The race is on to discover who’s at the top of the pecking order at the Rotary Club of Wanaka’s annual duck race taking place this Saturday (November 19). 

The event begins at 10am with when the ducks enter Bullock Creek near Wānaka Library. 

From there they will be closely followed and cheered on - especially by family groups - as they ‘wing’ their way on a down-river adventure to the Dinosaur Park.

The pluckiest ducks will take home cash prizes while the luckiest will scoop up spot prizes.  

This annual event has raised more than $10,000 for the Rotary Club of Wānaka in previous years and president Mike Elliot says this year is on track to do the same.

“We’ve been selling duck tickets outside Mitre 10 MEGA and New World Three Parks for a couple of weeks now,” he said.

Mike said that the ‘small’ racing ducks are all numbered and when a person buys a ticket it corresponds with a numbered duck.

“The first ducks across the finish line are the winning tickets,” he said.

“We also have a business category where businesses purchase an executive duck for one hundred dollars.

Funds raised will go to the Rotary Club of Wānaka which will then be allocated to needy and worthwhile causes in the community.

Tickets will be available at the Dinosaur Park on race day (Saturday November 19) from 9.30am.

Tickets are $5 for small ducks.

PHOTO: Wānaka App