Queenstown is an alpine resort town nestled in the mountains of the South Island in New Zealand. Perched on the shore of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by rolling hills and mountain peaks there is no shortage of adventures or views to be had.
In this article I’m sharing 5 Queenstown hills with amazing views not to be missed!
Some of these hills are right above the town of Queenstown while the others are just a short drive from the town center. They each offer a different but equally beautiful perspective over Queenstown and surrounds.
There is also a mix of effort required to get to the view points from really easy to a proper hike. So without further ado here they are.
Top 5 Queenstown Hills with the Best Views
1. Bob’s Peak
Arguably one of best views in New Zealand, Bob’s Peak is located right in the center of Queenstown. In fact you will have a view of Bob’s Peak from almost any street you walk along in central Queenstown. At 450 meters high (1,476 feet) you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and surrounding mountain ranges.
There are a couple of options to get to the top of Bob’s Peak. The Tiki Trail is a 2.2km (1.3 mile) trail that starts at the bottom of the gondola on Brecon Street in the center of Queenstown and will take you to the top of Bob’s Peak for free.
It’s a moderate trail, steep in sections, that zig zags it way through the pine forest for about an hour before reaching the top. There aren’t really any views until you get to the top but it’s a relatively short climb.
If you prefer to skip the hike and get straight to the views, the Skyline Gondola will take you straight to the top of Bob’s Peak in less than 15 minutes. The gondola starts near the Tiki Trail on Brecon Street and will cost you about $64 NZD per adult. It’s the steepest gondola in the Southern Hemisphere and a great Queenstown experience.
In addition to the epic views, the top of Bob’s Peak is the starting point for longer hiking trails and activities such as the luge, paragliding and one of the best ziplines in Queenstown.
2. Ben Lomond
Connected to Bob’s Peak is Ben Lomond, a mountain whose summit reaches a height of 1,748 meters (5,735 feet). I’m including this on my list of favorite Queenstown hills because even if you don’t take this moderate-advanced hike all the way to the summit you are rewarded with absolutely incredible views as soon as you hit the ridgeline.
As you make the ascent to the saddle there are a myriad of rolling hills within the mountain offering the most epic views. You can go as far as you are comfortable before turning around and returning via the same trail.
If you do choose to tackle the summit please note this is a tough climb with an uphill gradient the whole way so a decent level of fitness is required. It’s an elevation gain of 1,480 meters (4,856 feet) with a distance of 14 km (8.7 miles) which will take about 6-8 hours to complete the full return track and is recommended for experienced hikers.
3. Bennetts Bluff Lookout
This next one is short drive from Queenstown so you need a car to get there. Bennetts Bluff is a fantastic lookout perched within the Queenstown hills that run along the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road.
It opened in July 2021 and is located just outside of Queenstown. You will see signs for the entrance to the carpark on your left hand side about 25 mins outside of Queenstown heading toward Glenorchy on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road.
There is a large parking lot which even has toilet facilities. A concrete ramp will take you to the top of the lookout.
Once at the top you’ll be treated to sweeping views of Lake Wakatipu with Mount Creighton to the South-South-East and the Humboldt Mountains to the North-North-West. You can even see the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road snaking its way along the coast amongst the various other Queenstown hills surrounding the area.
We arrived just in time for sunset and were lucky to capture a beautiful pink sky as the sun set over the mountains. Once we lost the light we had fun with some long exposure shots catching the taillights from cars traveling along the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road. The best spot for these shots was not at the very top of the lookout but at the end of the first ramp down facing Mount Creighton.
It’s a great stop any time of day but sunset is especially magical as the sun sets reflecting shades of pink on the snow capped mountain and Lake Wakatipu.
I highly recommend taking a thermos of your favorite hot drink to enjoy as you watch the sun set on top of these beautiful Queenstown hills. Portable chairs might also be good to take along if you plan to stay for a while to soak in all the goodness.
4. Queenstown Hill
Queenstown Hill is an easily accessible out and back hike that offers a little bit of work for a big reward at the top. It’s a 5 km (3 mile) return hike that starts from Belfast Terrace right in downtown Queenstown. There is a tiny car park on Belfast Terrace which fills up quickly.
Even though it’s a residential area parking is difficult so I would recommend walking to the trailhead from the center of Queenstown. It’ll add about an extra 15 minutes to the uphill journey but it’s much easier than trying to find a park unless you arrive very early for a sunrise hike.
Queenstown Hill is rated as a moderate hike and should take you about 2-3 hours to complete. It isn’t a technical trail and the track is well maintained, however it is a steady incline to the top so will definitely give the legs a workout. Once you reach the top there are several viewpoints to explore offering lots of great photo opportunities.
At the top of Queenstown Hill you’ll see a metal sculpture called the Basket of Dreams which was created by artist Caroline Robinson as a resting place and to inspire thought and reflection.
This may appear to be the end of the trail but don’t turn back yet or you’ll miss the best part! From here look for the loop track. It’s a short loop that will take you all around the top of Queenstown Hill where you’ll have panoramic views of other Queenstown hills and the town, along with Lake Wakatipu, the Remarkables Cecil’s Peak and Bob’s Peak.
After the loop track look for another little trail a little further up from the Basket of Dreams which will take you to the actual summit. It’s a short 5 minutes extra hike and well worth it!
5. Moke Lake
Moke Lake is an easy (6.5km) (4 mile) loop track just outside Queenstown in a suburb called Closeburn. It’s about a 20 minute drive from Queenstown center on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road and Moke Lake Road.
Once you turn off onto Moke Lake Road the road will eventually become unsealed and narrower as you approach the lake so drive with caution. A 4WD vehicle may be required to reach Moke Lake in winter depending on the conditions.
The Moke Lake Loop trail will take you right around the lake on a relatively flat well maintained track that is surrounded by mountains. On a still day you can see the mountains reflecting in the lake which is absolutely stunning.
Although the loop track is not technically a hill I’ve included this spot on my list of favourite Queenstown hills because the track does include enough gradient to get a beautiful view over the lake.
Also, because of the secret spot that is perched on one of the many Queenstown hills surrounding the lake which I’m going to tell you about.
Now, if you want that spectacular birds eye view of Moke Lake to really appreciate its unique shape and beautiful surrounds with 360 degree views, I’m going to tell you about a secret local spot located on top of one of those beautiful Queenstown hills surrounding the lake.
It will take more effort to reach the lookout spot and is an unmarked and unsigned trail so if it doesn’t feel right at any stage turn around and stick to the loop track. Rolling down these Queenstown hills is not a fun experience!
The track is uphill and steep all the way until you reach a flat clearing at the top and will take you about 45-60 minutes to complete. It should only be climbed in good weather, it will be slippery and dangerous if it’s been raining or covered in snow and ice.
From the Moke Lake car park head right on the Moke Lake Loop track until you cross a little wooden bridge. A little past the bridge the fence on your right side will end and the loop trail continues to the left. At this point turn right so that you are walking along the fence line and heading away from the lake.
After about 300 meters (1000 feet) you will see a gate in the fence. Walk a little further along past the gate and you should be able to make out the start of the track. The track further along from the gate will take you up a slightly less steep path. I started right near the gate at first and had to turn around and come back down because it was too steep and not safe.
Regardless, it is a very steep and unmarked track which can be dangerous. It’s not suitable for children and should only be attempted if you have a good level of fitness and are comfortable with heights. Once at the top the views are absolutely spectacular especially during sunrise or sunset.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! 5 Queenstown hills offering spectacular views all within a stone’s throw from Queenstown Center. Each vantage point offering its own unique perspective of the beautiful Queenstown landscape.
Conditions can change quickly in an alpine environment so always check the weather and be prepared for the conditions. The New Zealand Mountain Safety website is a great resource on how to prepare for the outdoors including forecasts and checklists on what to bring. I hope this helps you plan your next Queenstown adventure with time enjoy some of these stunning locations.
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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.