“Oh my goodness, what a Christmas present” - was the verdict of the one of the first riders on the new Devon Link Track between Hāwea Flat and Albert Town last Thursday (December 24).

The new walking and cycling track, which links Hāwea Flat with the Hāwea River Track, has been called the ‘missing link’ by the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust (UCTT). 

The Trust has been working for more than five years to link Hāwea Flat via the historic route, and members John Hare, Rachel Brown, Quentin Smith and Tom Rowley finally rode the new track on Thursday.

Quentin said he biked from Wanaka and rode through two underpasses, both of which were constructed in the past year (one goes under a farm road on the new track). 

“This is a meaningful network which we will continue to build on,” Quentin said. “The best thing about it is the active transport link from Hāwea Flat.”

UCTT members John Hare and Rachel Brown lead the way through the new underpass on the link track.

The track not only shaves 10 to 15 minutes off the commute to Wanaka from Hāwea Flat, it also provides a loop track for recreational cyclists who can cycle from Wanaka to Lake Hāwea along the river track, and return via the school track and Newcastle Road track, John said.

“It will make a much quicker and safer track for commuters, and it’s such a nice option for a ride for the more recreational style rider,” he said. 

Rachel said there are more commuters than there used to be, many using electric bikes. 

Within minutes of the track being opened, cyclists were trying it out.

Lyn and Fred Donaldson bike towards the Hāwea River Track from the new underpass.

Lyn and Fred Donaldson from Lake Hāwea were cycling past and noticed the track was open. They described it as “magnificent”, with Fred noting the generosity of the land owners, Devon Dairy Farms Ltd, in providing the land for the track.

Carol Bradley of Hāwea Flat said the track was “a Christmas present” for locals.

“We’ve waited for this for years,” she said. Her son Tay, 14, was already calculating how much quicker his bike ride to school would be.

The new track is elevated above the original gazetted Newcastle Road, from the Clutha River to Butterfield Road (at the end of the existing Newcastle Road in Hāwea Flat).

The short but critical link across private land was achieved thanks to an agreement with Devon Dairy Farms Ltd.

Devon managing director Erynne Fildes said in May the landowners were very happy to enable the missing link in the network.

Devon has requested no horses as part of the easement.

An official opening of the link track will be celebrated in February.

PHOTOS: Wanaka App