The Queenstown Trail

The Queenstown Trail
Start of the Queenstown end of the track
Length	110 km (68 mi)
Location	Queenstown, New Zealand
Trailheads	Queenstown / Arrowtown / Gibbston / Jack's Point
Use	Walking Running Cycling
Elevation
Highest point	425m near Arrowtown
Lowest point	300m at Frankton Arm beach
Hiking details
Trail difficulty	Easy / Intermediate / Advanced (depending on track)
Season	Year round
Hazards	Cliffs / Vehicles

The Queenstown Trail or Queenstown Trail is a cycle and walking trail funded as one of the projects of the New Zealand Cycle Trail (NZCT) system in Otago, New Zealand. It links the towns of Queenstown, Arrowtown and the area of Gibbston. It is at least 110 km in length but is not linear and instead follows the terrain often near rivers and lakes to link key places in a series of tracks that also access public land. In some places it also passes through private land such as working farms and users are encouraged to stay on the trail. The trail is a joint venture between the Government, Queenstown Lakes District Council and the Queenstown Trails Trust.

Popular routes are listed below and can be started and finished in either direction:

A route that passes along the Kawarau River around many vineyards in the Gibbston Valley. Carparks are available at each end of the track. There are also several loops in the track allowing for a varied or shorter route. This track was managed by Department of Conservation track until its upgrade in 2014 making it bike friendly and becoming officially part of the Queenstown Trail.

Originally the name for the network of trails in the region was the Wakatipu Trails before being renamed The Queenstown Trail. Signage on the trail simply calls it Queenstown Trail. The Wakatipu Trails Trust was set up in 2002 after a meeting between Duncan Field of QLDC and Chris Eden the DOC Wakatipu Area Manager at the time to assess the interest in created a network of recreational trails. In 2004 the Wakatipu Trails strategy was developed which helped to guide the development of the trails. The main routes of the Queenstown Trail now link up with many smaller tracks not part of the official trail many of which existed before its 2012 opening.