think you can use a mountainbiking trail as a shortcut; bad idea. The trail is to the left, labelled Tiki Trail (beyond the cemetery) Transport and parking: There are 240 minute car parks beside the gondola building. If using the third option the easiest form of access is via the Skyline Gondola which takes you part way up the mountain, with foot access from the same location via the Tiki Trail. Plenty of reasons to go back here another day after you’ve conquered Ben Lomond. 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. HELPING YOU TRAVEL MORE, TRAVEL BETTER AND ALWAYS ENCOURAGING YOU TO TAKE THE PATH LESS TRAVELLED. So read on to discover 3 options for starting points on the hike, a map, what to pack and how to prepare. From the Skyline complex, follow a well-signalled track through the woods until it emerges into an opening that will give you the first views of Ben Lomond towering above. This is where the track becomes very uneven, so be careful of where you place your feet so you don’t twist an ankle. 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. Combined with the Tiki Trail, the Ben Lomond Track is 14 km long. Tiki to the top of the Gondolo took about 25 minutes, and they have a … Once you have soaked in the views, retrace your steps on the way back. 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. Trekked up Ben Lomond after forgoing the gondola and climbing the Tiki Trail. 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. What to Bring on the Trail. See things to do in Queenstown at night here. For about half an hour your views are limited to the surrounding hills. I missed a marker and ended up on a grade 6 double black mountain biking trail. If you are wondering what to bring along when taking part … Beached As is narrow and flows well for the adrenaline seeking mountain biker but sticking to the Ben Lomond walking track is a much nicer experience for hikers. Ben Lomond. From the top stunning 360 degrees view, amazing hike!! 1748m - Ben Lomond peak. But despite its easy access and location to central Queenstown, the climb up has many challenges. Well, after the Tongariro Crossing of course. The Ben Lomond track starts at the beginning of the Skyline Gondola which is on Beacon Street. On clear days trampers are rewarded at the summit with spectacular panoramic views. 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. You can also start near Lomond Crescent. Access. © 2017 - 2021 Skyline Enterprises Limited. Some highlights from this video include: 00:01 The gondola to Bob's Peak below Ben Lomond Hike to the Ben Lomond SADDLE As you start the Ben Lomond Track from the gondola, the first part is through the woods and still shaded. 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. The trail begins in the gondola car park and ascends quickly through a forest of Douglas Fir trees which you will hike through for about an hour and a half over a few downhill mountain bike trails before the trail turns into tussock and scrub and incredible views of the summit Ben Lomond begin to show themselves. It’s the best day hike in Queenstown (and one of the best in New Zealand) and I highly recommend doing at least some of it. Tom and Zi are the creatives behind Craving Adventure. Located at 1,748m over Queenstown and the Lake Wakatipu, the Ben Lomond summit is a bucket-list day hike for both hikers and adventure-seekers alike. Since access to the Ben Lomond track from the One Mile Creek track has been closed, you have two options to reach the Ben Lomond summit: Option 1: Tiki Trail to the Skyline Gondola to the Ben Lomond Track This option is the best if you want a full-day hike straight from town. This can be a full day walk so take extra clothing, drinks and food. 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. A stunning view over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu to the South-East, and flowing green hillsides and impressive mountain ranges to the North-West. 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. And the best thing is, you can head out straight from your Queenstown accommodation without the hassle of organising transport or paying for a guide. Start from the Skyline gondola complex with the Tiki Trail, amid native bush and surrounded by adventurers ziplining and mountain biking. 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. 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. You may also find a Kea or two - a native New Zealand alpine parrot that really enjoys greeting the hikers, sometimes by stealing their food, so keep an eye on your belongings. I consider taking the gondola to be cheating and gondola tickets are quite expensive so I chose to walk up. You gotta have some serious skill to land that I’d say! 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). The views are out of this world, I can honestly say that I haven’t found a hike in New Zealand that beats Ben Lomond’s epic views. For those in not as good of shape, you can ride the gondola up to save yourself some time. 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. This route will lead you through old Douglas Fir’s and into some of Queenstown’s most beautiful native Beech forest. 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. 6-8 hrs from Queenstown (40km) Be sure to take; water, sunscreen, hat, layers/ wind jacket, and snacks. It will take you about 2 hours to hike to the saddle and then another 1 or 2 (of steeper and rougher track) to the summit. 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. 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 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. This is how you hike the Ben Lomond track. Ben Lomond Track: After ascending the hill from Queenstown (either by foot or gondola) the track follows the ridge just below the top. Push on a little bit further until you get to a resting area with a couple of benches. The Tiki Trail starts from the base of the Skyline Gondola at the top of Brecon Street. This way you’ll also avoid the hottest part of the day during the tough climb up. Follow the signs to the Ben Lomond Saddle, and eventually you’ll meet another trail which comes from the Skyline Gondola. Hiking and Trail Guide. 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. Luckily this is where the Skyline Gondola goes, and you can shave a good chunk of time (and effort) by riding up and starting your hike from the top. The reward for 6-8 hours of walking (return) is a spectacular panoramic view of the Remarkables mountain range, Lake Wakatipu and the bustling town below. Although the snow makes the route significantly more challenging, the views afforded … On Lomond Crescent you’ll find the start of the Skyline Access Road. Photograph is of the Ben Lomond Trail SNOTEL site. The Ben Lomond track is well signed from the Skyline Gondola. Xx AK. 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. I did it! 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. It takes 6 to 8 hours to walk up and down Ben Lomond if you start walking from the Tiki Trail. For about half an hour your views are limited to the surrounding hills. However, climbing Ben Lomond is not a joke and should not be underestimated, but the reward is well worth the effort. 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. Skyline access road - find the location of the skyline access road here. This is the full Ben Lomond hike from Queenstown. Gondola Open Hours: Tap here for Skyline Queenstown Gondola open hoursGondola Prices: Tap here for Skyline Queenstown Gondola prices. It was definitely worth the effort! If you skip the first part and start walking from the top of the gondola, it takes 4-6 hours. 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 what you should bring with you for the Ben Lomond Track, both for comfort and for safety. 2-3 hrs return from Gondola. © Craving Adventure | Designed with + + ☕ by Studio Milak | This site contains affiliate links and uses cookies, read about it here: Privacy Policy, Disclaimer, T&C, find the location of the skyline access road here, 7 tourist traps you should not avoid in new zealand, The 4 best hikes in mount cook national park, Queenstown to Glenorchy - New Zealand’s most scenic drive. Not too long ago a guy slipped and slid down 100 meters. 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 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. In 2018 they chose to wander, to explore and to show others how to follow their path. I started from the bottom of the Skyline Access Road because it has free roadside parking. Not only was this so steep that climbing up was a serious challenge, you also really don’t hear mountainbikers coming until they are basically about to hit you. The map includes the 3 different start locations, and we've separated the Ben Lomond Saddle from the Summit section. At the start of the Tiki Trail there is free parking as well, but it is limited to 4 hours maximum and that won’t be enough time to complete the hike. 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. 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. How hard is the Ben Lomond trail? The Ben Lomond Track really has is all when it comes to great day hikes. 2. 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. 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). The most popular start to the Ben Lomond Hike is to hike the Tiki Trail to Bob’s Peak. Take at least 1,5 liters of water as there is nowhere to fill up on the trail after the top of the gondola, and pack a lunch and some high-energy snacks. 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