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. 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. 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. This can be a full day walk so take extra clothing, drinks and food. 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. Super accessible from the centre of town, this challenging climb has a 1,438m elevation gain that will keep you on your toes. You need to do Ben Lomond Walkway if you enjoy hiking and spectacular views. 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. You gotta have some serious skill to land that I’d say! Follow the signs to the Ben Lomond Saddle, and eventually you’ll meet another trail which comes from the Skyline Gondola. The Tiki Trail starts from the base of the Skyline Gondola at the top of Brecon Street. Once you have soaked in the views, retrace your steps on the way back. But if you think taking the gondola will shorten your trip up Ben Lomond to 2.5 'moderate' miles, then you are nuts! In winter you are required to carry and be able to use alpine equipment such as ice axe and crampons, as the track may change between snow and ice to very slippery and muddy. On clear days trampers are rewarded at the summit with spectacular panoramic views. The Ben Lomond Track in Queenstown is arguably one of the most rewarding day hikes in New Zealand. Path of Ben Lomond Track. If you are wondering what to bring along when taking part … If you skip the first part and start walking from the top of the gondola, it takes 4-6 hours. 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. Fortunately he got home without any serious injuries, but this could have ended much much worse. Next time you find yourself in Queenstown, be sure to check out this amazing hike. I started from the bottom of the Skyline Access Road because it has free roadside parking. Gondola Open Hours: Tap here for Skyline Queenstown Gondola open hoursGondola Prices: Tap here for Skyline Queenstown Gondola prices. The official starting point of the Ben Lomond Track is next to the top of Queenstown’s Skyline Gondola and here are three ways to get up to the starting point. When you’re on the top you’re standing at 1748 meters above sea level and just climbed a total elevation elevation of 1403 meters. On Lomond Crescent you’ll find the start of the Skyline Access Road. The most popular start to the Ben Lomond Hike is to hike the Tiki Trail to Bob’s Peak. Once you reach the saddle between Ben Lomond and Bowen Peak the track climbs the northeast ridge until it loops around and gains the summit from western side. So if you think you can use a mountainbiking trail as a shortcut; bad idea. Start from the Skyline gondola complex with the Tiki Trail, amid native bush and surrounded by adventurers ziplining and mountain biking. The Ben Lomond Track is of medium - advanced difficulty and requires being reasonaby fit. Start Point: Begin at the bottom of the Queestown gondola. 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. 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. There is risk of avalanches and the icy rocks on the track become very slippery. Both starts take you up a steep path climbing about 400 meters in one hour. 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. The views are pretty great and the path is well-kept. 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. We started at the base of the gondola, and after nearly 3 hours of consistent uphill we had reached the summit. 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. From the gondola complex look for the well-signed route that veers into the woods from the luge track. This way you’ll also avoid the hottest part of the day during the tough climb up. This is where the track becomes very uneven, so be careful of where you place your feet so you don’t twist an ankle. If you want to avoid a crowd at the top, set off before 8am. It takes 6 to 8 hours to walk up and down Ben Lomond if you start walking from the Tiki Trail. 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 about half an hour your views are limited to the surrounding hills. #travel #hikes 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. 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. How hard is the Ben Lomond trail? Make sure you aren’t put off by the steep start to the hike, hang in there, it gets easier. So read on to discover 3 options for starting points on the hike, a map, what to pack and how to prepare. A communication device in case you need assistance. 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. The incline here is still pretty minimal, so enjoy the sun on your face before it gets hot and sweaty. 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