When we started planning our trip around New Zealand, we quickly realised that most of the activities we wanted to do were pretty expensive. Because of that, we had to start making some choices, since there was no way we’d manage to do everything we had in mind. In Queenstown, that became clear as soon as we looked into how to get up to Bob’s Peak and saw the price of the Skyline Gondola.

That’s when we looked into other options and found out it was possible to hike up on foot via the Tiki Trail, so we decided to save that money for other activities we really wanted to do. We knew the climb wouldn’t exactly be easy, but we had time. The plan was to take the trail at our own pace, stopping along the way to rest, take some photos and enjoy the incredible views over Queenstown. In the end, it turned out to be one of those small trip decisions that made complete sense for us, especially since we ended up enjoying the hike far more than we expected.

Hiking up to Bob’s Peak via the Tiki Trail

On our first full day in New Zealand, we were still getting over the jet lag, but we didn’t want to waste any time. The plan was to explore downtown Queenstown and make the most of the day. Since we were staying in Frankton, near the Kawarau Falls Dam, we grabbed an Uber after breakfast to downtown Queenstown, more specifically to the base of the Tiki Trail, where we started the hike up to Bob’s Peak.

We started climbing at around 8am and, within the first few minutes, a man jogged straight past us on his way up. We looked at each other and figured the trail couldn’t be that hard after all. We quickly found out that wasn’t quite the case! The four of us stuck together the whole way, and even though it’s only about 2.1 km, the climb definitely made itself felt because of the steep incline and uneven terrain. There were a few rocky sections where we had to watch our step. It wasn’t anything crazy, but it wasn’t an effortless climb either. Let’s just say that, the next day, our calves were properly sore and crying out for mercy.

A group walking down a dirt path on the Tiki Trail surrounded by tall trees, with the car park visible in the backgroundA smiling couple posing on a rock in the middle of the Tiki Trail, surrounded by ferns and treesView over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu framed between the tree trunks along the Tiki TrailThe author seen from behind admiring the view over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu, with the mountains in the background
A group of three posing on the Tiki Trail, next to a wooden platform suspended among the treesA smiling couple on a wooden staircase along the Tiki Trail, built against a rock wallInformation map of the Queenstown Bike Park showing the trails and the location of the Tiki TrailView over Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the mountains, framed by pine trees at the top of the Tiki Trail

We made several stops along the way, some because we needed to catch our breath and drink some water, others because a lovely view showed up and it was worth pausing for a few photos. We took the trail at our own pace, with no rush to reach the top. I actually started out in a padded jacket and a jumper, and as we went along, I kept peeling off layers until I reached the top in just a sleeveless top.

It took us about an hour and a half to reach the top, and as soon as we got to Bob’s Peak, we took our time enjoying the views over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu. The clear sky made for an incredible view over the whole city and the mountains surrounding it. After all the effort of the climb, reaching the top and taking in that scenery, believe me, felt even better. We stayed up there for about an hour. We had a look around the gift shop and then went to try the Luge, which was one of those New Zealand experiences we really wanted to fit into the trip.

  • Distance: about 2.1 km
  • Time: around 1.5 to 2 hours for the climb and 45 minutes to 1 hour for the way down, depending on your pace and stops
  • Difficulty level: moderate
  • Elevation gain: around 450 m, with steep sections in several spots
A man pointing at the view over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu, with the mountains in the backgroundThe author smiling with her hands on her hips, with Lake Wakatipu and the Queenstown mountains in the backgroundA smiling couple next to a tree stump, with Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown blurred in the backgroundThe author seen from behind looking at Lake Wakatipu, wearing a small backpack
Aerial view over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu from the Tiki Trail, with the mountains in the backgroundAerial view over the green peninsula on Lake Wakatipu, with Queenstown in the foregroundA group walking along the Tiki Trail next to a cordyline plant, with the Skyline Gondola cabins visible in the backgroundA smiling man on the Tiki Trail with Bob’s Peak and the Skyline Gondola cabins in the background

After the Luge, it was time to head back down to downtown Queenstown, and we took the same route in reverse, via the Tiki Trail. The way down was much easier - going downhill always helps! By the time we reached the centre, the four of us were a little tired and hungry. After that morning, there was nothing better than refuelling with a burger at the famous Fergburger.

The Skyline Gondola: the alternative to the Tiki Trail

For anyone who doesn’t want to, or can’t, do the Tiki Trail, the other way up to Bob’s Peak is the Skyline Gondola. The entrance is on Brecon Street, right in downtown Queenstown, and the ride covers around 730 metres, with about 450 metres of elevation gain, all done in just a few minutes. On the way up, you get to take in the scenery over Queenstown, with Lake Wakatipu and the mountains accompanying the whole ride. The cabins hold up to 10 people and keep loading continuously, though at busier times there can be a bit of a queue, especially at the ticket office. So if you’re planning to take the gondola, it can be worth booking your tickets online in advance.

Basically, the gondola is a practical and more comfortable way to reach Bob’s Peak. The ticket always includes the return journey, but it isn’t tied to a set time, so you can take your time exploring everything Bob’s Peak has to offer before heading back down to downtown Queenstown.

  • Duration: approximately 5 minutes
  • Cabins: hold up to 10 people
  • Price: around NZD 69 per adult (return)

A bit of history

These days, reaching Bob’s Peak by gondola feels like the most normal thing in the world, but it wasn’t always like that. Before the gondola was built, getting up to Bob’s Peak was done in a much simpler way, using Volkswagen Kombi vans that drove visitors up the mountain. As more and more people became interested in reaching the top, the idea came up to create a faster, more practical way to make the trip.

That’s how Skyline Enterprises came about in 1966, set up with the goal of building a gondola that would make reaching Bob’s Peak faster and easier. Construction of the first gondola began that same year and took about a year to complete. The first official ride took place on 17 November 1967, carrying the very first visitors up to the top. At the time, it was the first aerial cableway in the Southern Hemisphere. It was an instant success, with around 56,000 passengers making the trip up to Bob’s Peak in the very first year alone.

Since then, the system has been renovated and upgraded several times, right up to the cabins in use today. Nowadays, the views from Bob’s Peak are among the most iconic images of Queenstown, making it an almost essential stop for anyone visiting the city.

Aerial view over Lake Wakatipu and the Queenstown mountains, with the Skyline Gondola structure in the foregroundAerial view of downtown Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu, with Skyline Gondola cabins descending the hillsideSupport structure of the Skyline Gondola with a cabin passing by, with Lake Wakatipu and the town in the backgroundTwo Skyline Gondola cabins climbing the hillside, with the mid-station and Lake Wakatipu in the background

In our case, choosing the Tiki Trail turned out to be a well-thought-out decision that made complete sense. If it were today, I’d do exactly the same thing again. The gondola is, without a doubt, a more comfortable option, and the ride is probably lovely, but if you have the time and some willingness to walk, I think the Tiki Trail is well worth it. The climb took some effort, but we had time to do everything at our own pace, stop whenever we felt like it, and enjoy the views along the way. And, of course, we still managed to save the gondola money for other experiences we really wanted to have in New Zealand. 🩷