- 1Moke Lake: DOC's loop track is 6 km and 2 to 3 hours, reached by a steep, windy road that turns to gravel, which DOC says can be 4WD only in winter.
- 2Bobs Cove: the DOC car park is 14 km from Queenstown on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road, and the track to Picnic Point is 1.5 km one way, about 30 minutes.
- 3Sherwood on Frankton Rd says its kitchen draws on its own organic vegetable garden and bee hives; Onsen Hot Pools at Arthurs Point has exclusive use hot tubs.
- 4For winter backcountry above The Remarkables, Destination Queenstown strongly recommends a guide.
01 / Short answer
find five places beyond the town centre
Where are the hidden gems in Queenstown? We will be straight with you: none of the five places below is secret, and we have no visitor figures to say how quiet any of them is. What they share is that they sit outside the town centre, and each needs a little planning, from a gravel road to a booking. Here is what DOC and the businesses themselves say about each one, so you can pick the one that fits your day.
02 / At a glance
Which Queenstown hidden gem suits my day?
| Place | What it is | Plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Moke Lake | A DOC loop track around the lake, 6 km and 2 to 3 hours, with a DOC campsite. | A gravel road that DOC says can be 4WD only in winter. |
| Bobs Cove | A DOC track on Lake Wakatipu to Picnic Point, 1.5 km one way, about 30 minutes. | A short but steep loop at Picnic Point, with no bikes. |
| Sherwood | A hotel and restaurant at 554-558 Frankton Rd. | Check menus, times and bookings with Sherwood. |
| Onsen Hot Pools | A cedar-lined hot pool and exclusive use hot tubs at 160 Arthurs Point Road. | Check availability on Onsen's site. |
| Remarkables backcountry | Guided ski touring from the ridge above The Remarkables ski field. | A guide, which Destination Queenstown strongly recommends. |
03 / Moke Lake
How do I get to Moke Lake, and what can I do there?
All of this comes from DOC's Moke Lake pages and its Queenstown day walks brochure.
- Getting there
DOC's directions are about 10 minutes along the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road towards Glenorchy, then Moke Lake Road, then roughly 7 to 8 km of gravel.
- The road
DOC describes a steep, windy road leading to unsealed gravel, and warns that in winter it can be tricky and 4WD only.
- The loop
Moke Lake Loop Track is 6 km and 2 to 3 hours, starting and finishing at the campsite, through grassland surrounded by mountains.
- Bikes
DOC says mountain biking is no longer allowed either side of the peninsula.
- On the water
DOC lists boating, swimming, fishing and canoeing at the campsite.
- Staying over
DOC says to book the campsite before you go. It accepts the DOC Campsite Pass, and the water is off in winter. Check current fees with DOC.
04 / Bobs Cove
How long is the Bobs Cove walk, and what is there to see?
Bobs Cove, also known as Punatapu, is a cove on Lake Wakatipu on the road to Glenorchy.
- Where
The DOC car park is on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road, 14 km from Queenstown.
- The walk
Bobs Cove Track is 1.5 km one way, about 30 minutes from the car park to Picnic Point. DOC calls it a great option for kids.
- Picnic Point
DOC describes a short but steep loop with views of the cove, the lake and the mountains. Bikes are not allowed on this loop.
- History
DOC says a historic lime kiln remains from the 1800s, from the Wakatipu Lime Company, and gum trees were planted to fuel the kilns.
- The water
DOC's brochure says you can swim and fish off the shore.
05 / Slow evenings
Where can I eat or soak away from the town centre?
Both are described here in the businesses' own words. Check prices and availability with each one.
Dinner
Sherwood
Hot tubs
Onsen Hot Pools
06 / Winter
go guided into the Remarkables backcountry
Want snow away from the ski field runs in winter? Destination Queenstown's ski touring guide says Queenstown Mountain Guides runs a guided backcountry tour from the ridge above The Remarkables ski field, and it strongly recommends hiring a guide. It also names the Coronet Peak back bowls and Mt Larkins as touring areas. Destination Queenstown frames ski touring as needing a guide and good fitness, so book a guided day and check the conditions with the guide before you go.