Our Favourite Biking and Hiking trails

Click the title to view the webpage. Always check the weather and track conditions before heading out to ensure the track is open and safe.

Bike Trails:

Bike Wanaka has a useful app you can download, allowing access to trail maps and upcoming events.

The Millennium / Glendhu Bay Track - The ride is around 15km from Waterfall Creek to Glendhu Bay, this track has some fast downhills, short and steep climbs and a few rocky outcrops. Beautiful scenery and secluded beaches along the way. You can bike to Waterfall Creek from town, extending your ride. *Once you get to Glendhu Bay, pop into the bike park there for a coffee or a delicious plate of Nachos!

Hawea River Track - Along the Hawea River is the 10km trail from Albert Town to Lake Hawea. Access to this trail is across the Albert Town bridge, turning right into the reserve and then over a swing bridge. A very easy track to ride, great for families. *Enjoy a pub meal or stop at the local store for a pie or coffee.

Sticky Forest - Suitable for beginners, intermediate and advanced. A 10-minute bike ride from the centre of Wanaka is Sticky Forest. This single-track network has about twenty EPIC trails to enjoy.

Kirimoko Trails - Located near to Sticky Forest, these trails are designed to appeal to a wide range of skill levels, with an easy downhill line, a flow line and jump track.

Dean’s Bank - This is a purpose built 11km loop of fast, flowing single ./track on the river terrace above the Clutha River. It starts at the Albert Town campground and takes you to the Lake Wanaka outlet, before doubling back through the forest. The track includes sections of banks and berms and is ideally suited to intermediate riders.

Bike Glendhu - This trail network was dug into the hillside of ahigh-country station. The trails are an incredible mix of fast flow and challenging tech. If you don’t like the uphill journey, enjoy the taxi service that will take you and your bike to the top of the hill. Perfect for children or adults and once finished, ‘Velo Café’ serves delicious and nutritious free-range food, coffee and locally crafted beers and beverages.

Lismore Jump Park - This facility includes a skills area featuring dirt tabletops and wooden hits, a jump track and technical tracks for those you like it steep and tricky.

Cardrona Bike Park - This park is all about alpine riding. With a variety of lift-accessed downhill biking trails with features like rock gardens, rockrolls and shade slopes. Suitable for strong intermediate and advanced bikers. Catch the chairlift up and hoon down! And remember, it's around 10deg cooler on the mountain so wrap up warm. When you are done, enjoy a cold beer and snacks sitting in the garden bar at the Cardrona Hotel! If you can’t wait that long, enjoy the cafés up the hill.

Hikuwai Loop Track - This trail has a few jumps and steeper sections which have alternative routes. It gives a great route through Hikuwai which can be a maze. It starts at the Gunn Road entrance and finishes at the junction with the Outlet Track. Perfect for all ages.

For the kids

Gunn Road Skills Park – Albert Town - A small network of kid-friendly pump tracks and flow lines in Albert Town that were freshly upgraded in 2022. The Gunn Road Skills Park connects onto the Hikuwai Loop and then Sticky Forest if you and the youngins’ are really feeling energized. Located next to the Clutha-River and suitable for all ages, it’s a great spot for a family day out.

Hawea Skills Park – Lake Hawea - Another small, kid-friendly community park that’s packed with jump lines, flow lines, jump progressions, and a small pump track. Slightly more technical than the Gunn Road Park, with more options for progression as young riders start to feel more confident. Super popular with the locals and a great place to get some practice in.

Bremner Bay Bike Park - A natural bike park designed for junior riders. The park features a junior bike trail, complete with raised wooden boardwalks and natural stone jumps, together with fantastical fairy doors and wooden gnomes carved from the trees, spread across a largely under utilised area of Eely Point recreational reserve.

Local Walks & Hikes

Mt Iron - One of Wānaka's most popular short walks provides spectacular 360-degree panoramic views. A favourite of the locals, many of us pop up daily! From the top you can see Lakes Wanaka and Hawea, the Cardrona and Upper Clutha Valleys and all the surrounding peaks; many of them in Mount Aspiring National Park in the west.

· Start: State Highway 84, there is a carpark opp. the BP garage (or drive to Allenby Park Toilet and park there)

· Time: 1.5 hours for the round trip (or pop up and down the front (Wanaka side) in 45min

· Distance: 4.5 km for the round trip

· Grade: Steep in places both up and downhill, can get slippery when there hasn’t been any rain.

The Outlet Track - An easy walk that follows the crystal-clear waters of the Clutha River from the Lake Wānaka outlet to Albert Town. Beautiful at all times of the year, but especially Autumn!! Once you get to Albert Town, treat yourself to a coffee and patisserie at our award winning Pembroke Patisserie – you won’t regret it!

· Start – Northern end: Outlet Motor Camp

· Start – Southern end: Albert Town

· Distance: 3 km one way

· Time: 1 hour one way

· Grade: Easy walking track, stroller and family friendly

Town to the Waterfall Creek - The track starts from the west end of Roys Bay, and soon reaches Wānaka Station Park, a beautiful picnic area, on the left. The track then winds along the lakes western shores for superb views and a great photo opportunity at the famous “Wānaka Tree”. The trail then passes Edgewater and Rippon Vineyard – where a cellar door and wine tastings are available – and on to Waterfall Creek with views of Ruby Island. Extend your walk or bike ride and continue on towards Glendhu Bay on the Glendhu Bay Track. Locals tip: Stop at Edgewater for a delicious scone, the best in town!

· Start: Roys Beach, western end

· Time: 1 hour

· Distance: 2.5 km

· Grade: Easy, stroller friendly, bikes permitted

Beacon Point Walk - The Beacon Point Walk links Bremner Bay and Beacon Point. It is suitable for all fitness levels, ages, and mobility levels to include both strollers and wheelchairs. Although this is one of the shortest walks in Wānaka, it offers beautiful views of the lake and surrounding peaks. You can lengthen this walk by carrying on towards the Outlet Track, just a 30-minute walk from Beacon Point.

· Distance: 1.5km (0.9 mile) one way

· Difficulty: Easy

· Estimated time: 30 minutes (1 hour return)

Diamond Lake - Located slightly out of town, a steady climb takes you to a beautiful lookout over a hidden lake. Choose from a 45 minute loop track or continue for a 3 hour hike to Rocky Mountain with great 360° views over the lake and mountains. Follow the 4WD track from the Diamond Lake car park on Mt Aspiring Road, climbing steadily to the lake where a circuit track is marked. Another track winds up to a lookout above Diamond Lake. Beyond here, there’s a choice of the Lake Wānaka Lookout, off to the right or to Rocky Mountain’s 775-metre summit via a loop track. Spectacular views include Lake Wānaka and a skyline dominated by the surrounding peaks. The distinct shape of Mt Aspiring/Tititea lies to the west. In winter the lake is often frozen. Icy conditions on the track can be hazardous in winter.

Start: Diamond Lake Car Park off Mt Aspiring Road

Times & Distances:

· Diamond Lake Circuit Track return 45 minutes / 2.5km (easy)

· Diamond Lake Lookout return 1 hour / 2 km (easy-moderate, lots of stairs)

· Lake Wānaka Lookout return 2 hours / 5 km (easy-moderate)

· Rocky Mountain Summit Track return 3 hours / 7 km (moderate-hard)

If you are out this way, check if Bike Glendhu is open and pop in there for a coffee/beer to congratulate yourself on being out there in the fresh air!

Roys Peak Track - The World-Famous all-encompassing panorama from this 1,578-metre summit includes most of Lake Wānaka, the surrounding peaks and Mount Aspiring/Tititea. A DOC "Best Day Hike”. We recommend you leave early for this walk and make sure you pack warm clothes, no matter the season as even in mid-summer temperatures can drop quickly. Make sure you bring plenty of water!

Start: Mt Aspiring Road, Roys Peak Car Park

· Time: 5 – 6 hours return

· Distance: 11 km

· Grade: Good level of fitness required as the track is steep.

Isthmus Peak Track - A long, steady climb that rewards walkers with spectacular, panoramic views of Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea as well as the mountains of the Southern Alps.

· Start: Isthmus Peak car park on SH6

· Time: 5 – 6 hours return

· Distance: 16 km

Grandview Mountain Track - The Grandview Mountain Track gives access to the vast Grandview Range. With stunning panoramic views over Lake Hāwea, the pastoral flats through to Lake Wānaka and local peaks. On a clear day, Mt Aspiring / Tititea’s distinct profile can be seen on the horizon. Pockets of kānuka shrub land merge with the pastoral land on the lower section of the track before opening up to the tussock land that dominates the tops. Climbing steadily the track passes several small remnant beech forests on the opposite side of the creek, before reaching the station boundary at 1260 m then Grandview Mountain at 1,398m: an elevation gain of 958m from the car park.

· Time: 4 – 6 hrs

· Distance: 9km (one way)

· Grade: Steep in places, Intermediate to advanced but mostly on a 4WD track

Blue Pools - The track starts at the Blue Pools car park (1 hour drive from Wanaka) just outside of the town of Makarora. After 10 minutes, just after the first swing bridge, it branches to the left. Soon after, it crosses the Blue Pools Bridge for great views up the river gorge. From here the track continues through beech forest to Rainy Flat and then opens up onto sections of farmland and bush that lead to the mouth of the Young River.

· Time: 1.5 – 2 hours one-way

· Distance: 7 km one way

· Grade: Suitable for people with moderate fitness. Some backcountry (remote areas) experience required

Breast Hill Track - The track to Breast Hill is part of the Te Araroa Trail and provides spectacular panoramic views of Lake Hāwea and the Southern Alps. From the Dingle Burn Road to Pakituhi Hut the track climbs a vertical 950m, with the first kilometre of track zig-zagging for 400 vertical metres before reaching a small saddle. On this section of track the highest point (1,300m altitude) is reached at the ridgeline prior to Pakituhi Hut. On clear days, trampers will be rewarded with stunning views over Lake Hāwea and the surrounding landscape including Mt Aspiring/ Tititea.

· Start: Dingle Burn Road

· Time: 4-5 hours one way, Dingle Burn Road to Pakituhi Hut

· Distance: 4km one-way, Dingle Burn Road to Pakituhi Hut

· Grade: Moderate-Difficult, steep and exposed in places

Fern Burn Track - A varied day walk passing through ancient beech forest and high-country tussock, with the option to overnight at the Fern Burn Hut. The walk begins with a trail through farmland following along the Fern Burn River and then on to steeper terrain as the river narrows and cascades down through ancient beech forest. Above the treeline the track climbs through upland tussock to the hut.

· Start: Just before the first bridge / river ford on Motutapu Road, approx. 3km from Glendhu Bay Camp. The car park is on the right of the road, and the track starts on the left side of the road.

· Time: 3 – 4 hours (one way)

· Distance: 7 km

· Grade: Average fitness. Care required on some steep and exposed sections

West Matukituki Valley track - Raspberry Creek to Mt Aspiring Hut - This scenic alpine valley walk begins at Raspberry Creek car park and follows a well-formed track through beech forest, open river flats, and beneath towering peaks, offering stunning views of the Matukituki River, waterfalls, and surrounding mountains.

· Time: 2-3 hours one way

· Distance: 9 km one way

· Grade: Suitable for families & day hikers with moderate fitness

Experienced trampers can continue to Liverpool Hut and Franch Ridge Hut

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