Bob’s Cove, Queenstown

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Last Updated on March 14, 2023 by Jon Algie

There are lots of hikes in the Queenstown area, most of which feature mountain views as their biggest hook. Bob’s cove is different. This lush green landscape features several stunning lake beaches, paths lined with native forest and a couple of atmospheric ruins. There are also some incredible mountain views — this is Queenstown after all!

Bob’s Cove

It’s a short 5-10 minute walk from the car park (on the Queenstown – Glenorchy road) to the beach at Bob’s Cove. This is our favourite beach in the area — such a nice place to relax on a nice day. You could call it a day there, but it’s worth pushing on to the viewpoint on the hill above the beach. It takes about 30 minutes to walk there from the car park and you’ll pass a couple of historic ruins, including a lime kiln, dating back to the late 1800s.

An old lime kiln at Bob's Cove, Queenstown, New Zealand

The Viewpoint

This viewpoint overlooking Bob’s Cove, and the mountains on the opposite side of Lake Wakatipu, is one of the best you’ll see in these parts — if you’re going to stop at one place along the road to Glenorchy then this should be it. It’s a bit of an effort to get up there on a hot day, you can’t argue with the views though.

 

Walking From Bob’s Cove to 12 Mile Delta

If you’re up for a longer hike you can continue along the forest track to the 12 Mile Delta car park. The return journey takes a couple of hours and is mostly flat. You’ll see a gorge (with a small waterfall), mountain views and maybe some colourful birds. 

Hiking from Bob's Cove to 12 Mile Delta, Queenstown, New ZealandA colouful bird on the Bob's Cove Track, Queenstown, New Zealand

Getting to Bob’s Cove

Bob’s Cove is located 14 km outside of Queenstown, on the road to Glenorchy. This road is one of the most spectacular in New Zealand and is one of the best things to do in the region. There are lots of places to stop along the way, with Bob’s Cove being one of the best.

READ MORE: 6 of the Best Scenic Drives in Queenstown

 

Other Walks Near Queenstown

There is an abundance of walks close to Queenstown, and we’ve done a lot of them. Queenstown Hill and Ben Lomond are two of the best, but you’ll never run out of new walks to discover. Check out our post about the best walks in Queenstown! 

The Queenstown Hill Track, New Zealand

Did you enjoy our post about Bob’s Cove? Check out our Queenstown Itinerary where you’ll get lots of tips to help plan your trip.

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Jon Algie

I'm a South Island local -- born in Timaru and raised in Dunedin. I left the island in 2006 and returned 10 years later. Having seen a good chunk of the world I realised how special this place is -- the most beautiful island in the world! Seven years (and almost 400 posts) later I'm still helping locals and tourists alike plan their trips around the South Island.
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