Queenstown, Arrowtown, Jacks Point Trails | Time Out 2021-22 Queenstown

Before I could go anywhere today I had to get rid of one bike. En-trance, my Giant Trance, was due for its first service and had booked it at Torpedo7 Queenstown. It's just a short roll down the hill and ten-minute walk back.

It was a stunning day, and still quiet around the Queenstown waterfront.

Lake Whakatipu

Going to ride the Queenstown Trails today, the gravel bike is fine for them.

Strava missed a bit, total was 86km from the bike trip meter

Across the road from the motel, down the hill and I was on the Frankton Walkway (shared path).

Giro ready for the trail

Sunblock was tested today.

Hello

Frankton Walkway

View from the Frankton Walkway to Kelvin Heights with The Remarkables in the background.

Frankton Walkway, Kelvin Heights, Remarkables

This marina, by 'The Boatshed Café" is new since I was last here.

New marina since I was last here

Frankton foreshore looking back towards Kelvin heights & Queenstown.

Frankton foreshore towards Kelvin heights

This new (to me) Kingston Road bridge has replaced the old single lane one.

New (to me) Kawarau Road bridge

Old Kingston Road bridge is now just for cycling and walking. Magnificent views of the Kawarau River.

Old Kawarau bridge now for cycles/walking
Kawarau River

Kelvin Peninsular Trail

The Kelvin Peninsular Trail goes around the headland and connects to Jacks Point.

Kelvin Peninsular Trail

Giro in day-ride mode; I love the Tailfin AeroPack Trunk Top Bag but sometimes forget to tighten the straps or they work loose as the contents move around. Would be better if they were more like a bungy, than the webbing, or easier to remove.

Giro in day-ride mode | Tailfin AeroPack Trunk top bag

Stunning ride, the views!

Kelvin Peninsular Trail

The trail passes the TSS Earnslaw Steamer haul-out slip. Was used for build, launching, and still used for maintenance.

Kelvin Peninsular Trail
TSS Earnslaw Steamer haul-out

Most of the trail is easy gravel, but it does get a bit rooty in some of the forest sections.

Kelvin Peninsular view
Kelvin Peninsular Trail

The water is so clear... and as would find out later cold!

Kelvin Peninsular foreshore
Kelvin Peninsular Lake Whakatipu

View towards Kingston.

Kelvin Peninsular Lake Whakatipu
Kelvin Peninsular Lake Whakatipu

I got a pinch flat here, found had to run the Schwalbe gravel tyres at higher pressure than expected, 5 Bar/72Psi, and was ok after that. They got a bit of a hammering in the forest part and were ok, this was quite a sharp rock seam across the trail, heard the rim bottom out. Tried a stick-on patch, which I have had for ages, which didn't work so swapped the tube and threw the rest out.

Kelvin Peninsular pinch flat view

Jacks Point

Jacks Point trail is a little bit more single track, mountain bikey, but still not demanding.

Jacks Point

Crystal clear air today, The Remarkables living up to their name!

Jacks Point & The Remarkables
Jacks Point & The Remarkables

Twin Rivers Trail

The trail follows the Kawarau River, as does the tourist jet boat.

Kawarau River Jet

The old Shotover River Bridge is now dedicated to the bike trail.

Shotover River Bridge

The Shotover River road bridge is a bit upstream.

Shotover River new road bridge

The trails are not all flat!

Not all flat!

I climbed about 1000m over the day, about 100m of them up McDonalds Hill.

McDonalds Hill

Enjoyed the coolth in this shady riverside section of the Kawarau River Trail.

Kawarau River Trail
Kawarau River

The trail passes through the middle of a Deer farm, a short overpass allows the deer to cross it.

Deer farm

The Arrow River Trail

Edgar Suspension Bridge is a feature of the Arrow River Trail. TVNZ One feature it in their channel promo.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4F_Z2oY0oY&w=560&h=315]

Edgar Suspension Bridge | Arrow River Trail
Edgar Suspension Bridge | Arrow River Trail
Edgar Suspension Bridge | Arrow River Trail

The Arrow River Trail

Arrow River Bridges Trail
Arrow River

Arrowtown

Arrowtown was quiet, freaky quiet compared to previous 'normal'. It was about four and many of the cafés were closed, restaurants yet to open. I got an ice cream, it was the last one they served as closed at four.

Arrowtown was quiet

Raced to finish the melting ice cream at a seat on the Arrowtown Village Green. it was strange to have it to myself, the restaurant pictured was not open.

Arrowtown green, empty

Millbrook Resort & Lake Hayes

The trail runs through the Millbrook Resort & Country Club. Was glad could refill my water bottles here, if there was a public water tap in Arrowtown I couldn't find it.

Millbrook Resort & Country Club

A fun downhill as the trail heads towards Lake Hayes.

Towards Lake Hayes

Seemed to be quite a few lifestyle properties being developed in the Dalefield area.

Dalefield, Queenstown

There's a short road section in Dalefield but didn't see any traffic on it.

Littles Road, Dalefield, Queenstown

Back along the river to Queenstown

Back along the river to Queenstown

Back along Frankton Walkway, evening sun meant much of it was in the (welcome) shade.

Frankton Walkway

Lake Whakatipu Evening, so calm

Lake Whakatipu Evening

This is a busy dinner COVID 'crowd' at Ferg Burger. They usually have long lines to the point I don't bother having one, due to the wait. It's a great burger, I had several this trip!

A COVID 'crowd' at Fergs

Lake Whakatipu Dusk, the sun about to dip behind the mountains, me about to head home to bed! Had a text my mountain bike is ready to collect. Tomorrows ride will be more demanding, lots of up and down.

Lake Whakatipu Dusk


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