Multi-day hut-to-hut 80km track pitched for Wānaka

A new 80 kilometre walking and cycling track along the shorelines of Lakes Wānaka and Hāwea is being pitched in a just released strategic plan of the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust.

The loop track would traverse the precipitous East Wānaka faces between Wānaka, Hawea and 'the Neck' near the head of the two lakes.

While it is no more than an orange line on a map at present, and labelled "long term aspirational", trust chair Dave Howard believes the track proposal demonstrates what "could be possible and be of high value to the region".

"Imagine a multi-day hut-to-hut trip around Lake Wanaka," he says.

"It is a great thing to do in the school holidays and it could become a right-of-passage for local kids, like hiking the Treble Cone summit for the first time.

''The track would serve multiple users, whether it's a short stroll along the lake or a quick marathon in the rain before breakfast - you know the type.

''Everything starts with some crazy concept.

''Within the next two years, we can bike 300 kilometres - off-road - from Wānaka and Queenstown to Dunedin, so the 80 kilometre Lake Wānaka-Hāwea loop is entirely achievable.

''This particular concept has all the elements to make it one of New Zealand's iconic tracks.

''But most importantly, it's for local residents to enjoy accessing the outdoors and engaging with nature as part of everyday life.

''It's how we want to live here.''

The track-building veteran is well aware of the amount of work required before construction begins on any new track.

Even more crucial and difficult than raising money is negotiating access.

The new tracks in the strategic plan would require access to Department of Conservation and private land, and that has not yet been secured.

"The typical response from future users is, 'Wow, that would be amazing'.

''The reality is that the track has to work for everyone, particularly the landowners.

''We work hard to create benefits for landowners and mitigate any potential downside through careful planning and track design.

''Every landowner has their own specific interests and we must invest in the time to understand these.

''We have had great success with developing ecological restoration sites right through to creating new business opportunities for landowners.''

Another "aspirational" project in the strategic plan is extending the Minaret Burn track that begins at the mouth of the Matukituki River on the west side of Lake Wānaka.

''This route has a few challenges with the long distance, isolation and connection to Makarora.

''A successful long-term concept to make this track viable would likely include multi-day trips, boat transfers, (and) mixed adventures of bike/boat/walk.

''It is the sort of track that would evolve over time and requires several businesses to offer services to track users.''

The strategic plan is intended to be a 50-year vision of what could be possible and it acknowledges the trust is "heavily reliant on the good will and collaboration of landowners".

The charitable trust, founded in 2006, is run by volunteers and has invested $2.4million in its 95 kilometre track network so far.

Mr Howard says tracks are not only a valuable recreational resource for residents but also bring economic benefits.

''Businesses benefit by providing services to track users - from accommodation, hospitality, shuttle and rental and more."

He says an impact assessment of the New Zealand Cycle Trail shows track users stay longer and spend more than the average visitor, with the 23 'Great Ride' trails returning $950 million of direct economic benefit to their communities in 2021.

''Tracks are the perfect infrastructure to support regenerative tourism activities and enhance our natural environment.

''Our future trail network would return tens of millions dollars to our community annually.''

The trust's more immediate plans are for improvements to the connection between Wānaka and Hāwea, with upgrades to the commuter route and a new trail on the true right bank of the Hāwea River, about which Mr Howard expects to announce more detail soon.

The strategic plan, including a map showing the existing and proposed tracks, is available on the trust's website.

Main image (Supplied/Upper Clutha Tracks Trust/David Howard): Looking north from Mou Waho towards the shores of Lake Wānaka, where new tracks are envisaged (Insert: A map of existing and proposed tracks and trust chair David Howard).