An upgrade to Lake Hāwea’s Gladstone Track was appreciated by locals and visitors over Easter Weekend, when it was busy with walkers, runners, cyclists and families with buggies.

Hāwea-based Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) councillor Cody Tucker was among last weekend’s users who got to experience the newly widened and resurfaced track.

He told the Wānaka App the upgrade had made the previously run-down track “so much better”.

“It brings Lake Hāwea’s most scenic - and my personal favourite - track up to a really high standard,” he said.

It now has a width of between 2.2 and 2.5m depending on the section, making it suitable for a wide variety of users.

The UCTT is currently applying for resource consent for a 1.5km walking trail which will connect to Makarora’s existing nature walk, pictured. PHOTO: Supplied

As part of the Te Araroa Trail, the scenic lakeside track also “does Hāwea proud,” Cody said.

The Upper Clutha Tracks Trust (UCTT), which funded the section of the upgrade between Muir Road and John Creek, was “very pleased” with the outcome, UCTT treasurer John Wellington said.

The volunteer-run non-profit was formed in 2006 and since then it has brought more than 75km of trails to fruition.

Because of its work residents and visitors can now cycle or walk all the way from John Creek at Lake Hāwea through to Wānaka to Glendhu Bay or Luggate and beyond. 

UCTT has a long list of projects and potential projects in the works as part of its goal to develop a network of walking and cycling trails around the Upper Clutha. 

John said one of the exciting projects making good progress is a 1.5km walking track for Makarora.

The trust is also looking into how to upgrade a portion of the Hāwea River Trail, which was originally part funded by the NZTA as a commuter track. PHOTO: Wānaka App

The UCTT is currently applying for resource consent for the track, which will connect to the Department of Conservation’s existing Makarora Bush Walk, also known as the nature track.

“It will connect up to the existing nature track and loop back into the township,” he said. 

The trust is also “actively working” on a track on the true right of the Hāwea River, John said, as well as looking to extend the track from the Cardrona River Bridge at Albert Town that goes to Hook.

“We want to extend that up the river at least as far as Ballantyne Road if not further,” John said.

In addition, the trust is looking at how to upgrade the Hāwea River Track between Camphill Road and the Butterfield Reserve, which is a DOC track which was originally part funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to be a commuter track.

UCTT is also advocating for an upgrade to a portion of the QLDC-owned track between Waterfall Creek and Damper Bay.

John said the UCTT team tends to have a range of projects on the go at any time and if one is held up, they can focus on another.

“We have lots of projects that are close to fruition,” John said. “The biggest challenge is funding them.”

Support the UCTT’s work and find out more about their current projects at their Facebook page or website.