The Bob’s Cove Nature Walk is an easily accessible coastal walk that takes you through a beautiful forest to a secluded cove on Lake Wakatipu. It’s easily one of the best hikes in Queenstown offering the most incredible views for little effort.
It’s a special place and a favorite spot with locals who come to enjoy the peace and tranquillity, swim or paddle board in the cove or just enjoy the stunning views.
For a little bit more effort the Bob’s Cove hike carries on up a short but steep hill to the most magnificent lookout point with sweeping views over Lake Wakatipu, Mount Nicholas and Walter Peak in one direction and back toward Queenstown in the other direction.
Keep reading for a complete guide to the Bob’s Cove Track including how to get there, details about the track, and what to expect along the way!
About the Bob’s Cove Track
| Difficulty: Easy (then moderate to the Picnic Point Peninsula and lookout) | ||||
| Distance: About 3km (1.8 miles) return to Picnic Point | ||||
| Trail type: Loop | ||||
| Time needed: Less than 1 hour (plus extra time for photos and swimming) | ||||
| When to go: Suitable all year round |
Bob’s Cove FAQs
Can I take a bus from Queenstown to Bob’s Cove?
Unfortunately, there aren’t any public buses that go directly to Bob’s Cove so you’ll need a car to get there.
Is there parking at the start of the Bob’s Cove track?
Yes, there is a small car park at the start of the Bob’s Cove Nature Walk trailhead.
How long is the Bob’s Cove track?
The short loop track is about 3km (1.8 miles) and should take about 40 minutes to complete. Or, you can opt for the longer 6.8km (4.2 mile) walk that starts from the Twelve Mile Delta camping area that will take 2-4 hours to complete (more on this option below).
Can you swim at Bob’s Cove?
Yes! Bring a swimsuit and towel. The cove is a great swimming spot with a pebbly shoreline leading into the turquoise blue water.
Are dogs allowed at Bob’s Cove?
Yes, dogs are allowed as long as they’re on a lead.
Is the Bob’s Cove Track suitable for children?
Yes, the Bob’s Cove Nature Walk is super easy and a great option for the whole family up to the start of the hike to Picnic Point and the lookout. If you’re heading up this part of the trail, keep any eye on the little ones as there are steep drop offs the further up you get.
How to Get to the Bob’s Cove Trailhead
The Bob’s Cove Track is a 15-minute drive from Queenstown on the scenic Glenorchy-Queenstown road. Around the 14km (8.7 mile) mark from Queenstown, keep your eye out for the Bob’s Cove car park on the left. There isn’t an obvious signpost from the road so it’s easy to miss.
About 2km (1.2 miles) after you pass the signs for Twelve Mile Delta, slow down if you can safely do so, and keep your eye out for a small dirt parking lot that slides off to the left. You’ll see the signs for the Bob’s Cove Nature Walk once you’re in the car park.
Insider tip: Just before the official Bob’s Cove car park is the Bob’s Cove Luxury Retreat which is where Google Maps took us. Be sure to keep going and look out for the small dirt car park a little further up.
Being a small car park, and with Bob’s Cove becoming more well known and popular, it can fill up at peak times. Early morning or late afternoon is generally less busy.
Just be careful when pulling into parking lot. The Glenorchy-Queenstown road is fast moving and winding so it’s important to pull fully into the parking lot. It’s not a good idea to park along the side the of road if you can’t get in or try to reverse out. It’s just too dangerous.
Your best bet is come back a little later. Being a short track, the turnover is fairly quick. For example, on our recent visit the car park was full at 4pm, so we came back at 5pm and there were plenty of spots.
Getting to Bob’s Cove via Twelve Mile Delta Track
Another way to access Bob’s Cove is via the longer Twelve Mile Delta Track. This often gets confused with the shorter Bob’s Cove loop track that starts from the Bob’s Cove car park described above.
There is a separate turn off called ‘Twelve Mile Delta Camping and Picnic Area’ before the Bob’s Cove car park. Take the turn off to the camping area and at the end of the large car park you’ll see signs for the start of the track. This is a longer 6.8km (4.2 mile) return walk to Bob’s Cove that will take a few hours to complete.
What to Expect Along the Way
Bob Cove Beach
Once you set off from the car park, head left to the ‘Lime Kilns and Jetty’ for the most direct route. The trail will lead you through beech forest and native bush. In fact, the Department of Conservation refers to this trail as the Bob’s Cove Nature Walk for the flora, fauna and bird life that populates the area.
The track starts mostly downhill on a well-formed packed gravel path that is partly shaded by the trees, a welcome respite in the summer months. After only a few minutes you’ll see the turquoise blue water peaking through the trees and then you’ll come to Bob’s Cove beach! A beautiful sheltered bay overlooked by Picnic point.
It’ll be hard to resist, but we recommend you keep going to complete the track and grab a swim on the way back.
The Historic Lime Kiln
Shortly after passing Bob’s Cove beach you’ll come to a historic Lime Kiln from the 1800s. It’s the only remaining kiln of seven that were used by the Whakatipu Lime Company to quarry limestone from the area. The gum trees in the area were planted to fuel the kilns.
The old Queenstown courthouse and the Kawarau River suspension bridge were both built using lime from this mine.
Additionally, Bob’s Cove has a significant history going back to the gold rush era. And long before that, a special area to the local Maori people who used the cove as a camp site and food source on the way to the Dart River to search for pounamu ‘greenstone’.
Bob’s Cove Jetty
As you continue along the trail through native forest and around the bay you’ll eventually come to a wooden jetty (or dock). It’s a picturesque spot and a great place to grab some photos. The turquoise water is just sublime. We spent a good amount of time here just taking it all in. Be sure to walk to the end of the dock for incredible views down Lake Wakatipu.
The trail from here continues for only a couple of minutes before you have a couple of choices.
Picnic Point and Lookout
A few minutes further along past the jetty you’ll come to fork in the trail. If you head left you’ll carry on the Twelve Mile Delta track for a longer walk or you can follow the signs for Picnic Point which will take you up a short but steep hill to this incredible lookout point.
We highly recommend you head up to Picnic Point!
It’s a steep climb but will take less than ten minutes with a big reward at the top. There is an even steeper path straight up the hill that looks like more of a rock climb than a trail, that I presume is a short cut. We recommend following the actual path around to the left which was enough of a challenge but on a fairly wide well-graded path with a few loose stones here and there.
Although the Bobs Cove track can be walked during the winter months, this section of the track can get slippery in wet or icy conditions so do take care.
Once you’ve soaked in the views, head back down the same way you came.
Once at the bottom of the hill, you can go right for an extended walk on the Twelve Mile Delta track or go left to retrace your steps on the Bob’s Cove Track and head for the beach!
Conclusion
The Bob’s Cove Track is easily one of the best short hikes to do in Queenstown. The effort for the reward is unmatched and one of most picturesque walks to do in the area. It’s the perfect spot for a swim on a hot summer afternoon and an interesting trail the whole family can enjoy!
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Heather is a travel enthusiast living in New Zealand with her family. She writes about living in and enjoying travel to New Zealand.