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Queenstown Hill

Queenstown Hill: Address, Queenstown Hill Reviews: 4.5/5

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Queenstown Hill

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Queenstown Hill
4.5
1,504
#4 of 81 things to do in Queenstown
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The area
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Restaurants
189 within 3 miles
Rātā
2,336
0.3 mi$$$$ • European • Contemporary • Healthy
Fogo Brazilian BBQ Experience
540
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Steakhouse • Brazilian • Barbecue
Sal's Authentic New York Pizza - Shotover Street
154
0.4 mi$ • Quick Bites • Italian • American
Brazz Steakhouse & Bar
1,514
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Steakhouse • Bar • Pub
Margo's Queenstown
222
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Mexican • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Tatsumi
285
0.4 mi$$$$ • Japanese • Seafood • Sushi
Blue Kanu
1,955
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Asian • Healthy • New Zealand
Speights Ale House Queenstown
883
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Brew Pub • Bar • Pub
The Exchange
348
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • Cafe • Vegetarian Friendly
@Thai - Thai Cuisine
607
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Asian • Thai • Vegetarian Friendly
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Attractions
53 within 6 miles
Lake Wakatipu
1,076
0.5 miBodies of Water
Queenstown i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
341
0.4 miVisitor Centers
Queenstown Gardens
3,363
0.5 miGardens
Ben Lomond Track
696
0.6 miHiking Trails
St. Joseph Catholic Church
2
0.2 miReligious Sites • Churches & Cathedrals
Kiwi Birdlife Park
2,863
0.6 miNature & Wildlife Areas
Queenstown Mall
1,030
0.4 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Ivan Clarke Gallery
94
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Queenstown Trail
211
0.7 miBiking Trails • Hiking Trails
St Peter's Anglican Church
67
0.4 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Churches & Cathedrals
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,504 reviews
Excellent
1,101
Very good
356
Average
38
Poor
6
Terrible
3
Torzyn
Hindmarsh Valley, Australia38 contributions
A spectacular walk worth the burn!
Feb 2019 • Family
We parked at the start of the track. While you can walk from the town centre - it is a steep walk and because we were walking with kids, decided to conserve our energy for the actual walk. There are spaces for 4-5 cars at the bottom but plenty of street parking spots nearby.
The first part of the walk is steep but you almost don’t realise as the scenery is so breath taking. Every now and then you get glimpses of the lake which motivates you to keep going.
If you aren’t a fan of really steep climbs, we recommend going clockwise when you get to the loop track. It is longer, but a lot more gradual. We went the other way going back down so we could see the different views.
Once you are at the Basket of Dreams, it’s worth pushing a little more and walking the extra 15 mins to the summit. (You can see the track from where the basket is).
So glad we did - the views had us on a high for the rest of the day. Just spectacular and one of the best walks we’ve done so far (and we’ve done quite a few!)
You need to be reasonably fit and be wearing good walking shoes as pats of the track are slippery and steep. The actual walk took us just under 2 hours but leave plenty of time to pause and take it in along the way. Just magical.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Stewarts Vacation
472 contributions
Great walk
Dec 2021
We had difficulty finding the start of this walkway as we had entered "Queenstown Hill" into our GPS and on Google. We were taken to 2 different locations on Queenstown Hill, both private residences. It was only when we entered "Queenstown Hill Walkway" that we arrived at the start of the track at the little car park on Belfast Street. There were 2 main options - a shorter loop walk up to the Basket of Dreams sculpture with lovely views over Lake Wakatipu, or the longer track to the summit. We did the shorter loop as time was limited. We were unsure how long it would take from the Basket of Dreams sculpture to reach the summit and felt that some extra signage at this point would have been helpful. The shorter loop is quite shaded and weaves through beautiful forested areas. We would definitely do the summit walk next time.
Written December 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
GaryandLesleyTravel
Auckland Central, New Zealand4,982 contributions
Great views from 532M above the lake.
Dec 2021 • Couples
The climb from the lake to the top of Queenstown Hill sees a vertical metre gain of 532M. The track is well formed and maintained, it is steep in places but at your own speed very achievable by anyone with reasonable fitness. It’s well worth making the final 120M vertical gain from the top of the loop to the top of the top as the views are sensational, this is Queenstown for free. From the carpark it took us ~2 hours return and an additional 15 minutes each way from the lake to the carpark.
Written December 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Wheels1964
Brisbane, Australia167 contributions
Pick Your Starting Spot Carefully
Jun 2021
This was our first shot at doing the walk despite being regular visitors to QT over the last few years and boy what a killer taking about 90 mins to reach the top.

Before we had even started the walk we started by parking the car in the Ballarat St Car park and walking up 2 streets that had massive inclines not knowing that there was a car park at the start of the walk…………..

I am 57 and wife 47 and both in pretty good shape fitness wise but we found the walk itself is pretty hard and uphill ALL THE WAY.

The walk is mostly through forest and you don’t get many nice views until the end which are spectacular once you arrive – we didn’t push on the extra bit to reach to ultimate summit feeling pretty happy to have reached the “bowl”.

The way down in via a separate path and that was quite wat and muddy the day we went and there are a couple of spots that you will need to support each other

All in a good solid walk but once is enough for us and we will stick to the nice flat walks around Moke Lake / Lake Hayes and Kelvin Heights

Warning though be very careful about your starting spot.

Good luck
Written June 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Bec
Birmingham, UK370 contributions
Walk rewarded with a view
Feb 2021
Queenstown Hill is a really lovely walk which rewards with beautiful views of Queenstown and the lake below. The beginning is nice and shaded and gradual, with it becoming slightly steeper and exposed nearer to the top. From the sculpture, keep going to the next hill where you will be rewarded - it's only another 5-10 minutes up depending on your fitness. I didn't find this walk particularly steep apart from the odd part, so it's very accessible for most people.
Written March 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Darren R
Connecticut331 contributions
Amazing - way better than the Tiki Trail
Jan 2020
What a delightful trail, a great alternative to the crowds at the Tiki Trail/Skyline mess. The interpretive signs broke up the long climb a bit. When we came out of the Pine forest area over the tree line, the colors of the sky, flowers and lake were so vivid, my daughter said “whoa – we came out in Dr. Suess book.” We were a little pressed for time so we took a little under 2 hrs, though that does not include a 20 minute steep uphill walk on the roads to the trailhead from the center of town.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Fliss55
Greater Manchester, UK43 contributions
Strenuous half day walk with fantastic views over Queenstown area
Feb 2020
You can drive to the start of the walk at Belfast terrace or walk from town which is approx 20 mins. The start is clearly signposted. If you take the anticlockwise loop up the hill the track condition is excellent and very shaded amongst dense pines. So there is no view until the very top which brings you to the Basket of Dreams sculpture.
If you have the energy I can recommend the extra 15minute steep climb to the top which has stupendous views in almost every direction and is very peaceful.
We took the alternative track back down which has a more open aspect but is less easy underfoot.Total trip time including a rest at the top was 3 hours. Well worth it if you have a good fitness level.
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Maria D
Atyrau, Kazakhstan39 contributions
Good training walk
Feb 2020
Walked from seafront to summit.550 m ascent, 8 km there and back. Approx 90 min, the hardest part is the walk up the streets to the start of the track. If you park at the start of the trail, you cut out 100m of ascent. Fabulous views from the top.
Written March 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
lisak12
Washington DC272 contributions
Steep but manageable hike and vistas are your reward
May 2020
This hike has two potential routes -- steep (but longer) and steeper (but shorter). We chose steep (but longer) and next time I would choose steeper (but shorter). Just when you start to think about turning back, the views start to open and you have your reward. Just do it.
Written May 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Rose
5 contributions
Not easy but not too hard
Aug 2020
We walked from our accommodation (Camp St) and we were already tired when we get to the starting point at Belfast St. But I guess if you are used to walking steep climb, you'll be fine. It took us almost 2 hours to get to the top (from Camp st.). We had to rest for at least 5 times along the way. I guess we are not that fit. haha! But if you get to the top, you'll forget that you're tired. All worth it!
Written August 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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