There is risk of avalanches and the icy rocks on the track become very slippery. Fortunately he got home without any serious injuries, but this could have ended much much worse. Hiking Ben Lomond: the gondola route (2-3 hours return) There are two main ways to tackle this peak. Access. 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. We started at the base of the gondola, and after nearly 3 hours of consistent uphill we had reached the summit. 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. https://www.myguidequeenstown.com/usefulinfo/queenstown-walks 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. Take the opportunity here to use the bench seat as a resting point and give yourself time to fuel up with snacks. 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. This is how you hike the Ben Lomond track. Good footwear: hiking shoes are a must here as you’ll be walking over steep, uneven terrain and have to climb up rough and sharp rocks. Take the Gondola to Skyline, follow the signs to the saddle and the steep ascent on your left to the summit (1747m). 2. In the summer, Ben Lomond is an easy rated track flooded with tourists. Not too long ago a guy slipped and slid down 100 meters. Push on a little bit further until you get to a resting area with a couple of benches. From the top of the gondola the track is 11 km long. The views are pretty great and the path is well-kept. A stunning view over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu to the South-East, and flowing green hillsides and impressive mountain ranges to the North-West. One of the great things about the Ben Lomond Track is that it is so easily accessible. Combined with the Tiki Trail, the Ben Lomond Track is 14 km long. Description 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). After you’ve set off from the saddle with determination to conquer Ben Lomond’s peak, the first half of the way up will be still be over a dirt track with patches of grass sticking out. 6-8 hrs from Queenstown (40km) Be sure to take; water, sunscreen, hat, layers/ wind jacket, and snacks. This can be a full day walk so take extra clothing, drinks and food. Tom and Zi are the creatives behind Craving Adventure. From the top stunning 360 degrees view, amazing hike!! We are Tom and Zi, the creatives behind Craving Adventure - a travel blog with a strong focus on adventure, offbeat travel and authentic experiences. 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. Again, don’t underestimate this hike. Note that if you’re planning on hiking from town and not using the Skyline Gondola you’ll need 6-8 hours in total. 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. 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. You’re not in the trees for long however, and most of the hike is exposed and above the treeline like most of the hiking seems to be in New Zealand. 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. 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. 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. It takes 6 to 8 hours to walk up and down Ben Lomond if you start walking from the Tiki Trail. 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. This is where the track becomes very uneven, so be careful of where you place your feet so you don’t twist an ankle. 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. After an hour or so we reached a saddle where the trail forks. The Ben Lomond Track in Queenstown is arguably one of the most rewarding day hikes in New Zealand. Zoom in to see the various hiking options for the Ben Lomond Day Hike. The Trail to Ben Lomond: Our hike started just past where the gondola drops you off and heads off through pine forest. Beyond the saddle, the track steepens and becomes very challenging. 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. 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. As you start the Ben Lomond Track from the gondola, the first part is through the woods and still shaded. The trek from the gondola is still a good 6-7 hard miles. 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. A communication device in case you need assistance. So read on to discover 3 options for starting points on the hike, a map, what to pack and how to prepare. The Ben Lomond track is well signed from the Skyline Gondola. On Lomond Crescent you’ll find the start of the Skyline Access Road. Even though the official New Zealand DOC website lists it as easy, everyone that has done the hike strongly disagrees. 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. Make sure you aren’t put off by the steep start to the hike, hang in there, it gets easier. The Tiki Trail and Skyline Access Road do meet about halfway up, so you can combine parts of both too. 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. 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. What to Bring on the Trail. 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. 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. But if you think taking the gondola will shorten your trip up Ben Lomond to 2.5 'moderate' miles, then you are nuts! Along Lomond Crescent, which is where the Skyline Access Road starts, there is free roadside parking all day long. For about half an hour your views are limited to the surrounding hills. How hard is the Ben Lomond trail? This route will lead you through old Douglas Fir’s and into some of Queenstown’s most beautiful native Beech forest. Path of Ben Lomond Track. Take some time to take it all in. Luge, Kiwi Birdlife Park, Time Tripper, Jet Boats and Go-Karts. Xx AK. 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. 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. Even if you think you’re a seasoned hiker, still add another hour on top of your regular pace. Read on to discover what else Queenstown has in store for you: Discover the best rainy day acitivities in Queenstown. I started from the bottom of the Skyline Access Road because it has free roadside parking. The start of the track lies just 5 minutes outside of Queenstown’s centre, so you don’t have to go out of your way to do this hike like with some of New Zealand’s Great Walks for example. 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. Skyline access road - find the location of the skyline access road here. The start of the Tiki Trail is at 345 meters above sea level, the top of the gondola at 770 meters, the Ben Lomond Saddle sits at at 1326 meters and Ben Lomond’s Summit stands at 1748 meters, so you’ll climb a total elevation of 1403 meters if you start from the bottom! 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. The map includes the 3 different start locations, and we've separated the Ben Lomond Saddle from the Summit section. 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. 1748m - Ben Lomond peak. This is the Ben Lomond Saddle where wide vistas on either side reward you for coming this far. Roadside markers indicate which path is yours and which is a mountain biking trail, so keep an eye out for those. 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). So if you think you can use a mountainbiking trail as a shortcut; bad idea. 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. The stunning panoramic views along the entire length of the track delight and entertain hikers the whole way. For about half an hour your views are limited to the surrounding hills. 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. Extra layer of clothing and an extra shirt: You’ll be sweating buckets on the way up, but the top gets quite windy, so a dry shirt and an extra layer of clothing will save you from catching a cold. 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. The Ben Lomond Track really has is all when it comes to great day hikes. Hiking and Trail Guide. However, climbing Ben Lomond is not a joke and should not be underestimated, but the reward is well worth the effort. Food and water: Count on the hike taking 6-8 hours, depending on your level of fitness and how many photo stops you take.

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