Bob's Cove Track and Nature Walk
A short DOC walk from the Glenorchy road down through native bush to a lakeshore cove, a historic lime kiln and the Picnic Point lookout.
Published 15 September 2026 · Last checked 18 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
Key facts
Open. DOC shows no alerts for this track on 18 September 2026 and lists it as open. The old bridle track nearby is permanently closed, so reach the cove on the marked track only. Checked 18 September 2026 on DOC, Bob's Cove Track and Nature Walk (alerts show on this page) (opens in a new tab).
- Time
- 20 minutes to Bobs Cove, 30 minutes to Picnic Point, one way
- Distance
- 1.5 km one way
- Track type
- Return the same way
- Grade
- Easy to intermediate
- Surface
- Bush track, undulating, with a short steep loop to Picnic Point
- Winter
- Good in winter
- Starts at
- Bob's Cove car park, Glenorchy-Queenstown Road
- Bus
- No Orbus stop within 1.2 km of the start
- Dogs
- Dogs on a lead
- Bikes
- Shared with bikes
- Buggies and wheelchairs
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Children
- DOC lists it as a good option for kids.
- Cost
- Free
In short: Bob's Cove Track is 1.5 km one way from a car park 14 km from Queenstown on the Glenorchy road, down through native bush to Punatapu / Bobs Cove on Lake Wakatipu. DOC grades it easy to intermediate: 20 minutes to the cove, 30 minutes to Picnic Point, then back the same way.
What the track is like
Native bush opens onto Punatapu / Bobs Cove, where DOC says you can swim and fish off the shore, beside a lime kiln left from the 1800s. The lookout above Picnic Point takes in the cove, the lake and the surrounding mountains.
From the car park the track drops through native bush to the lakeshore at Punatapu / Bobs Cove, about 20 minutes on DOC's figure. DOC measures it at 1.5 km one way to Picnic Point, and Destination Queenstown gives 3 km for the outing including the loop to the lookout and Picnic Point.
Near the shore stands a historic lime kiln from the 1800s, when the Wakatipu Lime Company quarried and processed limestone at the cove. DOC notes that the gum trees nearby were planted to fuel the kilns, and Destination Queenstown adds that seven kilns once stood here and one survives.
Beyond the kiln the track reaches a junction. The Twelve Mile Delta track carries on along the lakeshore, while the Picnic Point loop climbs a short, steep, rocky section to a lookout and drops to Picnic Point before rejoining the track, which brings the one-way time to about 30 minutes. Mountain bikes are allowed on the main track, which DOC grades Grade 2 (easy) and times at 10 minutes one way, undulating with one steep climb, but not on the Picnic Point loop.
Return the way you came. DOC warns that the old bridle track near the cove is permanently closed, so stay on the marked track in both directions.
How to get to the start
Drive 14 km from Queenstown along the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road to the Bob's Cove Recreation Reserve car park, where the track starts. DOC says car parks along this road can be very busy in summer, advises against parking on the roadside or reversing out into fast traffic, and suggests coming in the morning or early evening.
There is no Orbus stop within walking distance. The nearest stops are on Route 1 in Sunshine Bay, about 9.6 km back toward town in a straight line, so you need your own transport.
- Start: Bob's Cove car park, Glenorchy-Queenstown Road (directions (opens in a new tab)).
- Parking: Bob's Cove Recreation Reserve car park; DOC says car parks on this road are very busy in summer
- From Queenstown: 14 km from Queenstown on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road (DOC)
- By bus: There is no Orbus stop within walking distance of the start: the nearest stops are on Route 1 in Sunshine Bay, about 9.6 km back toward town in a straight line. Routes and fares are in the bus guide.
Is it open, and what is it like in winter?
Open on 18 September 2026. DOC shows no alerts for this track on 18 September 2026 and lists it as open. The old bridle track nearby is permanently closed, so reach the cove on the marked track only. Check DOC, Bob's Cove Track and Nature Walk (alerts show on this page) (opens in a new tab) on the day; conditions change quickly.
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (September to November) | DOC publishes no spring closure; the only standing restriction on its page is the year-round fire ban. DOC's Queenstown brochure warns that the weather here can change quickly at any time of year, so check the page for alerts before you go. |
| Summer (December to February) | DOC warns that car parks along the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road are very busy in summer and suggests arriving in the morning or early evening. DOC says you can swim and fish off the shore at the cove. |
| Autumn (March to May) | No autumn restriction is published. DOC's brochure warns that higher-altitude tracks can carry snow and ice from autumn through winter and often into spring; this walk runs from a roadside car park down to the lake, but ask the Whakatipu-wai-Māori / Queenstown Visitor Centre about conditions after a cold snap. |
| Winter (June to August) | Destination Queenstown rates the walk good all year and DOC publishes no winter closure. The steep Picnic Point loop is the part to take slowly when the ground is wet or frosty. |
What to know before you go
- The Picnic Point loop is short but steep and rocky; take it slowly when the ground is wet. DOC does not permit mountain biking on the loop.
- The old bridle track near the cove is permanently closed. DOC says to reach Bobs Cove on the marked track only.
- Parking is the hazard DOC names for this road: do not park on the roadside or reverse out onto the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road, where traffic moves at speed.
- Share the main track with mountain bikers; DOC grades the ride Grade 2 (easy) on this section.
- Keep dogs on a lead and light no fires at any time; both are DOC rules for the track.
- Check DOC's page for alerts on the day; DOC's brochure notes the weather here can change quickly at any time of year.
For emergencies call 111. The Queenstown safety guide covers the rest before a long or winter walk.
Questions people ask
How long does Bob's Cove Track take?
DOC gives 20 minutes one way to Bobs Cove and 30 minutes to Picnic Point, on a track 1.5 km one way. You return the same way, so allow about double for the round trip.
How far is Bob's Cove from Queenstown, and where do I park?
The Bob's Cove Recreation Reserve car park is 14 km from Queenstown on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road. DOC says it gets very busy in summer and advises against parking on the roadside.
Can you get to Bob's Cove by bus?
No. The nearest Orbus stops are on Route 1 in Sunshine Bay, about 9.6 km back toward town, so you need your own transport.
Can you swim at Bob's Cove?
DOC says you can swim and fish off the shore at Punatapu / Bobs Cove.
Is Bob's Cove Track suitable for kids?
DOC lists it as a good option for kids and grades it easy to intermediate. The Picnic Point loop has a short, steep climb.
Are dogs allowed at Bob's Cove?
Yes, on a lead only, under DOC's rules for the track.
Can I bike to Bob's Cove?
Mountain bikes are allowed on the main track, which DOC grades Grade 2 and times at 10 minutes one way, but not on the loop to Picnic Point.
Is Bob's Cove Track open?
DOC showed no alerts for the track on 18 September 2026. The old bridle track nearby is permanently closed, so use the marked track.
Nearby walks
- Twelve Mile Delta track
6 km one way · 1 to 2 hours one way · Easy to intermediate
- Mt Crichton loop
6.4 km loop · 2 to 3 hours for the loop; 1 hour to Sam Summers Hut · Easy to intermediate
- Seven Mile Point
3 km one way · 1 hour 30 minutes one way · Easy to intermediate
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Sources: DOC, Bob's Cove Track and Nature Walk (opens in a new tab), DOC, Queenstown day walks and bike trails brochure (March 2025) (opens in a new tab), DOC, Walking track categories (opens in a new tab), DOC, Mountain bike track grades (opens in a new tab), Destination Queenstown, Bob's Cove Track and Nature Walk (opens in a new tab) and OpenStreetMap (Nominatim), Bobs Cove parking (opens in a new tab), retrieved 18 September 2026. Distances, times and grades are the managing body's published figures; fit walkers are often quicker. Department of Conservation information is used under CC BY 4.0. Start coordinates: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). 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.
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