The Queenstown Trail, section by section
Over 150 km of gravel from the Gardens to the Gibbston wineries, in ten named pieces. The Trails Trust's distances, grades and times, and which bus takes you home from each end.
Published 4 September 2026 · Last checked 21 September 2026 · Corrected 16 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
In short: Ten sections, 4.4 km to 18.5 km each, Grade 2 to Grade 4, on smooth gravel with a few climbs. Ride the Frankton Track (8.5 km, flat) for an afternoon, Arrowtown to Gibbston (13.7 km plus 8.7 km) for the classic winery day, and take Orbus back ($2.50 with a Bee Card, bikes free on the rack) from Frankton, Kelvin Heights, Arthurs Point or Arrowtown.
The ten sections
| Section | Distance | Grade | Time | From and to | Bus and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frankton Track | 8.5 km one way | Grade 2, easy | Bike 0.5 to 1 h; walk 1.5 to 2 h | Queenstown Gardens (Marine Parade) to Kawarau Falls Bridge | Route 1 from Frankton back to town; SH6A footpath detour in place through 2026 |
| Kelvin Heights Trail | 9.3 km | Grade 2, easy | Bike 1 to 2 h; walk 2 to 3 h | Kawarau Falls Bridge to Jardine Park, Kelvin Peninsula | Route 3 from Kelvin Heights to Frankton Hub |
| Jack's Point Trail | 6.3 km one way | Grade 4, advanced | Bike 2 to 3 h return; walk 2 to 3 h one way | Jardine Park to Jack's Point | Route 3 at Bay View, about 530 m from Jardine Park; Route 4 at Jacks Point Terminus, about 630 m from the far end; narrow, rocky, not for beginners |
| Twin Rivers Trail | 18.5 km one way | Grade 3, intermediate | Bike 2 to 3 h; walk 4 to 5 h | Kawarau Falls Bridge to Morven Ferry Road | Route 3 at Douglas St, about 390 m from Kawarau Falls Bridge; no stop at the Morven Ferry Road end; caution after the August 2026 storm (slips and scours) |
| Tucker Beach Trail | 4.4 km one way | Grade 2, easy | Bike 30 min; walk 1 h 10 | Old Lower Shotover Bridge to Tucker Beach reserve | Route 3 at Quail Rise, about 100 m from the Old Lower Shotover Bridge car park; no stop at the Tucker Beach end |
| Shotover Gorge Trail | 5.5 km one way (10.5 km to the old bridge) | Grade 3, short Grade 4 at the Hugo Tunnel | Bike 1 to 1.5 h; walk 2 h | Arthurs Point to Tucker Beach | Route 4 at Atley Rd, about 340 m from the Arthurs Point trailhead; no stop at Tucker Beach; the Hugo Tunnel is gated shut in floods, use the bypass |
| Countryside Trail | 12.8 km one way | Grade 3, intermediate | Bike 1.5 to 3 h; walk 2.5 to 4 h | Arrowtown (Dudley's Cottage) to Old Lower Shotover Bridge | Routes 2 and 4 at Arrowtown (Ramshaw Lane); Route 3 at Quail Rise, about 270 m from the Old Lower Shotover Bridge |
| Waiwhakaata Lake Hayes Trail | 8 km loop | Grade 3, intermediate | Bike 1 h; walk 2 to 3 h | Loop from the North Lake Hayes picnic area, the pavilion or Rutherford Road | Route 2 at Mora Wines and Amisfield Winery, about 550 m from the trail; northern bridge closed in September 2026; narrow with drop-offs on the west side |
| Arrow River Bridges Trail | 13.7 km one way | Grade 2, easy | Bike 2 to 3 h one way; walk 3 to 5 h | Arrowtown to the Kawarau Bungy Centre, Gibbston | Routes 2 and 4 at Arrowtown; no bus at the bungy end, operators shuttle bikes; closed between Tobins Bridge and Whitechapel Road in September 2026 |
| Gibbston River Trail | 8.7 km one way | Grade 2, easy | Bike 1 to 2 h; walk 2 to 3 h | Kawarau Bungy Centre to Gibbston Back Road | No Orbus in Gibbston; bike shuttles for the return |
Grades are the New Zealand Cycle Trail scale: Grade 2 is easy and wide, Grade 3 has climbs and narrower stretches, Grade 4 is steep, narrow singletrack. Every section is shared with walkers; the Trust’s times are given for both.
Three days that work
- Half day from town, no car. Frankton Track from the Gardens to Kawarau Falls Bridge (8.5 km, on the Frankton Road detour through 2026), a swim at Frankton Beach, Route 1 back. Our Frankton Track page has the detail.
- The winery day. Route 2 or 4 to Arrowtown, Arrow River Bridges Trail to the bungy bridge (13.7 km), Gibbston River Trail past the cellar doors (8.7 km), shuttle back with the bike; book the shuttle before you leave.
- The lake loop. Kawarau Falls Bridge round Kelvin Heights to Jardine Park (9.3 km), Route 3 back to Frankton Hub, or carry on to Jack’s Point (6.3 km, Grade 4) and Route 4 home if you are up to it.
Before you go
- Closures. After the 27 to 28 August 2026 storm the council closed the Lake Hayes loop and the Arrow River trail on the Tobins side and at Swain Bridge, and advised caution on Twin Rivers (slips and scours) and at the Hugo Tunnel (silt and water). On 21 September the Trust still listed Lake Hayes partly open with its northern bridge shut, and the Arrow River Bridges Trail closed between Tobins Bridge and Whitechapel Road. The Frankton Track detours onto the Frankton Road footpath through 2026. Check the Trust’s trail status page on the day.
- Bikes and the bus. Orbus buses carry bikes free on the front rack, subject to space, so a solo rider can bus back from Frankton, Kelvin Heights, Arthurs Point or Arrowtown; e-bikes over 25 kg are not taken (Otago Regional Council). Groups, and anyone finishing in Gibbston, still need an operator’s bike shuttle: ask the hire shop before you set off.
- Water and shade. Twin Rivers and the Countryside Trail are exposed and dry in summer; carry more water than the distance suggests.
Questions people ask
How long is the Queenstown Trail?
The network is over 150 km of off-road trail from Queenstown to Gibbston via Arrowtown, in ten named sections from 4.4 km (Tucker Beach) to 18.5 km (Twin Rivers). Most people ride one or two sections a day rather than the whole thing.
Which section of the Queenstown Trail is easiest?
The Frankton Track (8.5 km, Grade 2, flat along the lake from the Gardens to Kawarau Falls Bridge) and the Tucker Beach Trail (4.4 km, Grade 2). Kelvin Heights, Arrow River Bridges and Gibbston River are also Grade 2 but longer.
Can I ride the Queenstown Trail without a car?
Yes for most of it. The Frankton, Kelvin Heights and Countryside sections end within about 550 m of an Orbus stop ($2.50 with a Bee Card), the Lake Hayes loop is about 550 m from Route 2, Arrowtown is on Routes 2 and 4, and Arthurs Point is on Route 4. Tucker Beach, the Morven Ferry Road end of Twin Rivers and Gibbston have no stop within walking distance. Bikes ride free on the bus racks, subject to space, and operators run bike shuttles for Gibbston.
What is the hardest section of the Queenstown Trail?
Jack's Point Trail, Grade 4: 6.3 km of narrow, rocky singletrack above the lake between Jardine Park and Jack's Point, with steep sections and tight corners the Trust does not recommend for inexperienced riders. The Hugo Tunnel section of the Shotover Gorge Trail also has short Grade 4 stretches.
Is the Queenstown Trail open in winter?
It is open year round, but storms close sections. After the August 2026 storm the council closed the Lake Hayes loop and parts of the Arrow River trails and advised caution on Twin Rivers and at the Hugo Tunnel, which is gated shut in floods. The Trust posts closures on its site; check before a long ride.
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Related guides
- Queenstown bus routes & fares
All six Orbus routes, the $2.50 airport bus, Bee Card vs cash fares and the ferry.
- Do you need a car in Queenstown?
Where the bus gets you, where it does not, and what a car, shuttle or tour costs instead.
- Free things to do in Queenstown
Twelve free things, and the $2.50 bus that gets you to each one.
- Arrowtown by bus: $2.50 from Queenstown or the airport
Route 4 from town, Route 2 from Frankton, $2.50 with a Bee Card, and the last bus back.
Sources: Queenstown Trails Trust, all trails (opens in a new tab), the ORC Orbus route pages (opens in a new tab), Otago Regional Council, what you can take on the bus (opens in a new tab) and Queenstown Lakes District Council, weather event update, 28 August 2026 (opens in a new tab), retrieved 21 September 2026. Distances, grades and times are the Trust's published figures for each section; closures change, so check its trail status page before riding. This independent guide is published by Tally Sphere Limited, a New Zealand company. Spotted a change? Report a problem with this page and the page address comes with your email.