There is an abundance of popular walking trails in the Queenstown area but those seeking fresh perspectives of the Remarkables range, the Hector Mountains and over the valley to Fairlight and Garston should try two tracks near Kingston.
Te Kere Haka Scenic Reserve is a 195ha area administered by the Department of Conservation and is found to the west of Kingston.
The reserve features the 3.5km Te Kere Haka Track and the 1km uphill Shirt Tail Track.
The car park at the well signposted reserve is located past the Kingston Flyer railway station and about 70km, or a 50-minute drive, from Queenstown.
"The wide undulating track follows the Lake Wakatipu waterfront and [is] used for stock access to farms beyond the reserve," Doc Wakatipu area office community relations ranger Trish Gill said.
"The Te Kere Haka Track is a lovely stroll along the lakefront and through exotic and native scrub bush, such as pittosporum and broadleaf.
"There's glimpses of the lake and the southern Remarkables and Hector Mountains, and it's popular with locals for an evening walk, though it can be muddy at times. The second gate you come to marks the end of the track and private land is beyond."
Alternatively, the Shirt Tail Track climbs fairly steadily until about 30 minutes in and halfway up.
Then it becomes a track best suited for experienced trampers.
Ms Gill said the Shirt Tail grew steep and was slippery in wet weather, requiring walking shoes with a good tread and tramping gear.
The department was upgrading sections of the track over the next few years. An unnamed stream unofficially marks the point where the track gradient rises. Walkers have to jump rocks to cross it and care is required after rain because the water level rises and the stream flows faster.
"Look for orange tags on trees that point in the direction of the alignment of the track and continue for another 30 minutes to the viewpoint at the top of the track," Ms Gill said.
"The viewpoint is a steel barrier and you get great views over Kingston and down the valley, which is old glacier country. This is ideal for experienced rock climbers."
