The secret hiking peaks of Arrowtown

Hiking Spring Summer Walking

Mount Beetham

Arrowtown is the gateway to the incredibly scenic Mahu Whenua parkland and its many walking tracks and routes.

The Sawpit Gully Loop and Tobins Track are all very popular but they just scratch the surface of what’s on offer here. If you’re looking for a real hill to climb or a quieter alternative to busy Roy’s Peak, Ben Lomond and Queenstown Hill, then look no further than Arrowtown’s secret peaks.     

1. Brow Peak    

Brow Peak is the highest, most impressive peak that you can see looking towards the north from Arrowtown. At 1456m, it is a good solid hike up to the summit. The official route starts on the Sawpit Gully Loop before heading through beech forest to the Big Hill Saddle then along a ridge to the peak. It is a mostly poled track with a big gain in altitude into the alpine zone, so you will need to be fit, experienced and properly equipped. It is also a hike best done in spring or summer in good conditions as the final section is along a rocky ridge that is exposed to the wind.

2. Mt Beetham

Mount Beetham is an extra 250m uphill from the summit of Tobins Track, and although it is an uphill slog it is worth it for the views. Just keep following the dirt road around the corner and you’ll find a poled route up this cone-shaped peak. If you are fit enough, you can make the walk into a loop using the steep and rough Tobins Drop track which drops down to the Millennium Walkway, or just simply return the way you came. 

3. Crown Peak

Queenstown’s famous Ben Lomond and Arrowtown’s Crown Peak have a lot in common. They’re about the same height (at 1735m, Crown Peak is just 13m smaller), both offer sensational 360° views from the summit rocks, and both are challenging full-day hikes. But they differ spectacularly in one important way. On Ben Lomond, you will likely have to share the trail with hundreds of other walkers, but on Crown Peak, you might not see anyone else all day.

There are several options to start and finish the walk, all of them converging at the Crown Peak Track. You’ll need to be fit and well-equipped, bearing in mind there is no protection from the sun or adverse weather on this hike. 

From left to right: The views from Brow Peak, Mount Beetham, and Crown Peak.

For more detailed information on these hikes, take a look at the Mahu Whenua map.

Author: APBA

Share
Share

Related articles

Hiking Spring Summer Walking

Eight of the top walks and hikes in Arrowtown

Arrowtown is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream with a range of terrain offering stunning views for those who don their walking or hiking shoes and get… Read More

Autumn

Eight family-friendly activities to do in Arrowtown in autumn

Arrowtown is an autumnal wonderland for families with many events, outdoor adventures, and indoor activities to satisfy the young and young at heart. Autumn in… Read More

Autumn

Five ways to celebrate autumn in Arrowtown

When you think autumn in New Zealand, you think Arrowtown. The dazzling display of colour makes it easy to see why Arrowtown has won ‘New… Read More

© Arrowtown 2024 This website is owned and managed by the Arrowtown Promotion and Business Association (APBA)

Back to Top