Bike Wānaka has been given in-principle approval to construct mountain bike trails on Mount Iron Recreation Reserve.

The decision allows Bike Wānaka to fund and build a series of trails once resource consent and design details are completed, with mountain biking potentially starting as soon as next summer.

It will include one uphill shared-use track for walkers and bikers, and a network of downhill trails for mountain biking only. The uphill trail will suit intermediate riders, while the downhill tracks are aimed at advanced riders.

The Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) approved the trail building project at yesterday’s (Tuesday December 16) meeting.

Council staff emphasised this was only the first stage, with a full trail plan for all Mount Iron users still being developed.

However, the meeting highlighted tensions among competing uses of the reserve. 

Guy Steven, a long-time Mount Iron walker, warned that some recently created tracks are near threatened plants. 

“I would suggest these trails be considered as part of the overall plan rather than approved early,” he said.

The organisation’s trail plan. IMAGE: Supplied

The Upper Clutha Lakes Equestrian Access Group also raised concerns. 

“All user types – including horse riders – should be considered equally together from the outset,” they said.

Hidden Hills resident Andrew Bartholomew warned that access via Hidden Hills Drive, which has no formal parking, could worsen congestion. 

He said Wānaka already had “fantastic mountain bike trails”. The advantages of immediate approval for Bike Wānaka were ‘spurious”, he said.

Board members debated the pros and cons but ultimately backed the project. 

Chair Simon Telfer said the decision gives young riders a long-awaited opportunity. 

“We’ve got an established community group…who are prepared to fundraise to remediate public bike tracks,” he said. 

“I’m really conscious of the fiscal challenges facing QLDC and I think we should be really grateful to our community group partners.”

Councillor Cody Tucker said that while he recognised “concerns and problems” raised by other users, the provision of bike tracks was ultimately a “win-win scenario”. 

QLDC staff said the full trail plan for the reserve – an integrated network of walking, biking, and horse-riding trails – is expected in early 2026.