Kelvin Heights Trail
The easy lakeside trail around the Kelvin Peninsula, from the old Kawarau Falls Bridge to Jardine Park, with four sculptures on its loop and sun on it in winter.
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. Coming from town, the Frankton Track has a detour on the Frankton Road footpath through 2026. Checked 18 September 2026 on Queenstown Trails Trust, Kelvin Heights Trail (opens in a new tab).
- Time
- 2 to 3 hours walking; 1 to 2 hours by bike; about 1 hour for the Sculpture Trail loop
- Distance
- 9.3 km one way (Kawarau Falls Bridge to Jardine Park); the Sculpture Trail loop is 3.5 km
- Track type
- One way
- Grade
- Grade 2, easy
- Surface
- Gravel, generally over 2 m wide and narrowing to about 1.2 m in places, with short rocky and rooty sections (most of them on the Sculpture Trail), gentle climbs and a few steep pinches, small bridges and boardwalks, and short road sections
- Winter
- Good in winter
- Starts at
- Kawarau Falls Bridge, Frankton
- Bus
- Route 3 at Douglas St, about 400 m from the start
- Dogs
- Dogs under control
- Bikes
- Shared with bikes
- Toilets
- At Kelvin Grove and Jardine Park
- Children
- The Trust calls the Sculpture Trail loop ideal for walking and family outings.
- Cost
- Free
In short: The Kelvin Heights Trail runs 9.3 km one way from Kawarau Falls Bridge around the Kelvin Peninsula to Jardine Park, a Grade 2 (easy) gravel trail taking 2 to 3 hours on foot. Its 3.5 km Sculpture Trail loop from Grove Lane takes about an hour and passes four sculptures.
What the track is like
Views of The Remarkables and the head of the Kawarau River from the bridge, sheltered beaches at Kelvin Grove, Terry's Cove looking across Lake Whakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peaks, and four sculptures by New Zealand artists on the peninsula loop.
The trail continues from the Frankton Track at the historic Kawarau Falls Bridge. Cross the bridge, turn right at the far end and follow the trail along the peninsula above the Frankton Arm. This stretch has short climbs and descents, some of them steep, a slightly more technical surface than the Frankton Track, small bridges and boardwalks, blind corners, and narrow sections between cliffs and guard rails where you may need to give way. It is signposted, with good cell phone reception.
Past the Wakatipu Yacht Club the trail runs through trees with views of Queenstown Bay, Walter Peak and the Frankton Arm, and arrives at Kelvin Grove and the beach reserve off Grove Lane. Kelvin Grove has sheltered beaches for paddling and swimming, playgrounds, toilets, picnic spots and barbecues.
The Sculpture Trail is a 3.5 km loop around the Queenstown Golf Club course that can be walked either way. Clockwise from Kelvin Beach, follow Grove Lane to the west side, walk the lake edge outside the course (golfers have right of way) past Wakatipu Kuikui by Mark Hill, go through the forest to Terry's Cove and Shane Woolridge's schist Thru Link to Peak, then pass Jeff Thompson's Kelvin Peninsula Goats and Mark Hill's Presence on the way back past the yacht club. Roots and rocks are most common on this loop, so it is harder going with a pushchair.
To finish the trail, short road sections on Grove Lane, Peninsula Road and Poplar Drive lead to Jardine Park, where the Grade 4 Jack's Point Trail begins. The signposted Lake Side Trail from the car park at the end of Grove Lane is a technical mountain bike alternative, graded Advanced (Grade 4) in the Trust's Queenstown to Jack's Point itinerary, and the Trust says it is best for walkers or experienced riders.
How to get to the start
For the bridge end, park at Frankton Beach or the car park off Allan Crescent; for the Sculpture Trail, park at either end of Grove Lane; Jardine Park, at the end of Poplar Drive, also has parking. From Queenstown, walkers and riders can follow the Frankton Track (8.5 km, with a detour on the Frankton Road footpath through 2026).
Route 3 (Quail Rise to Kelvin Heights) stops at Douglas St about 400 m from Kawarau Falls Bridge, at Kelvin Heights (Four View / Grove Lane) about 75 m from Grove Lane, and at Bay View (Kelvin Heights) about 530 m from Jardine Park. It runs through Frankton Bus Hub, where Routes 1, 4 and 5 continue to town; fares are $2.50 with a Bee Card, and ORC says bus bike racks carry bikes free, subject to space. The Queenstown to Hilton ferry stops at Hilton, about 400 m from the bridge.
- Start: Kawarau Falls Bridge, Frankton (directions (opens in a new tab)).
- Parking: Frankton Beach, or the car park off Allan Crescent near the bridge
- From Queenstown: 8.5 km from the Queenstown Gardens along the Frankton Track
- Finish: Jardine Park, end of Poplar Drive, Kelvin Heights (directions (opens in a new tab)).
- Parking: Parking at Jardine Park
- By bus: Douglas St (Route 3) is about 400 m from Kawarau Falls Bridge, the Route 3 stop at Kelvin Heights (Four View / Grove Lane) is about 75 m from Grove Lane for the Sculpture Trail, and Bay View (Kelvin Heights) on Route 3 is about 530 m from Jardine Park. 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. Coming from town, the Frankton Track has a detour on the Frankton Road footpath through 2026. Check Queenstown Trails Trust, Kelvin Heights 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 the approach from town along the Frankton Track uses a detour through 2026. |
| Summer (December to February) | Kelvin Grove's sheltered beaches are popular with swimmers and boaties, with picnic spots, barbecues and playgrounds. The Trust advises water, sunscreen, sunglasses and a sunhat. |
| Autumn (March to May) | No seasonal closure is published. The Trust's code of conduct holds all year: keep left, signal your approach and give way to walkers. |
| Winter (June to August) | The Trust puts the trail on the sunny side of the Frankton Arm and says it gets full sun in winter, which makes it one of its year-round trails. Carry plenty of warm and waterproof clothing. |
What to know before you go
- Blind corners and narrow sections between cliffs and guard rails mean slowing down, keeping left and giving way to oncoming users (Trust).
- Golfers have right of way where the Sculpture Trail runs beside the Queenstown Golf Club course.
- Short sections share roads on the peninsula; keep left and follow the road rules there.
- Exposed roots and rocks around the Sculpture Trail can trip walkers and catch pushchair wheels.
- 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.
- The Jack's Point Trail that starts at Jardine Park is Grade 4, and the Lake Side Trail is technical; neither suits a beginner on a bike.
For emergencies call 111. The Queenstown safety guide covers the rest before a long or winter walk.
Questions people ask
How long is the Kelvin Heights Trail, and how long does it take?
9.3 km one way from Kawarau Falls Bridge to Jardine Park: 2 to 3 hours walking or 1 to 2 hours by bike. The Sculpture Trail loop is 3.5 km and takes about an hour.
Where does the Kelvin Heights Sculpture Trail start?
At Kelvin Beach on Grove Lane. Park at either end of Grove Lane and walk the 3.5 km loop in either direction.
Is the Kelvin Heights Trail good in winter?
Yes. The Trust puts it on the sunny side of the Frankton Arm with full sun in winter, and it has no seasonal closure. Carry warm and waterproof clothing.
Can I get to Kelvin Heights by bus?
Yes. Route 3 stops about 400 m from Kawarau Falls Bridge, about 75 m from Grove Lane and about 530 m from Jardine Park, for $2.50 with a Bee Card.
Is the Kelvin Heights Trail OK for kids and pushchairs?
It is Grade 2 (easy) and the Trust recommends the Sculpture Trail for families, but roots and rocks on the loop make pushchairs harder work, and some sections are narrow between cliffs and guard rails.
Are there toilets on the Kelvin Heights Trail?
Yes, at Kelvin Grove and at Jardine Park.
Can you swim at Kelvin Heights?
Kelvin Grove has sheltered beaches for paddling and swimming, popular with swimmers and boaties in summer.
Are dogs allowed on the Kelvin Heights Trail?
Yes, under control, as the Trust's code of conduct asks.
Nearby walks
- Jack's Point Trail
6.3 km one way (DOC's brochure gives 7.1 km) · 2 to 3 hours walking one way; 2 to 3 hours return by bike · Grade 4, advanced
- 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
- Queenstown Gardens loop
2 km loop · 40 minutes · Easy short walk
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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, Kelvin Heights Trail (opens in a new tab), Queenstown Trails Trust, Kelvin Heights Sculpture Trail (opens in a new tab), Queenstown Trails Trust, Queenstown to Jack's Point itinerary (opens in a new tab), Queenstown Trails Trust, Jack's Point Trail (Jardine Park facilities) (opens in a new tab), Queenstown Trails Trust, All Trails (network alerts) (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.