WILSON BAY, QUEENSTOWN

Wilson Bay is a beautiful little spot on the drive to Glenorchy, less than 10km from Queenstown.

This post will give you a short introduction to Wilson Bay.

HOW TO GET TO WILSON BAY

Driving: This is the easiest way to get there with its large car park. It’s a little under 10km from the middle of Queenstown on the road heading to Glenorchy.

Hitchhiking: Hitching a ride out of Queenstown is easy. You can stick your thumb out just past the One Mile car park and shouldn’t need to wait long to get a ride.

Biking: A lot of cyclists enjoy the drive between Glenorchy and Queenstown, but there are some corners where experienced cyclists won’t be happy. That said, it’s a 10km ride each way so it’s not extreme.

There’s a decent hill you go down just before you reach Wilson Bay if you follow the road. Alternatively, you can get off the road for some sections and go along the Sunshine Bay Track and Seven Mile Tracks.

WHAT IS WILSON BAY LIKE?

There’s no sand on Wilson Bay beach, but the stones aren’t super uncomfortable to walk on.

And with a towel, you can comfortably relax on the beach and enjoy the sunshine that’s hopefully warmed up the stones before you get there.

The waters of Lake Wakatipu are cold with a year-round temperature in the 11-13 degree Celcius range. You’d be brave to go for a swim in winter, but on a warm summer’s day, it might be the perfect dip you’re looking for.

I’ll stick to standing in the water knee-deep 😉

Plenty of people will take their kayaks and/or stand-up paddleboards out there given the shelter of the bay keeps the waters calm. I like the cheapish inflatable kayak I have which you can get from Macpac, I’ve reviewed the Intex Challenger K2 here.

And you’ve got the Seven Mile Tracks which you can walk or bike along at the eastern end of the beach to explore.

Note: There’s a toilet next to the car park. And there are no shops nearby so bring your own snacks.

THINGS TO DO NEAR WILSON BAY?

There’s plenty of things to do near Wilson Bay.

You can go a couple of kilometres further along to the 12-mile Delta where there’s a LOTR filming location. From here you can continue on the track to the stunning Bob’s Cove or hike the interesting Mt Crichton Loop Track.

And just before reaching the other end of the Seven Mile Track, there’s the turnoff to Moke Lake.

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There are so many things to do in and around Queenstown, it’s hard to make priorities.

As nice as Wilson Bay is I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit unless you really wanted a day on one of Queenstowns beaches to chill or had lots of time while heading out to do some walks in Glenorchy.

If you’re looking for Wilson Bay accommodation, this cottage on airbnb looks great and is right there.