Local Walks

These tracks are our recommended picks for Summer. Contact us for more information about the walks in the Queenstown area.

Sam Summers Hut Track

Times:
Loop Track 3hrs
Sam Summers Hut 1hr
Lake Dispute Lookout 2 hrs

Grade:
Medium fitness required

The walk to Sam Summers Hut is part of a larger loop track known as the Twelve Mile Loop Track. You can choose to walk to the hut and back, or continue around the loop.

This track winds through some beautiful native forest. Gold fever attracted many hopefuls to this area. It was mined periodically between the 1860's and 1930's. A large sluiced canyon, a tailrace tunnel and an old stone hut are a few of the relics to be found here. The track climbs through native beech forest, high above 12 mile creek gorge, before dropping down to cross a side creek. This site was once a Maori Gully sluicing claim. As you leave the creek look out for the old hut ruins hidden in the bush to your left.

After about 40 minutes, you will walk through a large sluiced out canyon with height shingle cliffs. It was here that water was transported and directed at the work faces. It was channeled into a nozzle and directed at the face under pressure. The gold from this exercise was recovered in 'tail races'. At the far end of this canyon, a short side walk (5 min) will take you to one of these tail races. A tunnel cut through the schist. It was used to wash away the sluiced gravel from the mining claims. The tunnel is spectacular, measuring 24m long, 1m wide and 10m high.

Back on the main track, a 5 minute walk will bring you to Sam Summers Hut. Built around 1930, by Bill Summers it was later inhabited by his son Sam.Sam lived here for 10 years while prospecting for gold. Chinese ceramic relics have been found behind Sam's hut, once the site of a Chinese camp.The track then crosses 12 Mile Creek behind the hut and climbs up to a ridge overlooking Lake Dispute.Here you have a number of choices: you can either follow the track back to the car park. Or you can follow the fenceline on your left ( past the open wetland area) down to Lake Dispute and out onto Glenorchy road.

Ben Lomond to Moonlight and Arthurs Point

Times:
From Skyline to Ben Lomond Saddle: 3hrs
From Skyline to Ben Lomond Summit: 4hrs
From Skyline to Arthurs pt along Moonlight, 6-8 hrs

Grade:
Good fitness required.

The track begins at the Skyline road and climbs steadily through open tussock to the Ben Lomond saddle. You can then turn off to climb up to Ben Lomond summit, or continue towards the lower saddle.

The best time of day to make this trek is before dawn, to watch the sunrise over The Remarkables. When you reach the summit a table reveals the towering peaks of Mt Cook, Mt Aspiring, Mt Earnslaw and Mt Aurum.From the saddle the track is marked for you with poles around Bowen Peak. It then descends to reach a low saddle within an hour and a half. A farm track veers left down toward the old Sefferstown, follow this route through the prominent poplar trees that mark the ruins of the old mining town. About five minutes below Sefferstown are the remains of the old Moke Creek stone school, these ruins date back to the 1880's.

To get onto the Moonlight Track:
Walk down the road from Sefferstown, towards the Moke Creek school house, then turn right at the sign post to Arthurs Point. Along the way you will see the great sluiced out terraces below.

Soon you will come to the junction to Arthurs pt via the Moonlight track on your right, just below the saddle. The Moonlight track winds above the famous gold bearing rivers, The Moonlight and The Shotover, taking you to Arthurs Point. At the end of the track, at McChesney Rd, we can help you arrange transport back into town.

Remember: Take warm clothing and be prepared for the changeable New Zealand weather, it is chilly before sunrise!

Moke Lake to Arthurs Point Track

Time: 4-5 hrs
Grade:Medium fitness

Moke Lake is a beautiful swimming spot and popular for fishing too.This walk will take you from Moke Lake to Sefferstown, then joins up with the Moonlight track to lead you back to Arthurs Point. This track crosses private land, please respect this area.

There are two tracks to choose from to get from Moke Lake to Sefferstown. You can take the farm road, on the right above Moke Creek, or you can cross the creek at the Moke Lake Recreation Reserve and follow the old road up the creek bed. This second option will leave you with wet feet, but it is a great way to see the large Schist boulders and tunnels, which have been excavated for gold and copper.

In about an hour and a half you will reach McConochie Creek. Follow the road up the hill to where you will see the old Moke Creek school building. Today, only a few buildings remain of Sefferstown, the gold mining village established in 1880. Walk towards the school and join up with the Moonlight Track to Arthurs Point.