Bobs Cove Track & Nature Walk

Stroll through beech trees and manuka ringing with birdsong to this beautiful, secluded cove on Lake Wakatipu.

Distance: 3 km including loop to the lookout and Picnic Point

Duration: 1.5 hours return

Difficulty: Easy until the Picnic Point Peninsula

Best time of year to go: Good all year

Location: 14 km from Queenstown

Start / finish point: Bobs Cove Recreation Reserve car park on Glenorchy-Queenstown Road

Insider’s tip: Take your swimsuit for a sneaky dip in the lake. It’s warm as … honest.

The Bobs Cove Track experience

The track from the carpark leads down through beech forest and manuka groves to the lakeshore. Listen out for bellbird, tui and kereru (wood pigeon) and check out the information panels installed by DOC along the way, for informative nuggets about the native bush.

On the trail along the lake, you’ll pass a historic lime kiln from the 1800s, when the Wakatipu Lime Company quarried limestone from the area. There were once seven kilns, but only one survives. The eucalyptus trees nearby were planted to fuel the kilns. Limestone quarried from Bobs Cove was used to build the Queenstown Courthouse and the Kawarau Bridge.

After the lime kiln, return to the track and continue walking until you come to a crossroads. Take the left hand junction to Twelve Mile Delta. Shortly after this turn off, you’ll reach another junction with a rocky track to a spectacular look out. A short steep climb rewards you with panoramic views over the lake and mountains. You can then follow the trail down to Picnic Point and back to the car park.