A 2 minute video ride along the Newcastle Track
Combine it with the Upper Clutha River Track to make a great loop ride from Albert Town
Author Archive
Newcastle Track
Monday, April 15th, 2013
Newcastle Track from Reiko's Lookout
Newcastle Track Opened on 8th December 2012
The new track is 14km long and runs on the true left of the Clutha River from the Hawea River Swing Bridge at Albert Town to near the Red Bridge at Luggate. , It creates a great loop track in conjunction with the Upper Clutha River Track.
The main funder of the track is the Otago Community Trust, with additional funding from the following:
Walking Access Commission – Enhanced Access Fund
The Lion Foundation
Skycity Casino Queenstown Community Trust
The Trust has had considerable support from the Department of Conservation Wanaka Office who have constructed some of the track and managed the project on behalf of the Trust.
The Trust would also like to thank Devon Diaries Ltd the adjoining landowner for their assistance with the project, and Bike Wanaka who will be assuming the day to day responsibility for maintaining the track.
The Trust welcomes anyone who would like to donate their skills and services or even make a financial contribution to future tracks.
AGM – 17th October 2012
Tuesday, October 9th, 2012
Six years of achievement
The Devil's Nook - Luggate Creek Track
Our annual general meeting will be held at 7.pm on Wednesday 17th October at the Print It Community Room on Brownston St Wanaka.
Everyone is welcome to join us as we celebrate six years of achievement and discuss ideas for new projects.
Our current projects the Newcastle Track and the Luggate Creek Track – stage 2 are both expected to be completed and open by Christmas, and the Trust is now reviewing ideas for new projects.
We will have a range of ideas available for discussion and would welcome any ideas that the public may have.
Everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing you there on 17th.
Riverrun Trail Series
Friday, September 16th, 2011
Running the lakefrontRiverrun Trail Series
Come and enjoy one of Wanaka’s stunning tracks: the Hawea River Track, the Upper Clutha Track, the Damper Bay/ Waterfall Creek Track and the Outlet Track
Spectacular scenery, exciting trails that wind their way alongside the region’s most stunning waterways and races that appeal to all abilities – the Riverrun Trail Series.
The Riverrun Trail Series allows competitors to explore four of the region’s recently developed tracks. The tracks are all lakeside or riverside and all are challenging in their own respects and will provide a memorable experience for athletes, from first timers to experienced runners.
The Riverrun Trail Series begins 1st October 2011 and concludes on 19th May 2012 with four races making up the series. There are prizes for place getters and plenty of spot prizes to ensure everyone’s in with a chance of winning.
Enter one or enter the whole Series – the overall winner of the Series will earn the John Pawson Trophy, named after inspirational local John Pawson who was a dedicated advocate for the environment and the development of the trails.
For more information visit www.trailseries.co.nz or email event@trailseries.co.nz
Luggate Creek Track Official Opening
Monday, May 23rd, 2011
The Trust would like to invite everyone to join us to celebrate the opening of the Luggate Creek Track on Sunday 30th May at 10 am at Harris Place in Luggate. Harris Place in is the new subdivision in Luggate and is accessed from Pisa Road. See track map for details.
The Luggate Creek Track is the first part of our current projects to be opened and connects the Luggate Township into the track network. The track also provides access to Luggate Creek and limited access to the Devil’s Nook. We hope to be able to improve access to the Devils Nook later in the year as a further phase of this project.
The Devil's Nook - Luggate Creek Track
It is now possible to to walk or cycle between Luggate, Wanaka, Albert Town and Lake Hawea completely off road.
In the near future, we hope to include the small community at John’s Creek into the network, and we are also looking at options to fully connect to Hawea Flat. In the longer term, our goal is to creaet a track all the way down to Cromwell and Clyde to connect with the Otago Central Rail Trail and the Roxburgh Gorge Track.
The Trust is a registered Charity and funds its activities from grants and donations and support from the public and local businesses.
The Trust welcomes support either by cash donations or the donations of skills and services and details of what even small donations can achieve can be found on our Help the Trust build Tracks page.
The Trust is grateful for the support of the following groups for their financial support of the project.
Central Lakes Trust $120,000
Otago Community Trust $30,000
The Trusts Charitable Foundation $20,000
Alexander McMillan Trust $10,000
Callis Trust $10,000
Lion Foundation $10,000
First Sovereign Trust $10,000
DOC $43,244
The balance of the funds have been provided by the Trust.
New Projects Fully Funded
Wednesday, April 13th, 2011
Gladstone Track at Lake Hawea
The Trust is pleased to announce that after more than a year of fund raising we have finally achieved the full budget total of $291,617 for our latest track project.
Our new project is the extension of the track network at both Lake Hawea and at Luggate.
Lake Hawea to Johns Creek.
This new section of track will run connect with the existing track through the the lakeside reserve and then run mostly along the cliff tops to the small settlement at Johns Creek. This will be of a similar standard to the Upper Clutha River Track, and will also form part of the Te Araroa long distance pathway.
View from the Gladstone Track
Planning for this section has been taking place for some time and we are currently waiting for a resource consent for a small section of track. We hope to start construction of some of this track in the next couple of months.
Red Bridge to the Devils’s Nook and Luggate Township.
This will extend the existing Upper Clutha River Track, downstream along the Clutha River to Luggate Creek where a new footbridge will cross the creek. Once over the creek a track will give access to the Devils Nook, a beautiful feature of the Clutha River and provide easier fishing access downstream.
The Devils Nook from the Luggate Creek Track
A track will also follow Luggate Creek up the township and the Luggate Pub for those who feel they deserve a drink after completing the track.
Work has already started on constructing the track and bridge and we hope to be able to open this section in June.
Luggate Creek Bridge
Funding
The Trust is grateful for the support of the following groups for their financial support of the project.
Central Lakes Trust $120,000
Otago Community Trust $30,000
The Trusts Charitable Foundation $20,000
Alexander McMillan Trust $10,000
Callis Trust $10,000
Lion Foundation $10,000
First Sovereign Trust $10,000
DOC $43,244
The balance of the funds have been provided by the Trust.
Riverrun Series
Monday, October 11th, 2010
The Riverrun Trail Series is an off-road running series designed to showcase the spectacular lakeside and river tracks in Lake Wanaka.
The first event is on the 17 October, on the Hawea River Track and offers a 5km, 10 km and half marathon option.
The Riverrun Trail Series will allow competitors to explore three of the region’s recently developed tracks – the Hawea River Track, the Upper Clutha River Track and the Glendhu Bay Track. The tracks are all lakeside or riverside and all are challenging in their own respects and will provide a memorable experience for athletes, from first timers to experienced runners.
The Riverrun Trail Series begins October 2010 and concludes in May 2011 with three races making up the series. There are prizes for place getters and plenty of spot prizes to ensure everyone’s in with a chance of winning.
Enter one or enter the whole Series – the overall winner of the Series will earn the John Pawson Trophy, named after local John Pawson who was the first chair of the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust and a driving force behind the creation of the tracks.
More information about the Riverrun Series can be found at www.trailseries.co.nz
Upper Clutha River Track Improvements
Friday, August 20th, 2010
Improving the Upper Clutha River Track
Work is currently underway to improve the surface of sections of the Upper Clutha River Track.
John Sutton, who constructed the track for the Trust has been onsite repairing and improving some problem areas as part of the original construction contract.
He has also been making some minor improvements identified by the Department of Conservation and funded by the Trust, mostly in respect of water tables to improve the drainage of the track.
The Department of Conservation who have taken over management of the track have also been busy gravelling some of the more muddy sections as seen above.
Upper Clutha River Track – Mud & Maintenance
Thursday, July 15th, 2010
The Trust is aware that parts of the new Upper Clutha River Track are currently very muddy and slippery. The track is still in its settling in period and will be reviewed after the winter.
The track has been constructed to a similar standard to the Outlet track between Wanaka and Albert Town. The Trust has taken the decision that it is better to initially build 10km of track that can be used 90% of the time than to build 2km that can be used 100% of the time. The track will t be allowed to settle in and then be reviewed to see what sections may require additional work such as gravelling.
The track is now being managed by the Department of Conservation in Wanaka who are monitoring its condition and will liaise with the Trust in the spring regarding any improvements that are required.
In the meantime – please continue to use the track but be aware that there will be some muddy parts and you may need to walk your bike in those sections.
Upper Clutha River Track Open!
Thursday, April 15th, 2010
Track Opening 27th March 2010
Enjoying the new track near Haliday Bluff
The Upper Clutha River Track was officially opened on Saturday 27th March at Pawson’s Crossing, the new bridge over the Cardrona River near Albert Town.
The track follows the mighty Clutha River from Albert Town to Short Cut Road near Luggate, and provides great views of the river and surrounding mountains, and good access for fishermen.
The track is a combined walking and cyclying track built to a lower standand than the nearby Hawea River Track, and providing a slightly more challenging ride.
The track starts at a new car park located off Kennibeg St in Albert Town, and leads a short distance upstream to Pawsons Crossing – a new bridge over the Cardrona River, before heading back down the Cardrona River to Haliday Bluff.
There is a link track that continues up the true right of the Cardrona River and then connecting to Haliday Road.
The track climb to cross the face of Haliday Bluff and this section provides great views but requires care especially for cyclists, before dropping back towards the river edge.
After about 40 minutes walking you reach Stevensons Road which provides vehicle access to and from SH6 near Wanaka Airport.
The track continues downstream along a river terrace passing the remains of a historic miners cottage as it descends to poplar Beach.
The track continues on