There are currently no plans in place to clean up Wānaka’s driftwood-strewn lakefront, following last month’s heavy rain.

Lake Wānaka peaked at close to its first flood alert level 279.2 metres above sea level (masl) on Friday October 24.

The high lake level combined with heavy winds deposited driftwood along the foreshore and damaged sections of recently rebuilt lakeside track.

“The clean-up of high-profile areas of the Wānaka lakefront closest to town will be considered further once we’ve confirmed the best and most cost-effective way to dispose of the driftwood collected,” a Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) spokesperson told the Wānaka App. 

The council spokesperson said the QLDC parks team has also been onsite to assess recent damage on the trail between the Wānaka Tree and Edgewater Resort.

“While there’s sufficient access for the public to use the track safely, we’re planning to carry out remedial work early in the New Year,” he said.

A walker navigates a section of eroded track between the Wānaka Tree and Edgewater Resort on Saturday. 

Earlier this year QLDC widened and reinstated sections of the Waterfall Creek Track alongside Lake Wānaka, which was washed out in November 2024. 

The work included large stones being manoeuvered into place on the township side of the bridge before Edgewater. 

The council has confirmed it is working on a temporary solution to have the Lake Wānaka jetty open this summer after it was damaged by last month’s storms.

Read more: Temporary solution planned to replace damaged jetty

PHOTOS: Wānaka App