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Queenstown Hill quad bike tour: where the tracks run

Quad ride on Queenstown Hill, about 2.25 hours riding

★ 4.9 · Rated by 506 guests

starting at $203Check dates

Summary

The Queenstown Hill quad bike tour rides a private 3500-acre sheep station on Queenstown Hill, reached by a 20-minute coach from 37 Shotover Street, Frankton or Tucker Beach, not the public Time Walk.

Know before

  • Climb from 300 m to just under 1000 m4
  • Free parking at 420 Tucker Beach Road20
  • The Time Walk is a council track6

View 12 stops

Queenstown Hill and the peaks around it, pin by pin

Pick a route and tap a pin or a stop: you get its note and a Google Maps link.

Map of Queenstown and Queenstown Hill with the summit, the hill station, the Tucker Beach Road car park, the Frankton Bus Hub, the Shotover Street shop, the Basket of Dreams and Lake Johnson

  1. The summit, just under 1000 metres, where most quad tours stop for a hot drink and the 360° view.

    Google Maps

  2. A working sheep farm of 3500 acres whose private trails the site's quad tour rides.

    Google Maps

  3. Free parking close to the quad base at 420 Tucker Beach Road, if you tell the operator.

    Google Maps

  4. An included pick-up point near Queenstown Airport.

    Google Maps

  5. Info & Track at 37 Shotover Street, the main meeting point; town parking is tight.

    Google Maps

  6. The sculpture on the public Time Walk, passed on the way to Te Tapu-nui.

    Google Maps

  7. The Time Walk starts from a small car park off Belfast Terrace.

    Google Maps

  8. A small lake below the north-eastern slopes of Queenstown Hill, seen on the ride.

    Google Maps

Map © OpenStreetMap contributors

The Queenstown Hill quad bike tour does not use the public walking track above town. It rides a private sheep station on the far side of the hill. Here is where it is, how you get there and what you see from the top.

Editorial team, queenstownquadbike.quest · Updated November 8, 2026 · A 6 min read

Summary view

  • The landA 3500-acre working sheep farm on Queenstown Hill, used by one operator.1,2
  • The tracksMore than 20km of trails, from beginner to advanced.3,1
  • The climbUp from the 300-metre base towards a summit near 1000 metres.4
  • Getting therePick-up at 37 Shotover Street, the Frankton Bus Hub or Tucker Beach.5
  • Not the Time WalkThe public track to Te Tapu-nui is a walking trail, managed by the council.6

A private hill station, not a public park

The Queenstown Hill quad bike tour rides land that you cannot simply walk onto. Its operator rides Queenstown Hill Station, 3500 acres of working sheep country, with tracks for every level from novice to technical.1 The operator says it has exclusive use of the hill, so no other quad company shares those tracks.2

How much track is there? The operator's tour page says more than 20km of exclusive trails.3 Its quads overview page puts the figure at more than 25kms of varied trails.7 Either way, it is far more than one ride can cover, which is why the guide chooses a route on the day to match the group, from easier tracks for first-timers to harder ground for confident riders.8

Because it is a working farm, you share the place with livestock. The operator's risk notice lists stock and wildlife that may behave unpredictably.9 That is part of the charm of a Queenstown Hill quad bike adventure: you are riding farm tracks on a real high-country station, with fences, gates and sheep, rather than a racetrack built for visitors.

Meeting points

Where the quad tours pick you up

PlaceWhere it isGood to know
37 Shotover StreetCentral QueenstownMain pick-up, town parking is tight
Frankton Bus HubNear Queenstown AirportPick-up included
Tucker Beach Road car parkNext to the quad baseFree parking, tell the operator
61A Shotover StreetCentral QueenstownGorge Road tours check in here

Meeting points from the operators' own pages.19,5,20,21

Not the Queenstown Hill Time Walk

Search for Queenstown Hill and you will mostly find the public walking track, which is a different thing. Tourism New Zealand describes the Queenstown Hill Time Walk as a climb of about 500 metres up through pines to the top of Te Tapu-nui, a name it translates as mountain of intense sacredness.13 Quads do not use that track.

The walk starts at a small car park off Belfast Terrace, close to the town centre.14 On the way up you pass the Basket of Dreams sculpture and six information plates about different eras of the lake and the town.15 Destination Queenstown suggests allowing 2 - 3 hours for the return walk.16 It is a fine outing on a free afternoon, and a good way to see the hill from its town side.

The council for the Queenstown Lakes district looks after the track, and some stretches of it run over private land.6 The council's draft restoration plan for the reserve says the walk will stay open during tree harvesting, or walkers will be given another way up to the sculpture and the top.17 Check the council's notices before you go, as tracks can change while the work goes on.

Heights around the ride

How high the land rises around the hill

  • Quad base300
  • Time Walk climb500
  • Walter Peak1800
  • Cecil Peak1980

Base height from the operator, the walking climb from Tourism New Zealand, the peaks from Destination Queenstown.4,13,18

Getting to the quad base

The main meeting point is Info & Track at 37 Shotover Street in central Queenstown, where parking can be hard to find.19 Pick-ups also run from the Frankton Bus Hub, close to the airport, and from Tucker Beach Reserve.5 The listing gives 3 pickup location options in all.

If you have a car, the simplest plan is to drive to the quad base yourself. The operator lets drivers leave their car free of charge at 420 Tucker Beach Road, a short way from the quad base, provided they say so beforehand.20 The car park sits at the Tucker Beach Recreational Reserve and has a What3Words address, asparagus.remixes.restarts.23 Leave nothing valuable in sight; you park at your own risk.

From town, the coach takes about 20 minutes each way to the base.10 Build your day around it, as the whole trip runs to 3.5 hours. The operator's own page lists departures at 8:15am and 1:30pm.24 Those times can change by season, so confirm yours when you book.

Pick your pick-up

Where should you join the quad tour?

Your base for the night decides the easiest start.

  • If I am staying in central Queenstown

    37 Shotover Street

    The main meeting point, at Info & Track in town.19

  • If I am near the airport or Frankton

    Frankton Bus Hub

    One of the included pick-up points.5

  • If I have a hire car

    420 Tucker Beach Road

    Free parking near the quad base, if you tell the operator.20

  • If I only have a short window

    Gorge Road instead

    A 650-acre park just 5 minutes from town.22

Three quad grounds

Where else you can ride a quad

Summit ride

Queenstown Hill

This site's tour

  • LandWorking sheep station
  • Transfer20 minutes
  • Riding2.25 hours
See this tour

Closest to town

Gorge Road

Private adventure park

  • Land650 acres
  • Transfer5 minutes
  • Riding1 hour
See this tour

Wanaka side

Cardrona Valley

Over the Crown Range

  • MachinesYamaha, heated grips
  • Duration1 to 2 hours
  • StartValley base
See this tour

From the base to the summit

The ride begins low on the hill. Most rides start at the base, 300 metres above the sea, and end on top of Queenstown Hill, a shade under 1000 metres.4 That is a big climb for one morning, and you make it on steady farm tracks that wind across the slopes rather than straight up.

At the top the group stops. The operator serves a hot drink there while you take in the 360° view over the lakes and the mountains.12 It also hands out biscuits and suggests bringing your own water, especially in summer.27 The summit is the natural photo stop, and the guide will usually help with a group shot.

Coming down is a different ride. Tracks that felt gentle on the climb look steeper from above, and the views open out over the lake. The trails range from easy to technical, and the guide decides how much of the harder ground the group sees.1,8 Riders who arrived nervous often ask for the rough section by the end.

From town to the top

The route of a Queenstown Hill ride

  1. Pick-up

    Shotover Street or Frankton

    Board at one of the pick-up points.5

  2. Transfer

    Coach to the station

    About 20 minutes to the quad base.10

  3. The base

    Kit and training

    Briefing and practice before the trails.11

  4. The climb

    Farm tracks uphill

    From 300 metres towards the summit.4

  5. The summit

    Hot drink and the view

    A 360° view over lakes and mountains.12

  6. Return

    Down and back to town

    3.5 hours from pick-up to drop-off.

What you see from the top

From the summit the whole Whakatipu basin lies around you. To the south-east rise The Remarkables, on the far shore of the lake, a range that holds a ski field and several small lakes.29 Across the water, Cecil Peak and Walter Peak face the town at 1980m and 1800m.18 North stands Coronet Peak, which opened in 1947 as the South Island's first commercial ski field.25

Below lies Lake Wakatipu, which ranks third in size among the country's lakes, according to Tourism New Zealand.30 You can trace its outflow, the Kawarau River, which starts near Queenstown.31 On a clear day the deep blue of the water is the colour people remember, and Destination Queenstown notes it can shift with glacial water from the rivers at the far end.32

The second panel of the map above marks the peaks you will see. Take a minute to match them before the ride, and the summit view will make more sense. The page on the high country covers how this landscape was formed and who lived here first.

Video

Quad bikes on Queenstown Hill

Nomad Safaris on YouTube · Playback files load only once you tap play.

The track is managed by the Queenstown Lakes District Council and parts of the track traverse private land.
Tourism New Zealand6

Before you set off

Getting to the hill checklist

Plan the start3

  • Choose your pick-up point when you book5
  • Allow 3.5 hours for the whole trip
  • Driving? Note the What3Words address for the car park23

For the summit3

  • Bring a warm layer for the top of the hill4
  • Carry water, above all in summer27
  • Pack a camera or phone for the summit stop28

Other places to ride quads near Queenstown

Queenstown Hill is not the only quad ground. Off Road Adventures rides a private property of 650 acres just 5 minutes from town, off Gorge Road.22 Its tracks climb above the Shotover River canyon with views of Lake Wakatipu.33 The short transfer suits a tight schedule, and its rides are shorter too.

Over the Crown Range, the Cardrona Valley has its own quad tour on the Wanaka side, with Yamaha quads that have heated grips. It runs 1 - 2 hours and starts at the horse trekking and quad base in the valley. It suits travellers based in Wanaka more than those staying in Queenstown.

The difference comes down to land and time. On Queenstown Hill you get a long climb to a summit on a working station.4 On Gorge Road you get a quick start, purpose-built trails and a choice of 1-hour or 2-hour rides.34 Pick the hill for the summit view and the length of the ride, and Gorge Road for speed and flexibility.

Weather on an exposed hill

Queenstown Hill is open to the weather. Its operator says the weather can turn quickly up there, and it calls a ride off only if all the trails are blocked or nobody can see, which in practice means deep snow and happens extremely rarely.35 The listing confirms the tour runs in all weather, all year.

That means you should dress for the summit, not the town. The base sits at 300 metres and the top near 1000 metres, and the operator calls the area exposed to changing weather.4,35 The operator provides weatherproof clothing and gumboots, but a warm layer underneath is your own job.36 The page on what to wear covers it month by month.

The hill itself is changing too. The council says its reserve on Te Tapunui has been taken over by wilding conifers over the past 60+ years, and it adopted a restoration plan on 4 September 2025.37,38 The private station where the quads ride is separate land, but the operator also pulls up wilding pines there on volunteer days.39

FAQ

Quick questions get quick answers.

Where is the Queenstown Hill quad bike tour?
On a private sheep station.

It rides Queenstown Hill Station, a 3500-acre working farm, with exclusive use of the hill.1,2

Do quads ride the Queenstown Hill Time Walk?
No.

The Time Walk is a walking track managed by the council; the quads ride private farm trails.6,1

Where do I meet for the quad tour?
37 Shotover Street, or a pick-up.

Pick-ups also run from the Frankton Bus Hub and Tucker Beach Reserve.5

Can I drive to the quad base?
Yes, with notice.

Leave the car at 420 Tucker Beach Road for free, near the quad base, after telling the operator.20

How high does the quad ride go?
Just under 1000 metres.

The base sits at 300 metres; most rides finish on the summit of Queenstown Hill.4

How long is the drive to the quad base?
About 20 minutes each way.

The coach takes about 20 minutes each way, inside a 3.5-hour trip.10

Is there quad biking closer to town?
Yes, off Gorge Road.

Off Road Adventures rides a 650-acre private property 5 minutes from town.22

Sources

  1. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Adventure Tour ↩
  2. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Adventure Tour ↩
  3. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Adventure Tour ↩
  4. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Adventure Tour ↩
  5. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Adventure Tour ↩
  6. Tourism New Zealand · Queenstown Hill Time Walk ↩
  7. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Tours ↩
  8. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Adventure Tour ↩
  9. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Disclosure of Risks and Weather Cancellation Policy ↩
  10. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Adventure Tour ↩
  11. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Adventure Tour ↩
  12. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Tours ↩
  13. Tourism New Zealand · Queenstown Hill Time Walk ↩
  14. Tourism New Zealand · Queenstown Hill Time Walk ↩
  15. Tourism New Zealand · Queenstown Hill Time Walk ↩
  16. Destination Queenstown · A Week in Queenstown for the Whole Family ↩
  17. Queenstown Lakes District Council · Te Tapunui Queenstown Hill Restoration Management Plan ↩
  18. Destination Queenstown · Landscapes of Queenstown ↩
  19. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Adventure Tour ↩
  20. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Adventure Tour ↩
  21. Off Road Adventures Queenstown (tour operator) · FAQs ↩
  22. Off Road Adventures Queenstown (tour operator) · Quad Bikes ↩
  23. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Adventure Tour ↩
  24. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Adventure Tour ↩
  25. Destination Queenstown · Queenstown's Pioneering Beginnings ↩
  26. Destination Queenstown · Queenstown's Pioneering Beginnings
  27. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Adventure Tour ↩
  28. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Adventure Tour ↩
  29. Destination Queenstown · Landscapes of Queenstown ↩
  30. Tourism New Zealand · Lake Wakatipu ↩
  31. Tourism New Zealand · Lake Wakatipu ↩
  32. Destination Queenstown · Landscapes of Queenstown ↩
  33. Off Road Adventures Queenstown (tour operator) · Quad Bikes ↩
  34. Off Road Adventures Queenstown (tour operator) · Quad Bikes ↩
  35. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Adventure Tour ↩
  36. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Quad Bike Adventure Tour ↩
  37. Queenstown Lakes District Council · Te Tapunui Queenstown Hill Restoration Management Plan ↩
  38. Queenstown Lakes District Council · Te Tapunui Queenstown Hill Restoration Management Plan ↩
  39. Nomad Safaris (tour operator) · Our Environment ↩

Further reading

More to read before you ride

GuideQueenstown quad bike tour pricesGuideQueenstown quad bike tours comparedGuideQuad bike, buggy or 4WDGuideIs quad biking in Queenstown worth it

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