Skyline Queenstown and the gondola to Bob’s Peak

Skyline Queenstown lifts visitors from central Queenstown to Bob’s Peak above Lake Wakatipu, combining panoramic views with gravity-fuelled rides on the hill.

Skyline Queenstown is an activity complex overlooking Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island, reached by a gondola that climbs to Bob’s Peak above Lake Wakatipu. The hilltop site combines wide views of the surrounding mountains with luge tracks and dining spaces in a single cluster of buildings and paths.

From hillside chalet to gondola landmark

The story of Skyline Queenstown begins with Bob’s Peak, the prominent hill rising above Queenstown on the Remarkables-facing side of Lake Wakatipu. In the early 1960s a steep access road brought visitors by bus to a simple chalet built near the summit, turning the vantage point into an organised excursion.

Construction of a cableway from Queenstown to the chalet was approved by Queenstown Borough Council in 1965, and the public company Skyline Enterprises was formed in 1966 to build an aerial gondola on the slope.Skyline Enterprises was formed in 1966 The gondola, supplied by the French firm Pomagalski with local engineering input, opened for passengers on 17 November 1967, linking the lakeside town with the hillside complex in a single continuous ride.The first gondola travelled up Bob’s Peak in November 1967

Gondola, views and the Skyline complex

At Skyline Queenstown the gondola cabins rise from a base terminal in Queenstown to the complex on Bob’s Peak, climbing several hundred metres above the town and the lake.The gondola climbs over Lake Wakatipu to Bob’s Peak The route gives a changing view over Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown and surrounding peaks such as Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Walter Peak and Cecil Peak, with the town and lakefront receding below.

At the top station the Skyline complex brings together indoor and outdoor spaces built around the hill’s slope. Visitors step out onto terraces and viewing platforms that look over the lake basin and mountain ranges, while paths lead around the hillside towards the luge area and walking tracks. Inside, the building houses dining areas and visitor facilities, and the gondola provides the link back down to the base terminal once the visit on the hilltop is complete.Each gondola ticket includes a return trip between the base and the Skyline complex

Luge tracks and activity on Bob’s Peak

One of the defining features of Skyline Queenstown is the luge, a set of gravity-powered cart tracks laid out on the hillside above the gondola’s top station. Riders board a chairlift that climbs from near the complex to the luge start zone, then steer three-wheeled carts along purpose-built tracks that curve across the slope.The Skyline Queenstown Luge runs on dedicated tracks Different track options provide varied gradients and sequences of bends, tunnels and dips, giving a range from scenic runs to more demanding descents.

The luge at Queenstown followed an earlier installation in Rotorua, with a new track opening on Bob’s Peak in 1998 after the concept had proved successful elsewhere in New Zealand.A new luge track opened at the Queenstown site in 1998 Alongside the luge, the Skyline complex supports a range of other activities connected with the hillside setting, from walking routes that branch out from the buildings to spaces for events and dining that make use of the elevated position above Queenstown.

Visiting Skyline Queenstown: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Skyline Queenstown stands on Bob’s Peak above Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island, with the gondola base terminal on Brecon Street a short walk from the town centre.The base address is 53 Brecon Street, Queenstown
• The gondola climbs from the base terminal to the Skyline complex on the hillside, and a separate chairlift connects the upper area of the complex with the luge start zone on the slope.
• English is the official language in New Zealand and the currency is the New Zealand dollar.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Skyline Queenstown

Where is Skyline Queenstown located?

Skyline Queenstown is on Bob’s Peak above Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island, with the gondola base at 53 Brecon Street close to the town centre.

What can visitors expect during a visit?

Visitors ride the gondola from Queenstown to the Skyline complex on Bob’s Peak, explore viewing terraces and indoor spaces, and can add luge runs on the hillside tracks.

What makes Skyline Queenstown distinctive among hilltop attractions?

Skyline Queenstown combines an established gondola link dating back to 1967 with wide views over Lake Wakatipu and gravity-powered luge tracks laid out on the slopes above the complex.