ben lomond hike from gondola

The Ben Lomond track is well signed from the Skyline Gondola. When in Queenstown, the Ben Lomond hike is a “must do”. The list includes several different essentials such as: This was one hike I particularly remember sweating and be very hot on the way up and then when I reached the top it was frigid as the wind picked up and I felt that drop in temperature. What made Ben Lomond so special for me was the constant views of Lake Wakatipu down below during the first part of the hike, followed by the never ending views of the mountain ranges as I made my way to the summit. Distance: 11 km return Duration: 3-4 hr to Ben Lomond Saddle, 6-8 hr to Ben Lomond Summit. As you make your way up be sure to turn around a few times to take in those lake views too! Some highlights from this video include: 00:01 The gondola to Bob's Peak below Ben Lomond Shortly after you begin the Ben Lomond track, you will exit the forest and be welcomed to vast views of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu down below. So there are actually two ways to arrive at the top of Ben Lomond and if you are lacking time and your fitness is not quite what you want it to be your best option might be to take the gondola. Climbing Ben Lomond in Queenstown Approaching Ben Lomond. Depending on daylight hours, time of year, and hiking level, you may want to start the hike earlier on in the day. For the first segment, the track begins at the Douglas fir stands via the Skyline Access Road and takes you through the alpine tussocks and shrubs. Nowadays, Ben Lomond is one of the places where my family goes to remember my grandparents. Super accessible from the centre of town, this challenging climb has a 1,438m elevation gain that will keep you on your toes. This guide will go into detail regarding what to expect on the track and how to better prepare yourself to conquer the peak. Once off the gondola you will just begin to follow the path pointing you to Ben Lomond. The reward for 6-8 hours of walking (return) is a spectacular panoramic view of the Remarkables mountain range, Lake Wakatipu and the bustling town below. You can take the gentler option and grab a scenic ride up the Skyline Gondola, saving yourself a 450 metre (1476 feet) climb up a series of switchbacks in the mostly pine forest like on our 'Manuka' trip, or you can hike from Queenstown like on our 'Tui' trip the way the locals usually do it. Although not a technically difficult climb the mountain looks quite rugged as many other peaks in the Southern Alps.This mountain can be climbed beginning from the town of Queenstown or if you'd like a shorter and easier day you can ride the Skyline Gondola up and down to shorten your day. Beyond the saddle, the track steepens and becomes very challenging. 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. 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. As you are making the climb you will consistently see the top of Ben Lomond the entire time. Super accessible from the centre of town, this challenging climb has a 1,438m elevation gain that will keep you on your toes. Getting to the Ben Lomond Saddle takes much less time than the summit; in fact, if you take the gondola up and down it’s only a 3-hour return hike to the saddle. Starting & Ending Point: EITHER 1) From Queenstown OR 2) Top of Queenstown Gondola (more on those options soon), Length: 11 KM / 6.8 Miles from Top of Gondola  • 14 KM / 8.7 Miles from Queenstown, Elevation Gain: 1,000 Meters / 3,280 Feet from Top of Gondola • 1,438 Meters / 4,718 Feet from Queenstown, Summit Elevation: 1,748 Meters / 5,735 Feet (Saddle Elevation: 1,326 Meters / 4,350 Feet), Time: 4-6 Hours from Top of Gondola / 6-8 Hours from Queenstown (round trip), Track: Dirt / Technical Rock for final summit push, Difficulty: Hard (the official NZ DOC website lists it as easy – not sure how they came up with that one!!). • Another thing to point out here is that on top of the gondola you will find a restaurant/café if you need to take a break and there is also the famous Queenstown luge – a fun option to maybe add to the end of your day. Ben Lomond track is a challenging track with a 1438m elevation gain of the walk. Ben Lomond Track – Gondola to Saddle The path from the top of the gondola to saddle is one of my favorites in all of New Zealand. Be careful not to venture onto the mountain bike trail which runs alongside this section of track – it’s signposted and the trail name is ‘Beached As’. TIP: I usually use Meteoblue for my mountain weather and you are able to see cloud coverage / number of hours of sun on a day by day basis. Make sure you aren’t put off by the steep start to the hike, hang in there, it gets easier. It may take just about the same time on the way down that it did on the way up just because of how technical it is. The map includes the 3 different start locations, and we've separated the Ben Lomond Saddle from the Summit section. If you are tired you can use the gondola to go down. Reward yourself with stunning 360° views over Queenstown and the surrounding region on this challenging hike to the peak of Ben Lomond, which starts from the Gondola base station in the heart of downtown. So once again, while you’re at the saddle you should assess your energy levels. Experience magnificent lake and mountain views as you climb up the saddle. • The Skyline Queenstown Gondola opens at 9AM. Take the Gondola to Skyline, follow the signs to the saddle and the steep ascent on your left to the summit (1747m). Just head down the track, take in the views and enjoy the last of what the Ben Lomond track has to offer. 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. This view comes just after passing the Skyline complex at the top of the gondola. We hiked from the lake up Ben Lomond starting at the trail at the bottom where the gondola starts. The stunning panoramic views along the entire length of the track delight and entertain hikers the whole way. Once you get through 2-3 hours of climbing, you should reach the Ben Lomond Saddle. 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. Once back in town, it is time to relax those legs and start the rest and recovery process. Some of the guides currently up on the site include: And Dont Forget to Check Out the 10 Day New Zealand North Island Itinerary, Your email address will not be published. The views are pretty great and the path is well-kept. Ben Lomond Track: Good hike - See 686 traveller reviews, 489 candid photos, and great deals for Queenstown, New Zealand, at Tripadvisor. But seriously, if your planning on doing the entire Ben Lomond, it’s quite the treat to be able to shave off an hour off your hike! Tips for Ben Lomond Track. But for the lazy or time poor tourist you can get a 450 metre leg up by taking the Gondola … This is going to be helpful when it’s dark (especially if you haven’t walked any of the Tiki Trail). Read on to discover what else Queenstown has in store for you: Discover the best rainy day acitivities in Queenstown. As part of this we joined the initiative to combat the spread of the invasive wildings (yes, just like the wildings in Game of Thrones … except they’re trees, not people) and have a family plot above the gondola. The Ben Lomond track is well signed from the Skyline Gondola. Get ready for what I think is one of the toughest parts of any New Zealand hike – the summit push from the Saddle to the Peak. Ben Lomond Saddle Walk. Gondola Open Hours: Tap here for Skyline Queenstown Gondola open hoursGondola Prices: Tap here for Skyline Queenstown Gondola prices. While it looks like the peak is just right in front of you, it is actually another hour to get up there. Ben Lomond Track. There are 3 potential starting points to the Ben Lomond Track: From the bottom terminal of Skyline Queenstown, taking a scenic Gondola ride to the top of Bob’s Peak will save you (and your knees) up to one hour of hiking. For more information and up-to-date alerts about the Ben Lomond Track, access the official Department of Conservation website. The Skyline Access Road will lead you halfway up Bob’s Peak, where you’ll find the signposted start to the single track at a large open area knows as the ‘Midway Clearing’. Getting to the Ben Lomond Track Again, saving an hour of uphill hiking by taking the gondola up is a good idea if you can spare the cash. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; View 2 - A steep climb to the saddle. I hope this guide can get you going in the right direction and on top of that peak in no time. It is a popular and easy to follow track. 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. Ben Lomond is the main peak that overlooks Queenstown but its heights are not visible from the town itself until you scale its steep lower slopes. As you continue the climb, the views will just continue to get better as you get a wider perspective of the lake and the surrounding mountains. Soon enough though you will begin to reach the top of the Ben Lomond Track at 1,748 meters. Take the opportunity here to use the bench seat as a resting point and give yourself time to fuel up with snacks. You can take the Skyline gondola part way up if you want to shorten the climb, but I usually start at the small signposted carpark on Lomond Crescent and take the 4-WD track up the first stretch. 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