Ben Lomond Summit, Queenstown

We walked from Queenstown to the top of the gondola and decided to “just keep going until we get hungry”.. 4 hours later we had summited Ben Lomond. To this day, it’s one of our best memories and favourite hikes.

what you need to know..

Distance: 28kms (17.4 miles) return from Queenstown.
22kms (13.6 miles) return from the Gondola.
Time: 4-6 hours
Level: Moderate. Subtle incline until you start the summit.
Altitude: 1,483 metres (4,865ft)
What To Bring: Sunscreen (even in winter! once you hit the snow line, sunscreen is even more important!) hat, snacks plenty of water & sturdy hiking shoes.

Note: We did this in September, at about 800 metres elevation there was snow. The last stretch towards the summit becomes deep.
Always check the weather before heading past the Gondola.

snowcapped mountains view from hiking trail — *Ben Lomond summit can be seen in the top right*

trail notes

Queenstown to the Gondola is a steep 2.2km walk. From there, continue onto Ben Lomond. This is a good spot to double check the weather conditions.
Theres one trail to Ben Lomond with signs most of the way. Stick to the trail, you won’t get lost.
You’ll see helicopters landing on mountains below you (depending where you are on the trail!)