It's no surprise to anyone that Queenstown is a very busy town, one that never seems to sleep. Yes things have changed a lot since Covid crippled the world however with the introduction of the trans Tasman bubble recently, the numbers of tourists are soon to rapidly climb once again. That's why if you need a change of pace from busy to tranquil you need to know about this hidden gem of a walk.
WHERE IS THE TRACK LOCATED AND HOW TO GET THERE?
A short scenic 16 minute drive out of Queenstown along the Te Araroa Bypass on a heading for Glenorchy. It's one straight road with Lake Wakatipu on your left the whole way. Like most things these days Google maps actually takes you straight to the car park entrance when typing in 'Bobs Cove Track'. Be mindful the road twists and winds quite a bit so keep an eye out for the car park on your left as its easy to pass if you're driving a we it too fast.
TRACK INFO
Distance: Approximately 4km, there and back. (Loop Track)
Time needed: Approximately 30 mins - 1 hour, depending how slow you walk and how many photos you take.
Difficulty: Generally Easy but be aware of the final decent up to Picnic Point (View point) as it climbs rapidly for a short duration.
Best time of year to Visit: This track is suitable for any time of the year HOWEVER! with the beaches and the popular Jetty for jumping off, stick to summer.
THE TRACK ITSELF
As stated in the prologue this track is one you must do. Being only a 16 minutes out of Queenstown it can be done at any time of the day. You leave the madness of Queenstown behind you and instantly feel a sense of relaxation and peace when you arrive at the walk. The walk follows the outskirts of the cove through the native bush.
Only minutes into the walk you see the cove, the sound of water lapping the shore, the birds singing and foliage cracking under your feet as you traverse the easy well maintained track is blissful.
The track under foot is light gravel pretty much the whole way which makes for pleasant walking and in turn means your footwear choice can be somewhat relaxed. However the final climb is a tad tricky so I wouldn't recommend doing this in Jandals.
The whole route is picturesque from start to finish as your eyes and sense don't know what to lock onto. There are however a couple points of interest to check out.
- The Jetty
- The Lime Kiln
THE LONE LIME KILN
The historic lime kiln along the route is the only still standing from the 1800s, there were originally 7. This was from a time when the Wakatipu Lime Company quarried and processed Bobs Coves surrounding limestone. The very same Limestone that was quarried from Bobs Cove was actually used to build the Queenstown Courthouse and the Kawarau Bridge. The abundance of Gum trees still present in the bush line were actually planted to fuel the kilns.
THE JETTY
Photos of Bobs cove on a good day almost looks like it a snap shot of some hidden cove in the Caribbean. Its breathtaking crystal clear turquoise water is a sight to behold. The glacial fed cove accounts for its incredible clarity, but also bone chilling temperatures. On a 25+ degree day, it's a must to take the plunge.
THE FINAL CLIMB AND THE VIEWS THAT MAKE IT SO WORTH WHILE
After taking in the views from ground level its time to start the climb up to Picnic Point. Its a reasonably short but steep incline, but when you get to the top...WOW!!!
Facing back on where you just came from Bobs Cove to the left, Lake Wakatipu to the right, absolutely incredible. The colors of the native bush against the mesmerizing blues from the water makes for quite the photo opportunity.
I can't recommend this walk highly enough, and being so simple to find and so easy to tick off your list make sure you get it done if you find yourself visiting Queenstown and needing something to do for an hour or so.
BOBS COVE TRACK ✔
Thank You for reading
Aaron