Canterbury Trails · Private Queenstown tours
Mount Crichton Loop
Backcountry beauty and a gold-mining past.
The experience
A rewarding half day in Queenstown’s backcountry, close to town yet deep in the forest.
The Mount Crichton loop is a formed trail through native beech forest to rivers, a waterfall, and views over Lake Dispute and Lake Wakatipu. Woven through it is the region’s gold-mining history, including an old tailrace tunnel and the restored Sam Summers Hut.
The day
The loop, and its stories
Your guide carries the stories of the miners who worked this valley and sets a comfortable pace through some genuinely lovely country. The 6.5 kilometre loop runs through beech forest and beside Twelve Mile Creek, with a waterfall along the way, the old mining tunnel once used as a tailrace, and Sam Summers Hut, the restored home of an early prospector, before the return to Queenstown. The walk takes around two and a half to three hours.
Along the way
The walk in pictures
A forest waterfallin mossy beech
Sam Summers Hutthe restored prospector’s hut
The lookoutover Lake Wakatipu
The mining tunnelan old tailrace
A beech-forest trailsun-dappled
Twelve Mile Creekclear and cold
What to expect
A guided half day in the backcountry
The day is entirely private: a premium vehicle and one dedicated guide, door-to-door from Queenstown, and a guided walk with snacks and bottled water. A moderate walk on a well-formed trail with some gentle climbs, so a reasonable level of fitness and sturdy shoes are recommended. Best enjoyed October to April, though lovely on a clear winter day. Not suited to very young children; Bob’s Cove is the gentler option.
Private guided walks from NZD $240 per person.A half day from Queenstown, a guided walk with snacks and water.
What our guests say
“A fantastic guide, the exact combination of informative, entertaining and patient.”Nick H, April 2026
Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Google & TripAdvisor
Good to know
A few questions answered
How long is the day, and how far do we walk?
Around four hours in all, with a 6.5 kilometre loop taking roughly two and a half to three hours on foot, private door-to-door from your Queenstown accommodation.
How difficult is it?
A moderate walk on a well-formed trail with some gentle climbs. A reasonable level of fitness and sturdy shoes are recommended.
Is lunch included?
Snacks and bottled water are provided on the walk, with a recommended lunch stop afterwards at your own cost.
When is it at its best?
Best enjoyed October to April, though it is lovely on a clear winter day.
Plan your journey
Walk the goldfields in style
Tell us your dates and your party, and we will shape the day around you.
Email info@trails.co.nz · Phone +64 3 384 6148
