Tiki Trail
The free, steep walk up Bob's Peak beside the Skyline Gondola, zigzagging through forest from Brecon Street to the top terminal and its view over town.
Published 15 September 2026 · Last checked 18 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
Key facts
Open. No closure was found on 18 September 2026, and DOC's live alert feed for the Ben Lomond Track, which the Tiki Trail leads onto, showed no alerts that day. Checked 18 September 2026 on DOC, Ben Lomond Track (alerts) (opens in a new tab).
- Time
- 1 hour one way
- Distance
- 2 km one way
- Track type
- One way
- Grade
- Easy to intermediate walking track
- Winter
- Care needed in winter
- Starts at
- Skyline Gondola base, top of Brecon Street
- Bus
- Route 4 at Boundary St, about 450 m from the start
- Dogs
- Dogs on a lead
- Bikes
- No bikes
- Toilets
- At the Skyline Gondola top complex (DOC)
- Cost
- Free to walk; riding the Skyline Gondola down needs a ticket
In short: The Tiki Trail is a steep 2 km track that climbs from the Skyline Gondola base at the top of Brecon Street to the gondola top terminal in about an hour one way. DOC's brochure grades it an easy to intermediate walking track. It is free to walk, dogs must be on a lead, and bikes are not allowed.
What the track is like
Forest most of the way with few viewpoints, then the well-known view over Queenstown and Lake Whakatipu from the Skyline complex at the top of Bob's Peak.
The trail starts beside the Skyline Gondola base station at the top of Brecon Street. Destination Queenstown describes the start as the end of Cemetery Road, off Brecon Street, and DOC notes the climb begins among Douglas fir behind the stone wall of the cemetery. From there it zigzags steadily up through forest. DOC gives 2 km and 1 hour one way; Destination Queenstown lists 2.1 km and 1 hour and calls it short but steep.
The trail crosses mountain bike tracks. DOC warns that the downhill bike tracks on this hillside are ridden at high speed and are unsafe for walkers, so follow the signs and stay on the walking track. Bikes are not allowed on the Tiki Trail itself (DOC brochure symbol), and dogs must be on a lead.
The trail finishes at the Skyline Gondola top terminal, where the complex has toilets (DOC). From there, walk back down the same way or pay for a one-way gondola ticket down (DOC).
The Tiki Trail is also DOC's recommended access to the Ben Lomond Track, an advanced tramping track with 1,438 m of climbing from town. DOC says that in winter you need to carry, and be able to use, alpine equipment such as avalanche equipment, an ice axe and crampons, and that there is no water past the Skyline complex. Do not carry on up without that gear, the fitness and the daylight; read the Ben Lomond page first.
How to get to the start
Walk to the top of Brecon Street from the town centre; the trail starts beside the gondola base station, and DOC's brochure map marks parking nearby. Orbus Route 4 stops at Boundary St, about 430 m from the start, and Route 1 stops at Stanley Street Bus Hub A (Liquor King), about 520 m away. Fares are $2.50 with a Bee Card.
- Start: Skyline Gondola base, top of Brecon Street (directions (opens in a new tab)).
- From Queenstown: At the top of Brecon Street, in the town centre (DOC)
- Finish: Skyline Gondola top terminal (directions (opens in a new tab)).
- By bus: Orbus Route 4 stops at Boundary St, about 430 m from the gondola base where the trail starts, and Route 1 at Stanley Street Bus Hub A (Liquor King), about 520 m away; the top terminal has no stop of its own, so the way back to a bus is the trail or the gondola. Routes and fares are in the bus guide.
Is it open, and what is it like in winter?
Open on 18 September 2026. No closure was found on 18 September 2026, and DOC's live alert feed for the Ben Lomond Track, which the Tiki Trail leads onto, showed no alerts that day. Check DOC, Ben Lomond Track (alerts) (opens in a new tab) on the day; conditions change quickly.
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (September to November) | Destination Queenstown rates the Tiki Trail good all year. If you are thinking of carrying on past the gondola top onto the Ben Lomond Track, DOC warns of snow and ice above the bushline from April to November. |
| Summer (December to February) | Most of the climb is under forest with few viewpoints until the top, so it stays shaded; carry water for a steep hour of climbing. |
| Autumn (March to May) | Shorter afternoons. The gondola is the quick way down if daylight runs short, but check Skyline's operating hours and ticket price before relying on it. |
| Winter (June to August) | Destination Queenstown rates it good all year. Under the trees the track can be muddy and slippery, and shaded sections can ice over; riding the gondola down saves the descent. |
What to know before you go
- Mountain bike tracks cross the trail. DOC warns downhill riders travel at high speed, so look and listen at every crossing and stay on the signed walking track.
- The climb is steep and mostly under trees, so the track can be slippery when wet or frozen. DOC's grade calls for walking shoes or light tramping boots.
- Do not continue past the Skyline complex onto the Ben Lomond Track unless you are equipped for it: DOC says it needs alpine equipment such as avalanche equipment, an ice axe and crampons in winter, and warns of snow and ice above the bushline from April to November.
- If you plan to ride the gondola down, check Skyline's operating hours and ticket price before you start so you are not walking down in the dark.
- Dogs must be on a lead (DOC brochure symbol).
For emergencies call 111. The Queenstown safety guide covers the rest before a long or winter walk.
Questions people ask
How long does the Tiki Trail take?
About 1 hour up for 2 km one way, according to DOC; Destination Queenstown lists 2.1 km and 1 hour. Return the same way on foot or buy a one-way gondola ticket down.
Can I walk up the Tiki Trail and take the gondola down?
Yes. DOC says you can pay for a one-way gondola ticket downhill. Check Skyline's operating hours and price before you set off.
Where does the Tiki Trail start?
Beside the Skyline Gondola base station at the top of Brecon Street, at the end of Cemetery Road. Orbus Route 4 stops at Boundary St, about 430 m away.
Is the Tiki Trail hard?
DOC grades it an easy to intermediate walking track, and Destination Queenstown calls it short but steep and moderate. Expect a steady hour of zigzag climbing through forest.
Are dogs and bikes allowed on the Tiki Trail?
Dogs are allowed on a lead; bikes are not (DOC brochure symbols). The trail crosses mountain bike tracks, so watch for fast riders at the crossings.
Can I walk the Tiki Trail in winter?
Yes. Destination Queenstown rates it good all year, but the forest track can be muddy, slippery and icy in shaded sections. The Ben Lomond Track above it needs alpine equipment such as an ice axe and crampons in winter, according to DOC.
Are there toilets on the Tiki Trail?
Not on the trail itself. DOC notes toilets at the Skyline Gondola top complex where the trail finishes.
Nearby walks
- Ben Lomond
14 km return to the summit via the Tiki Trail; 10 km return to the saddle (DOC's brochure gives 13 to 15 km and 11 km) · 6 to 8 hours return to the summit from Queenstown; 5 hours return to the saddle; 3 to 4 hours return to the saddle from the top of the gondola · Advanced
- One Mile Creek
1.9 km return · 1 to 1.5 hours return · Advanced tramping track
- Queenstown Hill
5.4 km return · 2 to 3 hours return · Easy to intermediate walking track
- Queenstown Gardens loop
2 km loop · 40 minutes · Easy short walk
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Sources: DOC, Queenstown day walks and bike trails brochure (March 2025), track 11 and map (opens in a new tab), DOC, Ben Lomond Track (opens in a new tab), DOC live alerts feed for the Ben Lomond Track (no alerts returned) (opens in a new tab), Destination Queenstown, Tiki Trail (opens in a new tab) and Destination Queenstown, 10 beautiful walks in Queenstown (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.