Last Updated: 7th Jan 2025
The Queens Drive and Wye Dome.
Submitted by James Harcombe
Last Updated: 7th Jan 2025
Open
Grunt Factor: 39 ?
Gnarl Factor: 91 ?
11.7km
850m
850m
2044m
Last Updated: 7th Jan 2025
Submitted by James Harcombe
Last Updated: 7th Jan 2025
Open
Grunt Factor: 39 ?
Gnarl Factor: 91 ?
11.7km
850m
850m
2044m
Back country - remote
Loop
Mountainous
Open ridges/tops
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Untracked / Route only
Average Uphill Gradient: +17.6%
Average Downhill Gradient: -17.1%
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4:00
Slow
2:30
Moderate
1:45
Fast
Looking up the ski field from the car park, you will need to be heading for the track that leads up, under the right hand lift (Shadow Basin Chair Lift). Follow the obvious track to the top of the chair. From here, you will need to join the single track that leads to the Lookout (this point is marked on the ski field map). At the obvious Col, turn left up the scree slope, aiming for the cairns on the ridge. Once at the top of the short scramble, the path is fairly obvious across the front face of the Remarkables. If there is any snow on, or above the track, DO NOT PROCEED!! This is a very dangerous route in winter conditions, and should NOT be attempted as a run except in clear snowless conditions. Many experienced mountaineers have come to grief on this section during Winter.
At the end of the track, you will enter a large boulder field. Traverse this section under the front face of Single Cone. Unless you are a very sure footed Mountain Goat, this section will be slow! Continue around, until you come to a spur that leads down from the summit - you will see a series of Lakes below you. Follow this spur down to the outlet of the lake. Cross the outlet, then start heading North towards Wye Dome. The running at this point is across cushion moss and light bog - it's a welcome relief after all the boulder hopping. Wye Dome is the hill sandwiched between two cols. Once at the top, head down to Lake Alta (the large Alpine Lake sitting below Double and Single Cone). From the outlet of Lake Alta, there is a marked track that heads back to the car park.
High Alpine flora and fauna a short drive from Queenstown, in a spectacular setting.
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Plenty of parking at the ski field in Summer! No public transport outside of the ski season.
24 km
36 minutes
Unknown
No
Very hard.
The route across the boulder field at the end of 'the Drive' is not marked. Staying high is often the best option - just be aware of possible rockfall from Single Cone.
Very patchy.
Waterproof leggings, Thermal leggings, Lightweight fleece top, 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, Compass, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries, Crampons / microspikes (for winter conditions)
Once across the front face, there are many alpine streams and tarns.
As mentioned, this is most DEFINITELY a Summer/ early Autumn route only. Even then it can be affected by ice and snow. If you can see snow on the front face of the Remarkables from town, then choose another option for the day!
Loose scree and large cliffs make this a route for experienced runners who have a head for heights! Rockfall and avalanches are a real danger for much of the year.
Smiths Brewery
Shotover Street
http://www.smithscraftbeer.co.nz
The best selection of beer in town!
Vudu Cafe and Larder
Beach Street
http://www.vudu.co.nz
Great coffee!
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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We did this 25th April, and had no snow on the route. The Queen's Drive section was awesome! Incredible views. However, the boulder field afterwards was very, very slow travel for us. Lots of the rocks were getting a bit icy, and when they were unstable too it made it quite treacherous. If doing this time of year, would be good to wait til later in the day so more of the rocks have had a chance to see the sun. We combined this run with going up Single Cone which made for a fantastic day out. This meant we didn't go right around the lakes, but instead from the end of the boulder field turned left and traversed to the North-West of the big tarn, around the 1900m contour, across to the Wye Saddle. This was fun terrain to navigate through, no issues. One more note - the Sugar Bowl chairlift has been replaced and moved slightly since this trip was published, and the topo map has not been updated yet either. Do NOT go to the top of the chairlift (although it's only a short descent to the saddle if you do), instead you want to go to the top of the line of snow machines and to the saddle from there. Follow the GPX and you will be fine.
April 27
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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