Queenstown Gardens: Travel Guide (4.8★)

A peninsula pushed into the lake

Queenstown Gardens sits on a thumb of land between two bodies of water. On one side is Queenstown Bay, where the TSS Earnslaw steamer comes and goes. On the other is the Frankton Arm of Lake Wakatipu, and beyond it, the jagged wall of the Remarkables.

The gardens were set aside in the 1860s, not long after the gold rush founded the town. That age shows in the trees. Tall conifers and broad English oaks planted by the early settlers now tower over the lawns, which makes the place feel much older than the ski-town streets a block away.

The shoreline loop and what you see from it

Start with the path that circles the water’s edge. It is mostly flat and gravelled, and it hugs the shore so closely that the lake is almost always beside you. A slow lap takes around 30 to 45 minutes, longer if you stop at every bench.

Along the way, watch for:

• The Remarkables across the Frankton Arm, snow-capped for much of the year
• Cecil Peak and Walter Peak rising behind the far shore
• The town waterfront looking back toward Queenstown Bay and the gondola on Bob’s Peak
• Small pebble beaches where the path drops to the water

The water itself is the famous Wakatipu blue, clear enough to see the stones near the shore. It is also very cold all year, so paddling is a short affair.

Inside the gardens

Move inland and the mood changes. The centre of the peninsula holds formal rose beds, open lawns and a pond with ducks. The pond is the easiest spot for a picnic if you have small children in tow.

Near the pond stands a memorial to Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his party, who died returning from the South Pole in 1912. It is a quiet stone to stumble on between the flowerbeds. Find a few minutes for it.

There is plenty for active visitors too. The peninsula has:

• A disc golf course threaded through the trees, one of the best-known in New Zealand
• The Queenstown Ice Arena, an indoor rink with its own hours and pricing
• Skate ramps near the rink
• Tennis courts and a bowling green run by local clubs

Sharing the paths with frisbees and skaters

This park belongs to the town as much as to visitors, so it pays to read the space. The disc golf course runs right through the walking areas. Look up before you cross an open fairway, and give players a moment to throw before you walk past a basket.

A few habits that help:

• Bring your own discs if you plan to play; the course itself has no gate and no ticket.
• Check the Ice Arena’s hours and rates on its official site before you walk over. The rink keeps its own schedule, separate from the open paths.
• Keep to the gravel around the rose beds, which the council’s gardeners tend closely.
• Take your rubbish out. Bins are limited out on the point, and the ducks should not be eating your sandwich crusts.

The gardens are well known, and the lakeside path fills with people on fine afternoons. Going early in the morning, before the town’s tours and cafés get going, usually means a quieter loop and flat water for reflections.

Choosing your hour and season

The gardens are currently listed as open 24 hours, and there is no gate to the paths. Any time of day works, but the light changes the place a lot.

• Early morning: calm water and mountain reflections, plus joggers and dog walkers.
• Late afternoon in summer: long, warm light on the Remarkables. Southern summer evenings stay light until well after 9pm.
• Autumn (March to May): the oaks and other deciduous trees turn gold and red.
• Winter: frosty lawns and snow on every peak, and the ice rink becomes the warm place to be.

Paths away from the town end are not brightly lit. After dark, bring a phone torch.

Getting there and what’s next door

You can walk in from central Queenstown in under ten minutes. Follow Marine Parade along the beach past the Earnslaw wharf area, and the path leads straight onto the peninsula. You can also enter from Park Street, which runs along the Frankton Arm side.

Parking in central Queenstown is tight, so walking from your accommodation is usually easier than driving. Combine the gardens with:

• Queenstown Beach and Marine Parade, right at the entrance
• Steamer Wharf and the TSS Earnslaw for a cruise to Walter Peak
• The Skyline Gondola up Bob’s Peak, a short walk uphill from town
• The Frankton Track, which continues along the lakeshore from Park Street toward Frankton for a longer walk or bike ride

Give the gardens one to two hours if you want the loop, the roses and a sit by the water. Add more if you plan to play a round of disc golf or skate.