Ben Lomond & Beyond
Step into the heart of New Zealand's High Country for a multi-day trail running experience through working farmland, expansive valleys, and rugged backcountry terrain. This isn't just a run; it's a rare look into station life. You'll be staying in a remote lodge under a sky so dark you'll actually see the stars (not just the ones on your phone). We'll trace animal tracks and 4WD routes, moving through a landscape that hasn't changed much for generations. It's authentic, it's elevated, and yes, your quads will have feelings about it.
Tour Highlights
- •Small Crew, Big Views: Connect with people who won't judge your uphill face.
- •Run-In, Run-Out: No buses, no traffic. Just your legs and the trail.
- •Remote Lodge Life: A high-country station stay with views that make the climb feel like a bargain.
- •Hidden Tracks: Run routes that aren't on the standard maps.
What's Included
- ✓2 Nights' Accommodation: Twin share.
- ✓Proper Fuel: All meals (except Day 1 breakfast and Day 3 dinner).
- ✓Expert Trail Leaders: People who know the way so you don't have to.
- ✓Group Stretching: Because your hamstrings will eventually demand a meeting.
- ✓Snacks & Support: On-trail fuel to keep the hanger at bay.
- ✓The Easy Bit: A Gondola ride and luggage transfers (your bags go by 4WD; you go by foot).
- ✓The 0% Club: Enjoy a local non-alc craft beer/cider at the lodge. High-country hospitality, minus the dehydration.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Friday: Skyline Start & Into the Hills
We meet in central Queenstown, hand our heavy bags to the 4WD crew, and take the Gondola. Once we're at the top, we leave the bungee-jumping energy behind. The trail starts with a solid dose of elevation — 1600m to be exact — but we're not here to set a record. We take it steady, share a trailside lunch, and roll into our remote lodge by late afternoon. We'll finish the day with a group cook-up and a view that'll make you forget about that last hill.
Day 2 - Saturday: Big Country & Backcountry Loops
After a relaxed breakfast, we head into the wild. Today is about rolling trails, big valleys, and ridgelines that go on forever. It's a stop and stare kind of day. We'll have a trail-side lunch far from civilization, return to the lodge for a group stretch, and end with a hearty BBQ under a very crowded sky.
Day 3 - Sunday: The Descent to Reality
The final stretch. We wind down through hidden valleys and tussock trails toward Arthur's Point. It's about 10km of last-chance views before we hit the valley floor. For the brave (or the very warm), we'll wrap up with a well-earned drink at a local brewery and enjoy our last group lunch. We aim to arrive back at Arthur's Point around 12:30pm before transferring back to town around 3pm.