A new fun activity space designed for young family outdoor adventures is planned for Eely Point Reserve near Bremner Bay.

A concept plan has been drawn up and includes a junior bike trail and natural play area among the trees on the reserve’s northern side, between the entrance off Aubrey Road and the point where the road is currently closed to traffic.

The project will be a broad community effort with key elements provided by the Rotary Club of Wanaka, Aspiring Rotary and the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and will also include input from Kahu Youth, Bike Wanaka and Te Kākano.

John Milburn, who is director of the Rotary Club of Wanaka’s service projects committee, said the club was contributing to the $25,000 cost of the project. Both the Rotary Club of Wanaka and Aspiring Rotary will each contribute $5,000 and an additional grant from Rotary NZ will match theirs to provide $15,000, while the QLDC is kicking in $10,000. 

The Aubrey Road entrance to Eely Point reserve already has some seating, a covered electric BBQ, car parking and a toilet block.

Experienced bike track and trail building company Dirt Dynamics Construction has been contracted to build the trail along the reserve’s varied terrain between the shore and the disc golf course. Work is expected to begin early next year. The local company has been involved in the construction of many recent bike park projects, including at Hawea, Lismore Park and Glendhu.

John said the trail would be purpose built for young riders as there were fewer options available for that age group and the undemanding Eely Point terrain was ideally suited.

In preparation for the new bike trail, the Rotary Club of Wanaka is planning a working bee this weekend to clear wilding trees, shrubby undergrowth, and flood debris left behind by December’s floods last year and Bike Wanaka members will also participate, adding their expertise on bike trail development, John said.

Looking across Bremner Bay to Eely Point - this foreshore has long been popular with families.

QLDC parks and reserves officer Diana Manson said she has been talking with Kahu Youth about having a day in January together onsite with an arborist “to shape some of the existing trees to use as play spaces”.   

The plan with the trees was still to be determined, she said, but “it’s exciting to have Kahu Youth involved and [we] hope they might come up with some suggestions”.

“This will be a low key natural family friendly area and we hope to be able to add further elements as time and budget allows,” Diana said. Elements such as seats, picnic tables, play equipment and rocks are all future possibilities.

John said it’s possible that rotary will also be involved in this second stage of the development, perhaps by providing picnic tables, seating or a simple swing for a child.

Diana said the shoreline has also been identified in discussions with Te Kākano as a place for future riparian planting.

“It is great to be able to involve community groups in improving the reserve and is a pleasure to work with rotary on a project such as this,” Diana said.

The road around the headland at Eely Point was deliberately closed to vehicles last year as part of the reserve management plan to improve safe bike and pedestrian access. Vehicles can still access the reserve off Aubrey Road and Lakeside Drive but can no longer drive through it.

PHOTOS: Wanaka App