It was raining for a couple of days recently, even though it was unusual this time of year in the South of Vietnam, it is good that it cools off the heat. The weather during the day is getting more pleasant that it reminds me of the weather at the beginning of Spring in Queenstown.
October is a perfect time for a hike as you could avoid the icy track - plus, you also get to admire the snow-capped mountains.
Living in Queenstown for a fair amount of time, I was lucky to explore plenty of hikes in the area, one of them was the Queenstown hill walk.
Queenstown is like a heaven for hikers, there are so many options for a day-hike, if you prefer a long hike and more challenging, then check out Ben Lomond. For shorter, but also rewarding ones, look at Tiki trail or Queenstown hill walk. I would say it is one place that could fit all.
Starting point
The start of the walk is just a 5-minute walk from the town center, you could ask anyone in town, they’re happy to point you in that direction. If you drive, then look for a small car park on Belfast Terrace, the trailhead is not far from that.
It was quite gloomy when I started which was good because it was less tiring, if it was hotter, then I might break a lot of sweat. At first, I was worried that it was going to rain when I reached the summit, but I guess I lucked out as the weather was perfect.
If you can see this sign, then you’re on the right track.
The track is well-maintained and well-posted, so I would say it is very family-friendly. With over 4.8 km and an elevation gain of about 500 m, the walk is quite pleasant in my opinion.
The first part was quite steep, but it was nothing compared to Tiki trail. It got easier as I got into the walking mode, LOL.
Although the track is small, it is well-shaded with pine forest along the way. I found this part enjoyable as I found some artwork on the side of the track. I believed this was some kind of installation art, there was no way that it was random.
There are information plates put along the way that give useful knowledge about Queenstown hill. Apparently, the “wilding trees” were not native to New Zealand, but it is growing quickly and putting the native flora and fauna at risk. It is surprising to learn that the wilding pines that give the mountains a stunning look are also threats.
Coming out of the forest, you would enter an open area of tussock and grassland which is very common in the South Island. This part of the track is relatively flat, the weather was getting warmer, so everything was so refreshing.
The summit
The summit is marked with a sculpture named “The basket of dreams”.
Queenstown hill is also known as Te Tapu-nui (mountain of intense sacredness) in Māori. source
This summit is not the highest one in town, but from here, you can get a closer look at lake Wakatipu, the snow-capped Remarkables in the backdrop. Everything creates such an incredible picture that I just want to capture all and save it somewhere in my mind and take it out to admire it as I please.
From the viewpoint, the lake looked amazingly calm, the kind of peacefulness that put your mind at ease.
I also spotted something really lovely, someone arranged the stones to say “I LOVE YOU”. How romantic!
The Queenstown Hill walk is one of my favorite walks in Queenstown, if you are like me and have nothing but time, go for it. However, if time’s running short, then the Tiki trail or Ben Lomond would be more suitable. I guess for a hiker, you don’t just go there for the view, something is so much more about hiking, it goes beyond that.
Thanks for reading!
Peace!