The community-based Wheels to Dunstan health transport service might expand to include a service to Queenstown.

Locals have requested transportation to attend medical appointments in Queenstown and the trust behind the Wheels to Dunstan (WTD) service is considering the logistics of adding that service to its already busy schedule.

“In principle we’ve decided to support [a service to Queenstown] but very much on a trial basis,” Wheels to Dunstan Trust chair Tony Shaw said.

The Trust operates with Community Link Upper Clutha to co-ordinate the WTD service, which provides a vehicle and driver to take passengers to Cromwell to meet the St John Health Shuttle travelling to appointments in Dunedin.

It also delivers passengers to Dunstan Hospital and Alexandra’s Eye Clinic for medical appointments.

Tony said the demand for the free service jumped significantly in the 12 months from June 2024-June 2025; the number of trips increased by 55 percent from 236 trips to 366; and the number of passengers has increased by 88 percent (from 261 to 471).

The long-running transport service relies on volunteer drivers. The current roster is based on 88 volunteers who commit to driving two days roughly every two months.

Around 75 percent of the WTD service is to meet the Dunedin shuttle; usually that means two return trips to Cromwell each day.

So far eight drivers “have put their hands up” to take on a Queenstown service, Tony said. 

“Meeting that demand will depend on getting enough drivers - and eight is not enough.”

There is no plan to operate a second vehicle so a service to Queenstown would have to fit in with the WTD requirements.

“The costs of running a second vehicle will be too exorbitant,” Tony said. 

The present vehicle, which can carry up to four passengers, will have to be replaced by the end of next year, Tony said, and if demand continues its current trajectory they might need a bigger vehicle.

“We’ve had requests for more passengers than our current capacity allows,” he said.

Tony said Upper Clutha Transport is the WTD’s major sponsor “and very generously provides all the fuel”. 

Other costs incurred are covered by donations from private individuals and local trusts, and the voluntary donations passengers make.

Future health services in Wānaka are also a consideration, Tony said, and may lead to a change in service.

Not having to make the tiring return trip to Dunedin, “picked up at 6:30am… and dropped home after 6:30pm”, would be a vast improvement for the mostly elderly passengers WTD currently serves, he said.

The community initiative stemmed from a Rotary Club of Wānaka idea and in 2007, together with the Wānaka Masonic Lodge and the Marsh Trust, the club co-funded the first WTD vehicle.

PHOTO: Supplied