Queenstown Trails Trust
Tiaki Promise
About the Frankton Track
The Frankton Track is a scenic lakeside trail that runs along the shores of Lake Wakatipu between Frankton and Queenstown. It's one of the most popular walking and cycling paths in the region — a flat, well-maintained trail that delivers some of the best lake and mountain views in the area without any significant climbs or technical terrain. At around seven kilometres one way, it's a comfortable ride that takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes on a bike, or a couple of hours on foot.
For Whizzy riders, the Frankton Track is significant because it forms part of the Hugo Gold Mining Tunnel Ride route. The trail connects the Frankton area — where the Whizzy experience finishes — back to the wider Queenstown trail network. It's the scenic, lakeside section that gives riders a completely different landscape from the Shotover Gorge: instead of dramatic rock walls and river rapids, you get wide-open lake views, mountain panoramas, and a gentle, cruising pace that's the perfect bookend to the more adventurous sections of the ride.
Whether you're riding it as part of the Whizzy experience or exploring it independently, the Frankton Track is one of those trails that locals never get tired of. The light changes constantly, the mountains shift perspective as you ride, and there's always something to look at — from sailboats on the lake to paragliders drifting down from Bob's Peak.
Scenery Along Lake Wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu is the dramatic centrepiece of the Queenstown landscape, and the Frankton Track puts you right alongside it. The lake stretches over 80 kilometres in a distinctive lightning-bolt shape, surrounded by mountain ranges that rise steeply from its shores. Riding the Frankton Track, you'll have uninterrupted views across the water to the Remarkables mountain range — a wall of jagged peaks that dominates the Queenstown skyline.
The lake itself has a unique character. Its waters are incredibly clear, fed by alpine rivers and snowmelt, and the colour shifts between deep blue and vivid turquoise depending on the light and weather. On still mornings, the surface becomes a near-perfect mirror, reflecting the mountains and sky. It's the kind of view that makes you stop pedalling and just stare.
Mountain Views from the Trail
As you ride the Frankton Track, the mountain panorama changes subtly with every few hundred metres. Looking south, the Remarkables are the main event — their sheer faces and snow-dusted peaks are visible year-round. To the west, you'll see Cecil Peak and Walter Peak rising above the far shore of the lake. On clear days, the layered ridgelines seem to go on forever, each one a slightly different shade of blue or grey.
The trail also passes through sections where mature trees frame the views, creating natural windows onto the lake. These are some of the best photo spots in Queenstown — and you won't find them on any bus tour. The combination of foreground foliage, blue lake, and snow-capped mountains is the quintessential Queenstown shot, and you can take it from the comfort of your e-bike seat.
Wildlife and Lakeside Nature
Lake Wakatipu supports a variety of birdlife, and you'll often spot species along the Frankton Track. Paradise shelducks are common on the lakeshore, their distinctive calls carrying across the water. Scaup ducks bob on the lake surface, and you might see a harrier hawk circling overhead. In the trees along the track, fantails, grey warblers, and silvereyes are regular companions.
The lake's foreshore along the Frankton Track also features some lovely pockets of native planting — both original and restored. Kowhai trees put on a spectacular show of golden flowers in spring, attracting tui and bellbirds to the trail corridor.
Frankton Beach — Where the Adventure Starts
Frankton Beach is the starting point for the Frankton Track and a popular local spot in its own right. It's a small, pebbly beach at the eastern end of Lake Wakatipu, with clear water that's surprisingly swimmable in summer (though bracing — the lake sits at 310 metres above sea level and the water temperature reflects that).
The beach area has picnic facilities, a playground, and easy parking, making it a natural gathering point. For Whizzy riders, this area is where the Hugo Tunnel ride finishes — you'll coast along the Frankton Track, arrive at the beach, and drop your bike off. It's a satisfying end point: you can sit on the shore, look out across the lake, and reflect on the fact that you've just ridden through a 160-year-old gold mining tunnel and along one of New Zealand's most famous rivers.
Frankton's Facilities
The Frankton area has grown significantly in recent years and now offers plenty of options if you want to extend your day. Five Mile shopping centre and Remarkables Park are both nearby, with cafes, restaurants, and shops. There's also the Queenstown Trail network hub at Frankton, which connects to multiple other cycling routes if you're keen to keep riding.
The Frankton Marina is worth a wander too — it's home to the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw, which has been cruising Lake Wakatipu since 1912. Watching it pull in and out of the marina is a nice complement to the gold rush history you've just experienced on the Hugo Tunnel trail.
Connecting to the Hugo Tunnel Trail
The Frankton Track is more than just a pretty lakeside ride — it's the connecting link between the Shotover River trails and the Queenstown urban area. On the Whizzy Hugo Gold Mining Tunnel Ride, the trail network flows seamlessly from one landscape to another: you start with the shuttle ride up to the Shotover, ride through the gorge and the Hugo Tunnel, then transition onto the Frankton Track for the lakeside finish.
This combination is what makes the Whizzy experience so compelling. In a single ride, you get wild river gorge, gold rush history, a hand-carved tunnel, and then a gentle lakeside cruise with mountain views. The contrast between the raw, enclosed gorge and the wide-open lake is dramatic, and the e-bike makes the transitions effortless.
The Trail Connection
The transition from the Shotover River trail to the Frankton Track happens via a series of connecting paths that the Whizzy team will guide you through. The terrain shifts from gravel river trail to smooth, sealed path — a change you'll feel under your wheels. The pace naturally slows as you move from the adventure section to the scenic section, and it's a welcome shift. After the excitement of the gorge and tunnel, the Frankton Track gives you space to relax, chat with your riding companions, and soak in the lake views.
Riding the Frankton Track on an E-Bike
While the Frankton Track is flat enough to ride on any bike, an e-bike adds a level of comfort and enjoyment that's hard to beat. You can cruise at a steady pace without any effort, stop and start for photos without worrying about getting going again, and cover the distance in comfort regardless of your fitness level. If there's a headwind coming off the lake (which happens — Queenstown is known for its afternoon nor'westers), the e-bike simply powers through it.
The track is shared with walkers, runners, and other cyclists, so courtesy is important. Keep left, signal when overtaking, and slow down around pedestrians. The Whizzy team covers trail etiquette in the pre-ride briefing, and the e-bikes are set up for comfortable cruising speeds that work perfectly on a shared path.
By the time you reach Frankton Beach and park the e-bike, you'll have experienced two completely different sides of Queenstown's landscape in a single morning. The rugged, historic Shotover Gorge and the serene, scenic Lake Wakatipu — connected by trails and powered by an e-bike. It's one of the best ways to see this part of New Zealand, and it all starts from Frankton.