Last Updated: 28th Feb 2025
Ben Lomond via Tiki Trail
Submitted by Rachel Bridgewater
Last Updated: 28th Feb 2025
Grunt Factor: 36 ?
Gnarl Factor: 47 ?
16.0km
1500m
1500m
1748m
Last Updated: 28th Feb 2025
Submitted by Rachel Bridgewater
Last Updated: 28th Feb 2025
Grunt Factor: 36 ?
Gnarl Factor: 47 ?
16.0km
1500m
1500m
1748m
Front country - easily accessible
Out and Back
Mountainous
Native bush
Open tussock/grasslands
Open ridges/tops
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +19.9%
Average Downhill Gradient: -19.9%
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5:00
Slow
3:30
Moderate
2:30
Fast
The Tiki trail starts at the bottom of the gondola to the left. Head up beside the cemetery to the marked Tiki Trail. Be careful crossing the mountain bike trail as you head straight up the Tiki trail. This zig zags all the way to the top up a steep rooty rocky trail to the Gondola. As the trail ends, turn hard right to head to the top of the Gondola. At the Gondola cafe, turn hard left up a track towards the luge. This will siddle along the luge track. Stop just before reaching the visible footbridge turning left at the signposted "Ben Lomond track" and leaving the luge track.
You will see a huge orange triangle DoC marker directing you onto the Ben Lomond track through the forrest. Carry on up until you reach the saddle, following left to the signposted Ben Lomond summit. Watch out for the view of Moke Lake as you round the summit to your right. Enjoy the views before heading back down the way you came for.
This trail includes the peak Ben Lomond .
Awe-inspiring summit views!
If you know of any public toilets near the trail start or on the route, please login and then let us know so we can update this section.
There are 240 minute car parks beside the gondola building. If you are of reasonable fitness and can find a park here, you should get up and down in enough time.
1 km
2 minutes
No
No
Easy.
When you are descending past the Gondola, it is easy to miss the Tiki trail you came up from. Its the first left. The second left will take you onto a mountain bike track and you have gone the wrong way.
Generally good.
Waterproof leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival blanket, Cellphone, Map, Crampons / microspikes (for winter conditions)
Water access is at the Gondola Cafe. Other than that, there is very little.
Can get muddy after rain or in the spring with snow melt. Take care and consider not doing this route following heavy snowfall. Even in spring, be prepared with good gear as winds and weather can be unpredictable in the mountains.
Take care on the Tiki Trail - it's very tricky footing
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Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Curently a bit of a detour by the gondolas due to building work going on
April 28, 2023
Tough climb up via the Tiki Trail - we hiked rather than ran.
Suggest starting early as by 9am there were heaps of people on the track and then once a the top can get quite hectic as everyone is trying to get that “perfect image”.
Great trail though, and views are amazing!
April 21, 2023
JE
Done this a handful of times. Beautiful every time and in every season. The first glimpse of the peak coming with the morning light, primo.
June 1, 2022
Awesome trail. Did this solo, starting in the dark. Got myself a bit off track on the Tiki Trail but met up with the track eventually (saved the gpx so felt confident I would). After the Gondola the track is easy to follow. Mostly hiking up with a lot of fun running down!!
April 17, 2022
These overlap with this trail to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate activity for each.
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