Bob’s Cove Track near Queenstown

The Bob's Cove Track near Queenstown is a pleasant nature walk through a forest and around a cove up to an excellent lookout where you can see much of Lake Wakatipu all the way to the Remarkables. Learn how to get to this walk and what to expect.

Bobs Cove Scenic Reserve is a lovely piece of land with native trees and remnants of history around a protected cove of Lake Wakatipu.

From Bob’s Cove you can walk all the way to the 12 Mile Delta along a trail that skirts Lake Wakatipu.

There are several walks you can do at Bob’s Cove some of which include: The Bob’s Cove Track, the Bob’s Cove Historic Bridle Trail, and the 12 Mile Delta – Bob’s Cove Track

This article focuses on the Bobs Cove Track, which includes part of the Nature Trail around Bob’s Cove.

This track is also known as the Lime Kiln and Lookout walking track. You’ll see why in a sec…

How to get to Bobs Cove Scenic Reserve Queenstown

From Queenstown, drive in the direction of Glenorchy on the Glenorchy Queenstown road.

After approximately 13 km, slow down and start looking for a green/yellow Department of Conservation sign on the left side of the road with "Bobs Cove Recreation Reserve" displayed on it.

Once you’ve spotted the DOC sign, turn left into the car park. There isn’t much space to park, but there are small pullouts on the left hand side where you can park your car and not obstruct other visitors to Bob’s Cove.

Walking the Bob’s Cove Track Queenstown NZ

The starting point for the Bob’s Cove Track is located at a small car park approximately 14 km (8.7 mi) from Queenstown off the Glenorchy Queenstown road on the South Island of New Zealand.

The car park is marked by a Department of Conservation sign, while the start of the walk is marked by a wooden fence and gate.

At the start of the walk, you immediately enter a forest or red and mountain beech trees. Further down the track you’ll go through dense stands of manuka.

After passing an information panel, you’ll immediately come up to a junction where you can go either straight ahead or to the left. Take the left trail at the junction.

The trail descends moderately steeply towards the waters of Lake Wakatipu, and after about 2-3 minutes you’ll come up to another junction where you can go either to the right or left. Take the left trail again at this junction.

Make sure you look down as you walk on the path, not to miss the many information panels describing the types of trees in the forest.

You might hear several birds singing; especially the bellbird, tui, and wood pigeon. The walk continues through the forest and after a few minutes you’ll come up to a small boardwalk to cross a stream.

After this you’ll enter a clearing where you’ll be able to access the shore of Bob’s Cove. In autumn, the shore of Bob’s Cove is lined with yellow trees.

Continue walking along the trail. You’ll soon come up to a lime kiln with two information panels explaining the history of the region.

After you pass the lime kiln, you’ll see a small clearing on your right where you can access an old jetty. Walk onto the jetty to see Bob’s Cove and take in the scenery of the mountains surrounding Lake Wakatipu.

Then continue along the trail until you come up to a junction. At this junction you can go either left or right. Going right will take you around a peninsula to Picnic Point and going left will take you to the 12 Mile Delta.

I suggest you go left at this junction, because a second junction will soon come up where you can go right up to a scenic lookout point.

In autumn, you might notice a few colorful mushrooms here and there along the path as you walk.

The trail becomes rocky at this point and it will climb steeply to the lookout. But the climb will not last long. On your way up – if you look down and back – you’ll be able to enjoy the blue waters of Bob’s Cove.

Once you reach the lookout, you’ll be able to enjoy gorgeous views of Bob’s Cove, Lake Wakatipu, and the surrounding mountains. There is a small bench where you can sit if you’re tired.

It takes approximately 40 minutes from the start of the walk to reach the lookout.

Once you’re done enjoying the views and have rested enough, continue along the trail. It will take you down to Picnic Point and around the peninsula back to the junction I mentioned earlier.

Once you reach the junction, take the trail that goes to the left and retrace your steps back to the car park.

The Bob’s Cove Track is a very pleasant walk for those who enjoy walking in the forest listening to birds, smelling the trees, learning a bit of history, and being rewarded with good views after a short walk uphill.

I suggest you do this walk on a sunny day – or at least a day with good weather – to be able to enjoy the views.

Basic info for the walk around Bob’s Cove and back

Trail length:	3 km (1.9 mi) return including the Picnic Point loop
Walking time:	1 – 1.5 hours return
Difficulty:	Easy until you reach the Picnic Point loop, then hard to medium going up and around the peninsula
Trail type:	A mixture of dirt, gravel, rocks, and roots
Trail condition:	Very good to average
Fitness level:	Moderate
Best time to walk:	Morning or afternoon depending on the views you want to see; afternoon for views of The Remarkables
What you’ll see:	Lake Wakatipu, The Remarkables, blue waters of Bobs Cove, an old jetty, a historic lime kiln

The following map shows the location of the start and end of the walk (the flag symbol). The trail you’ll have to follow approximately around Bob’s Cove and the peninsula out to Picnic Point is indicated with a red line.

Use the plus and minus buttons to zoom in and out of the map and to see more or less detail on the map.

Figure 1. Map of Bob’s Cove near Queenstown New Zealand.

Video of Bob’s Cove Track near Queenstown

The following 2-minute video gives you an impression of what to expect on this peaceful and scenic walk around Bob’s Cove near Queenstown on the South Island of New Zealand.

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Filed under Day Walks

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