GUNUNG · Selandia Baru

Ben Lomond (Queenstown)

Te-taumata-o-Hakitekura

Information

Elevation: 1.748 m
Country: Selandia Baru (NZ)
Location / Range: Above Queenstown, Otago — connected to Bowen Peak (1,631 m) and Bob's Peak; overlooking Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables range
Mountain type: Schist rock peak in the Southern Alps (Otago section) rising directly above Queenstown
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: -45.0072, 168.6160
Difficulty: Challenging day hike: about 11 km one way with a large elevation gain from central Queenstown; the final section from Ben Lomond Saddle to the summit is steep and exposed. Non-technical in summer, but long and tiring
Best Season: November–April (summer–early autumn) when the trail is snow-free; in winter the upper section is snow/ice-covered and becomes an alpine climb
Permits & Rules: No permit needed; public DOC trail. Many hikers shorten the climb by taking the Skyline Gondola to skip the lower Tiki Trail
Hazards: Fast-changing alpine weather, wind & cold exposure on the upper ridge and summit, winter snow/ice, and fatigue from the large elevation gain if walking the full route from town

Description

Ben Lomond (Te-taumata-o-Hakitekura, 1,748 m) is a prominent peak rising directly above Queenstown in Otago, New Zealand, and one of the country's most popular day hikes. Part of the Southern Alps, it was named after Ben Lomond in Scotland by early shepherd Duncan McAusland; its Māori name is Te-taumata-o-Hakitekura. The track starts at the Skyline Gondola base in Queenstown along the Tiki Trail through Douglas fir and beech forest, leaving the tree line around 800 m for alpine tussock and the Ben Lomond Saddle (1,326 m). The hardest part is the steep final push to the summit. From the top, hikers get a 360-degree panorama of the Wakatipu Basin — Lake Wakatipu, The Remarkables, Cecil Peak and Walter Peak. Done in full from Queenstown the climb involves roughly 1,438 m of ascent; many riders take the gondola to save about an hour of walking. The first recorded ascent was in 1860 by W. G. Rees and N. von Tunzelmann.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Ben Lomond Summit Track (via Tiki Trail dari Queenstown)

Berat — jalur alpine bertanda; hutan lalu tussock terbuka, bagian puncak curam & berbatu

11.00 km +1438 m ±6–8 jam pulang-pergi

The full route from central Queenstown. It starts at the Skyline Gondola base on Brecon Street via the Tiki Trail through Douglas fir and beech forest, leaves the tree line around 800 m for alpine tussock, and climbs to the Ben Lomond Saddle (1,326 m). From the saddle a steep, rocky final push reaches the 1,748 m summit and its 360-degree panorama of the Wakatipu Basin. The roughly 1,438 m of ascent make it one of New Zealand's most demanding yet popular day hikes. Winter requires alpine equipment (ice axe, crampons); open fires are banned year-round (Queenstown Red Zone).

Source

Via Skyline Gondola ke Saddle & Puncak (opsi lebih singkat)

Menengah–Berat — memangkas tanjakan hutan; medan alpine ke saddle & puncak tetap curam

8.00 km +960 m ±4–6 jam pulang-pergi dari Bob's Peak

A popular option that saves about an hour (2.1 km) of walking: ride the Skyline Gondola to Bob's Peak (about 480 m above Queenstown), then walk the above-tree-line route to the Ben Lomond Saddle and summit. Hikers building fitness can stop at the saddle for the views before attempting the summit. The summit section is still steep and rocky; fast-changing alpine weather must still be accounted for.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Accounts of climbing Ben Lomond almost always stress that it is a long, demanding but hugely rewarding day hike — 'one of the best in New Zealand' for many. Hikers describe starting up the Tiki Trail from the Skyline Gondola base through forest, then emerging onto alpine tussock toward the Ben Lomond Saddle, and a steep, rocky final push to the 1,748 m summit. Recurring themes: the big elevation gain (about 1,438 m from Queenstown), so many take the gondola to cut roughly an hour; the alpine weather and ridge wind can be harsh; and the reward is a 360-degree panorama of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables. Typical times are 6–8 hours round trip when done in full from town. The Mountain Safety Council video stresses alpine preparation, especially outside summer when the route can hold snow.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.