Paradise Day Walks
Three short walks. A full day outdoors. Private or small group, ideal for birders and nature lovers.
Guided Walks from Queenstown to Glenorchy and Paradise
This is a full day out on foot, without a single long walk in it. Three short walks, none longer than about 90 minutes, all on graded paths, taking in a lakeside cove, a mountain viewpoint and the Paradise Valley. If you want to be outdoors and moving without committing to a hike, this is the tour built for that. Take it privately, or join a small group departure capped at eight.
Your guide lives here. They know where the path narrows, where the view opens up, and when to just stop and let you take a photo rather than talk over it. Picnic lunch, bottled water and walking poles are all included, and the pace is set by the group, not a schedule.
- Three short walks, up to about 90 minutes each
- Graded paths throughout, around 20m of elevation across the whole day
- Bob’s Cove lakeside and native bush walk, rich in birdlife
- Bennetts Bluff viewpoint over Mt Aspiring National Park
- Picnic lunch, bottled water and walking poles included
- Private tour or small shared group, everybody welcome
Tour Info
Pick-up
9:00am,
Queenstown CBD accommodation (or 10:15am, Glenorchy)
Walking
Three short walks, up to about 90 minutes each
Suitability
Everybody, can be shortened further
Return
Approx 4:30pm
What's included
Included
Private or shared vehicle and guide for the day
Picnic lunch, bottled water and walking poles
Three guided walks: Bob's Cove, Bennetts Bluff, and the Routeburn Nature Walk or Lake Sylvan
Door-to-door pick-up and drop-off, Queenstown CBD or Glenorchy
Price
Private group, 1 to 3 guests
From $1,850
Each additional adult (private, up to 11)
$450
Each additional child, 3 to 12 (private)
$315
Shared departure, per adult (min 2, max 8)
$450
Children under 3 travel free, 3 to 12 pay the child rate, and 13 and over pay the adult rate.
Closed 25 December. All prices are in New Zealand dollars.
If it’s just the two of you, the shared departure works out cheaper than booking the vehicle privately, and it’s still capped at eight people, not a full coach. Book privately if you’d rather have the day entirely to yourselves.
Want to know more before you book?
Download our tour brochure for the full itinerary, inclusions and important information.
Which Queenstown walk is right for you
Not every day out on foot needs to be a hike. If you’re after a proper day-long walk with real elevation and a destination at the end of it, the Routeburn Valley Walk is that tour, and it’s a good one. If you want to be outdoors for a full day, see a wide spread of the region, and never walk for more than about 90 minutes at a time, this is it. Three separate walks, three different landscapes, and paths graded for a comfortable pace rather than a fit one.
Bob's Cove, an easy lakeside walk near Queenstown
The first stop of the day, about twenty minutes out of town. Bob’s Cove, known to Ngāi Tahu as Te Punatapu, sits on Lake Wakatipu behind a screen of native bush, with clear water, limestone cliffs and a short, level track. In the 1800s the Wakatipu Lime Company quarried and burned limestone here, and one of the original kilns still stands, part of the mortar in some of Queenstown’s oldest buildings. There’s an old jetty out over the water, and if the day’s warm enough, time for a swim.
Bennetts Bluff and the road into Paradise Valley
A short walk up from the road at Bennetts Bluff opens onto one of the easiest big views in the region: the peaks of Mt Aspiring National Park laid out ahead of you, with barely any climb to earn it. From there the road continues to Glenorchy, where we collect a fresh picnic lunch before heading into the Routeburn Valley itself, open braided river country under some of the tallest peaks in the Southern Lakes.
The Routeburn Nature Walk, or Lake Sylvan
The third walk is one of two, depending on conditions and what your group fancies. The Routeburn Nature Walk, under an hour, is a short, well-formed section of one of New Zealand’s best-known Great Walks, through ancient red beech forest draped in moss and lichen, without any of the distance or elevation of walking the full track. Lake Sylvan is the quieter alternative, around 90 minutes return: a genuine glacial lake at 370 metres, ringed by native forest, reached on a flat, easy path.
A day built for photography and birdlife
Between the lake, the forest and the open valley, there’s a genuine variety of scenery in one day, and the pace leaves room to use it. Bob’s Cove in particular is good for birdlife, so have a camera out rather than packed away between stops.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from the Routeburn Valley Walk?
This tour is three separate short walks, the longest around 90 minutes, on easy graded paths, built for scenic variety rather than distance. The Routeburn Valley Walk is one continuous day hike, around 15km with a longer hike, for guests who want a proper walking day. If you’re not sure which one you booked, tell us and we’ll help you pick the right day.
Is this suitable for older guests, or people who don't want to hike?
Yes, that’s who this tour is built for. Everybody’s welcome, the paths are graded and the longest single walk is around 90 minutes, with plenty of stops along the way. It isn’t suitable for guests with limited walking ability or bad backs, since there’s still some walking across the day, but it can be shortened further if needed. Tell us what your group needs and we’ll pace the day around it.
Is there a shared departure, or do we have to book privately?
Both are available. Shared departures run with a minimum of two guests and a maximum of eight. Private tours are for your group only.
How much walking is there in total?
Expect to walk 3.5 hours at the most across the whole day, spread over three walks on graded paths, with about 20 metres of elevation across all three combined. It’s all very easy going. It’s a full day out, but not a strenuous one.
Can we swim at Bob's Cove?
Yes, if the weather’s on your side. The water’s cold, but it’s a popular option on a warm day.
Is lunch included?
Yes. Picnic lunch, bottled water and walking poles are all included.
Can we be picked up from Glenorchy instead of Queenstown?
Yes, there’s a 10:15am pick-up option from Glenorchy accommodation as well as the 9:00am Queenstown CBD start. Tell us when you book.
How many people can come?
The private rate covers your group of up to three, then each additional adult or child is charged individually. No set limit; the standard vehicle holds up to 11. Shared departures run from a minimum of two guests up to a maximum of eight.
What should we bring?
Sturdy, closed-toe footwear, warm layers and a waterproof or windproof jacket, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent, and a small day pack. Walking poles are provided if you’d like them.
Does the tour run in poor weather?
We keep an eye on conditions and will always contact you ahead of your tour if anything needs to change, rather than leaving you to find out on the day.
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