Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Beginner - Intermediate

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Jacks Point to Queenstown Trail

Queenstown, Otago

Submitted by Ryan Cooke

Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Beginner - Intermediate

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I've done it Done

Open

Grunt Factor: 25 ?

Gnarl Factor: 20 ?

25.0km

500m

500m

467m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Urban fringe

Point to Point (one way)

Undulating, small hills only

Lakeside

Run Makeup

5%
85%
10%

Sealed Road

Easy Single Track

Technical Single Track

Average Uphill Gradient: +4.7%

Average Downhill Gradient: -4.5%

Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

3:30

Slow

2:30

Moderate

1:45

Fast

Starting from the Jacks Point carpark, head directly up the large hill directly in front of you. This is the biggest hill of the run and the highest point, so take a minute to catch your breath at the top and enjoy the views of Lake Wakatipu.

Drop down the other side through a few switch backs, then undulate through a few short sharp hills through this section. Continue on the well graded path along the lake front.

At approximiately 7.3 km you will arrive at Jardine Park. Take care here to take the trail on the left through the tall trees. If you get to pedestrian gate and road, you've missed the turn here.

(From this point the trail stays reasonably close proximity to the road, so is easy to complete shorter distances if you have someone meeting you with transport)

Continue all the way around the golf course on slightly technical trail. Then follow along the easy single track all the way up the Frankton Arm of Lake Wakatipu.
At 16km you will pass by the front of the Hilton Hotel. (There is actually a water taxi that leaves here across to Queenstown if you want to shorten the distance!)

Shortly after this point you will come to the road bridge over the Kawerau River. From here the route is the same as the Queenstown marathon, so cross the bridge and then continue along the track along the lakeside. The track now gets wider on this side of the Lake and will continue all the way along the lakeside, around Queenstown Gardens, then into the centre of Queenstown township.

Lakeside along Lake Wakatipu the entire way. Beautiful views all the way

If you know of any public toilets near the trail start or on the route, please login and then let us know so we can update this section.

Small carpark at start of trail.

17 km

21 minutes

Unknown

No

Easy.

Jardine Park at approximately 7.3km. Take care to head through the tall trees staying close to the lake front. The trail is indistinct through the trees for a short while, but is easily picked up on the other side of the trees

Generally good.

Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map

Take your own.

The trail along the Lakeside from Jacks Point can get windy, and on a cold day can be exposed. Take warm clothes

Halo Cafe - Queenstown
1 Earl Street, Queenstown (next to the Church)
http://www.haloforbiddenbite.co.nz/
Love their BLT!

Ferg Burger
42 Shotover Street, Queenstown
http://www.fergburger.com/
Best burgers in Queenstown, always popular!

Trail Legend

Brad Geen

Brad Geen

has completed Jacks Point to Queenstown Trail once in the last year.

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Trail Reviews

A relatively flat run for Queenstown but still has enough to rolling hills to keep it interesting. Lake views the whole way make this an absolute stunner of a run

Brad Geen

February 11, 2024

I live in Jacks Point and have completed this full run in both directions and run portions of the track regularly. It is definitely a "net decline" of elevation from the JP to QT direction. If running from QT to JP you will definitely be kept honest by the climbs after Jardine park heading to Jacks Point. Finishing at Jacks Point you can grab a snack at the clubhouse cafe and finishing in QT gives you plenty of options.(Yonder cafe is my personal fave!)

Chris Seymour

October 28, 2021

This is a beautiful trail and great to run in either direction however there is quite a difference in how you will feel at the end depending on conditions and which end you start! Jack's to Queenstown will feel easier than Queenstown to Jack's due to the relative steepness of the 6/7 Kms at the Jack's point end. Been lucky enough to call this my local run over the past 6 months and the last hill up from the lake to Jack's point is a pretty full on climb over a relatively short distance. So if you fancy a tougher hit out run from QT and then you will hit the hill with about 3 k to go. If you chose to start at Jack's there is a nice initial climb but apart from some ups and down on the next 5/6 kms its pretty much flat from that point so a kinder tst if you're pushing up your distances. Awesome trail.

Paul Carman

May 18, 2020

Just a wonderful, flat out stunning run following the lake around.... just one of those runs you just get lost enjoying everything along the way, even when the weather may be inclement.

Fee Holdsworth

July 2, 2018

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