Wānaka's biking and walking infrastructure has seen record use again this holiday season, according to figures released by Active Transport Wānaka.

Active Transport Wānaka founder Simon Telfer said the use of the lakefront shared path saw 57,000 people movements over the month, including a “phenomenal” 4,500 users on December 31.

For the four weeks from December 23 to January 19, the number of people walking and biking increased by eight percent on the lakefront shared path compared to the same month a year ago.

The number increased by 4.5 percent on the Aubrey Rd shared path; ten percent on the Anderson Road shared path; 18 percent on the Schools to Pool Path; and 21 percent on Te Ara Maumahara (‘memory path’, formerly the Millennium Path)​.

“It’s great seeing [Queenstown Lakes District Council] QLDC funded infrastructure being so heavily used and that climate action is being supported by visitors and the community,” Simon said.

Simon said the focus for active transport in Wānaka is currently focused on building the lakefront shared path opposite Wānaka’s CBD (stage four of the Lakefront Development Plan), re-routing people on bikes around (rather than through) the Dinosaur Park. 

“This is the missing link between the Yacht Club and the end of Te Ara Maumahara,” he said.

Another priority is to support the construction of the Golf Course/Ballantyne roundabout which will enable the Schools to Pool shared path to cut through Three Parks to the Recreation Centre, he said, as well as long term planning to add Beacon Point Road to the cycle network.

QLDC has also received funding for bike stands along the Schools to Pool route and these are expected to be constructed at Kelly’s Flat, Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College, and the Recreation Centre.

PHOTO: Wānaka App