Funding to upgrade a 3.8km section of the popular Gladstone walking and cycling track in Hāwea is almost complete and it’s hoped the improvements will be finished before the end of the year.

The section of the track from Muir Road to John Creek has portions which become muddy in the wet and this upgrade, which is estimated to cost around $135,000, is designed to restore the track to an all-seasons standard, Upper Clutha Tracks Trust (UCTT) treasurer John Wellington said.

With stunning views across Lake Hāwea and easily accessible from the town, the 4.7km track is hugely popular with a wide range of users, from families with buggies to cyclists and runners. 

“Its usage has far exceeded what the original track was expected to do,” John said.

“In the summer it’s fine, but in winter the track can get churned up, particularly at the John Creek end. This upgrade will make it the same standard as the rest of the track,” he said. 

The UCTT has already secured over 90 percent of the funding and is looking to the community to contribute through its Givealittle page to raise the shortfall.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) staff will manage the project’s tender process and be responsible for delivering the work which is likely to start in late spring, John said.  

This upgrade also ties in with the installation of a short bridge over the Gladstone Creek which the UCTT, a volunteer-run non-profit organisation, facilitated last year. 

John said the trail used to dip down sharply to the creek but some generous supporters in the community secured a second hand bridge from the Department of Conservation, had it certified, and then airlifted it into place late last year.

The Gladstone Track project is but one of several projects the UCTT has been coordinating over the last year.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Gladstone Track project can do so here.

PHOTO: Wānaka App