Mt Crichton Loop

Mt Crichton Loop is about 12km from Queenstown on the Queenstown-Glenorchy Road.  It’s 8-11km long (depending on how much you wander about) with an elevation of 319m.  It’s probably at the harder end of moderate and takes 1 hr 50 mins without stopping.  Allow 4 hours for photo stops, lunch break etc.  The track is breathtakingly beautiful and worth the effort.  It is a well-formed track featuring a river, a waterfall, a historic tunnel and hut.  Views of the Queenstown lakes mixed in with Manuka and mountain beech forest.  A delight.

WHERE TO PARK AND START THE HIKE
The car park is about 10 mins from the start of the track.  Cell phone coverage stops about 5 mins before the car park and there isn’t signal available during the walk.  There’s a nice track linking the car park to the start of the hike.

There is clear signage at the start of the hike. It’s recommended you go clockwise around the loop which means going over the bridge you see at the start of the track and turning right - keep the river on your right hand side.  If you’re walking and the river is on your left hand side, then you’re walking it in the less-optimal direction (views not as great, and some slightly ugly uphill).

THE TRACK
The track follows the river and gently heads up hill until to get to the historic gold mining area.  You will see old mine shafts, sluicing, have the option of going into an old mining tunnel, and have the option of visiting Sam Shepherd’s historic hut.  The Hut is reached after about 45 mins or so.

After the hut, the track does get a bit steeper for a while but not for too long.  You are soon rewarded with mountain vistas.  We walked this track in early June and by noon, the sun was always relatively low in the sky so don’t start out too late. And layer up - it can get cold.

The track was in excellent condition and well-maintained.  The final 30 mins or so of the track are reasonably steep downhill (not so steps to require any stairs or steps), and the scenery is not quite as stunning as the beginning (but still beautiful).

We highly recommend this hike.

Find out more about this walk at the Department of Conservation website.