Jack's Point Trail
The narrow, hilly lakeside trail from Kelvin Heights to Jacks Point: the Queenstown Trail's Grade 4 ride, and a trail the Trust suggests walking if that grade is beyond you.
Published 15 September 2026 · Last checked 18 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
Key facts
Open, with cautions. Open on 18 September 2026, with the Trust's network-wide warning of mud, flooding, scour and washouts after heavy rain. There is no alert specific to the Jack's Point Trail. Checked 18 September 2026 on Queenstown Trails Trust, Jack's Point Trail (opens in a new tab).
- Time
- 2 to 3 hours walking one way; 2 to 3 hours return by bike
- Distance
- 6.3 km one way
- Track type
- One way
- Grade
- Grade 4, advanced
- Surface
- Mostly smooth gravel but narrower than the rest of the Queenstown Trail (about 1 m in places), with loose or soft gravel, rocks and roots, steep pitches, tight corners and cattle stops
- Winter
- Care needed in winter
- Starts at
- Jardine Park, end of Poplar Drive, Kelvin Heights
- Bus
- Route 3 at Bay View (Kelvin Heights), about 550 m from the start
- Dogs
- Dogs under control
- Bikes
- Shared with bikes
- Toilets
- At Jardine Park; the Trust also lists toilets at the Jack's Point Clubhouse in the Jacks Point village
- Children
- The Trust says to watch children closely: some sections have steep drops at the track edge.
- Cost
- Free
In short: Jack's Point Trail is 6.3 km one way from Jardine Park in Kelvin Heights to the southern end of Jacks Point, above Lake Whakatipu. The Trust grades it Grade 4 (advanced) for bikes; walkers should allow 2 to 3 hours one way on a narrow, steep gravel trail.
What the track is like
Open tussock and schist above Lake Whakatipu, with views south toward Kingston, west to Cecil Peak, Walter Peak and the Bayonet Peaks, north to Ben Lomond, and east to The Remarkables.
The trailheads are inside Jardine Park, at the end of Poplar Drive in Kelvin Heights, and at the southern end of Jacks Point near the junction of Lodge Road and Homestead Bay Road. You can walk or ride it in either direction; the Trust describes it from Jardine Park, where the Kelvin Heights Trail ends.
The trail undulates above the shoreline through tussock and schist. It is maintained and mostly smooth gravel, but narrower than the rest of the network, down to about 1 m, with loose or soft gravel, rocks and roots, patches of poor traction, steep climbs and descents, and tight corners. Several cattle stops cross it, and in places there are steep drops at the edge. It is signposted, with good cell phone reception.
Heading toward Jacks Point, the Trust says the last 3 km are particularly steep and technical, and DOC's brochure notes the trail ends after a steep climb at Jacks Point. An out-and-back walk from Jardine Park, turning around before that final section, avoids needing transport at the far end.
Riders need a mountain bike and good off-road skills. The Trust's bike time of 2 to 3 hours is for the return trip, and it advises less experienced riders to get off and push for a while; if Grade 4 riding is beyond you, it suggests walking the trail instead.
How to get to the start
Jardine Park is at the end of Poplar Drive in Kelvin Heights, and Jacks Point is about a 20 minute drive from central Queenstown; both ends have parking. From town, the Trust's Queenstown to Jack's Point ride links the Frankton Track and Kelvin Heights Trail to this one: 26 km, allow 4 to 5 hours.
Route 3 stops at Bay View (Kelvin Heights) and Poplar Drive, about 530 and 560 m from Jardine Park, and Route 4's Jacks Point Terminus is about 630 m from the Jacks Point end, so a one-way walk with a bus back works. Both routes run through Frankton Bus Hub, and Route 4 continues to Queenstown, for $2.50 with a Bee Card. ORC says bus bike racks carry bikes free, subject to space, and the Trust lists operators that move riders and bikes.
- Start: Jardine Park, end of Poplar Drive, Kelvin Heights (directions (opens in a new tab)).
- Parking: Plenty of parking at Jardine Park
- Finish: Southern end of Jacks Point, near Lodge Road and Homestead Bay Road (directions (opens in a new tab)).
- Parking: Parking at the Jacks Point end
- From Queenstown: About a 20 minute drive from central Queenstown
- By bus: Bay View (Kelvin Heights) on Route 3 is about 530 m from Jardine Park, and Jacks Point Terminus on Route 4 is about 630 m from the Jacks Point end. Routes and fares are in the bus guide.
Is it open, and what is it like in winter?
Open, with cautions on 18 September 2026. Open on 18 September 2026, with the Trust's network-wide warning of mud, flooding, scour and washouts after heavy rain. There is no alert specific to the Jack's Point Trail. Check Queenstown Trails Trust, Jack's Point Trail (opens in a new tab) on the day; conditions change quickly.
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (September to November) | No seasonal closure. The Trust's heavy-rain warning (mud, scour and washouts across the network) was current on 18 September 2026, and wet or soft gravel matters more on a narrow, steep trail. Pack a windproof layer. |
| Summer (December to February) | The trail crosses open tussock and schist above the lake. The Trust advises water, sunscreen, sunglasses and a sunhat, and it is a popular shared trail, so expect walkers and riders passing. |
| Autumn (March to May) | Nothing seasonal closes it. The Trust notes strong southerly and westerly winds on this trail, so a windproof layer stays in the pack. |
| Winter (June to August) | The Trust says it gets very cold: carry plenty of warm and waterproof clothing plus a windproof layer. With short daylight, arrange the ride or bus from the far end before you set off on a 2 to 3 hour one-way walk. |
What to know before you go
- It is Grade 4: steep climbs and descents, tight bends and narrow, loose sections. Walk it, or push your bike, if you are not a confident Grade 4 rider.
- Watch children closely: parts of the trail have steep drops at the edge (Trust).
- Strong southerly and westerly winds hit this trail; carry a windproof layer, and in winter plenty of warm and waterproof clothing.
- Cross cattle stops with care, leave gates as you find them and do not disturb livestock.
- Check the Trust's alerts before you go: on 18 September 2026 it warned of mud, flooding, scour and washouts across the network after heavy rain.
- Plan the return before you start: a one-way walk of 2 to 3 hours ends about 530 m (Jardine Park) or 630 m (Jacks Point) from the nearest bus stop.
For emergencies call 111. The Queenstown safety guide covers the rest before a long or winter walk.
Questions people ask
How long is the Jack's Point Trail, and how long does it take?
6.3 km one way. Walkers should allow 2 to 3 hours one way; by bike the Trust gives 2 to 3 hours for the return trip.
How hard is the Jack's Point Trail?
It is Grade 4 (advanced) for bikes, with steep climbs and descents, tight corners and a narrow, loose surface; the last 3 km toward Jacks Point are particularly steep and technical. The Trust does not recommend it for less experienced riders.
Where does the Jack's Point Trail start, and where do I park?
At Jardine Park, at the end of Poplar Drive in Kelvin Heights, or at the southern end of Jacks Point near Lodge Road and Homestead Bay Road. Both ends have parking.
Can I get to the Jack's Point Trail by bus?
Yes. Route 3 stops about 530 m from Jardine Park, and Route 4's Jacks Point Terminus is about 630 m from the Jacks Point end; fares are $2.50 with a Bee Card.
Is the Jack's Point Trail suitable for beginners or kids?
Not on a bike: it is Grade 4. The Trust suggests walking it instead, and asks walkers to watch children closely where there are steep drops at the edge.
Are there toilets on the Jack's Point Trail?
The Trust lists toilets at Jardine Park, and at the Jack's Point Clubhouse in the Jacks Point village.
Is there phone reception on the Jack's Point Trail?
The Trust says the trail is signposted and has good cell phone reception.
Can you walk the Jack's Point Trail in winter?
Yes, it has no seasonal closure, but the Trust says it gets very cold and windy: carry warm, waterproof and windproof layers.
Nearby walks
- Kelvin Heights Trail
9.3 km one way (Kawarau Falls Bridge to Jardine Park); the Sculpture Trail loop is 3.5 km · 2 to 3 hours walking; 1 to 2 hours by bike; about 1 hour for the Sculpture Trail loop · Grade 2, easy
- Frankton Track
8.5 km one way (Queenstown Gardens to Kawarau Falls Bridge) · 1.5 to 2 hours walking one way; 30 minutes to 1 hour by bike · Grade 2, easy
- Twin Rivers Trail
18.5 km one way · 4 to 5 hours walking, 2 to 3 hours by bike, one way · Grade 3, intermediate
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Related guides
- The Queenstown Trail, section by section
Ten sections, over 150 km, with the Trails Trust's distances, grades and times, and the $2.50 bus back from each end.
- Queenstown bus routes & fares
All six Orbus routes, the $2.50 airport bus, Bee Card vs cash fares and the ferry.
- Queenstown safety: the numbers, the hills, the roads and the lake
111 and 105, the Land Safety Code, chains, the 10-degree lake, and why ACC is not travel insurance.
Sources: Queenstown Trails Trust, Jack's Point Trail (opens in a new tab), Queenstown Trails Trust, Queenstown to Jack's Point itinerary (opens in a new tab), Queenstown Trails Trust, All Trails (network alerts and trail list) (opens in a new tab), DOC, Queenstown day walks and bike trails brochure (April 2025) (opens in a new tab) and Otago Regional Council, What can you take on the bus (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.
All walks: Queenstown walks and tracks.