Frankton Track Detour 2026 - Due to major infrastructure upgrades along the Frankton Track, a detour via the sealed footpath alongside Frankton Road will be in place throughout 2026. | Temporary Detour on Twin Rivers Trail near Shotover Delta - follow signage for alternative route. | Southern Lakes Ultra runners will be racing on the Coronet Trails, Coronet Loop and Arrow River Trails 25-27th Feb. Good luck to all taking part.
Accessed off part of the Arrow River bridges trail, this trail starts at the top of a local’s favourite trail, Tobins Track, and after a punchy climb it opens up to 360 degree views of the basin and beyond!
The trailhead starts around the bend from the viewing benches at the top of Tobins Track. Allow yourself around 30 minutes to get to this point if you are walking up from the Arrow River. Bikes are allowed on Tobins Track, but not on Mt Beetham, so best to leave your bike behind for this one.
As you continue along the 4wd track around the corner, you will see the blue signage for the route. The trail at 1.8km up and down isn’t as popular as other trails, so if you are after a quiet walk with the occasional trail runner, this one’s for you.
By this point you will have already climbed around 660m, so this one’s a real calf burner with another 272m of ascent and around a 30 minute hike straight up the hill. There are some lovely natural foot placements to help take the edge off, and I’m all for stopping for lots of scenic breaks, but if you are looking for some awesome 360 degree views of the basin, Crown Peak, Brow Peak, Coronet Peak and the surrounds, you’ll want to get to the top!
Obvious orange poles mark the way, and once you get to the top take the time to soak up the views, maybe even take a picnic with you. Save this one for a dry day, and grippy shoes are a must as it can be slippery on the way down.
Once at the top, you’ll be able to see across to other tracks in the hills that were old mining tracks. As Arrowtown has a rich history of gold mining, you see these a lot in this area, leading off to summits, or looping back on to more trails.
Park or start from Arrowtown, and follow the Millenium trail up to Tobins bridge and the start of Tobins track. Walk up Tobins track until you come to the bench and view point at the top of the track. The 4wd track continues on around the corner and you'll come to a small junction. Directly ahead of you is the Queenstown Trail sign for the start of the Mt Beetham walk.
This site is loaded with maps, information and advice
Here’s how to get the most out of it:
Some more information on how to prepare for your journey out on the trails can be found here.
Here are a few important pointers to foster positive attitudes between different trail users and remember we are lucky that many local landowners have given us access to their private property.
Many of our Trusted Partners offer guided tours and shuttles to and from the start and end points of the trails - allowing you to ultimately tailor your trail experience and pick up tons of local knowledge and discover secret spots along the way!
Click here to see our Directory of Tour Operators.
Go to the Frequently Asked Questions page to find answers to any questions you may have before you head out onto the trail.
If you've experienced our trails and loved them, please support us and donation online today. As a registered charity, we rely upon ongoing funding and donations to maintain and extend our trail network. Find out more and donate here.
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