The Queenstown Trail, New Zealand cycling and tramping trail

The Queenstown Trail is an extensive long-distance path in New Zealand that connects Queenstown and Arrowtown with the surrounding countryside, spanning over 130 kilometers. The route follows former trade and travel roads and runs alongside lakes and rivers, passing old bridges and historic buildings with mountains in the background.

The network was first called the Wakatipu Trails; the Wakatipu Trails Trust was formed in 2002 after a meeting between Duncan Field of the Queenstown Lakes District Council and Chris Eden, the DOC Wakatipu area manager, and a trails strategy followed in 2004. The Queenstown Trail opened on 18 October 2012, opened by Prime Minister John Key and cyclist Sarah Ulmer near Arrowtown after three years of work by more than 100 contractors at a cost of NZ$5.4 million.

The network was first called the Wakatipu Trails before being renamed the Queenstown Trail; signage now reads simply Queenstown Trail. The Wakatipu Trails Trust was set up in 2002 after a meeting between Duncan Field of QLDC and Chris Eden, DOC Wakatipu Area Manager, and the 2004 Wakatipu Trails strategy guided development. The trail opened on 18 October 2012, led by Prime Minister John Key and cyclist Sarah Ulmer near Arrowtown.

The trail is at least 130 km long and can be ridden or walked in either direction, so plan day sections such as the Frankton Track around the Frankton Arm or the Lake Hayes Trail loop. Parts cross private farmland and roads, so stay on the marked line. Through 2026 a detour follows the sealed footpath beside Frankton Road between Park Street and Frankton Marina.

The Shotover Gorge Trail opened in 2025 and runs 5.5 km one way from Arthurs Point to Tucker Beach, with access from the Littles Road carpark. It follows the Shotover River past switchbacks near the Hugo Tunnel and the long Kimi-ākau bridge, both highlights of the route.