Winter Wander

The walks are here!

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Walk 4

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Walk 3

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Walk 2

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Walk 1

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Register for the Winter Wander

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Walk 4 - Kelvin Heights Sculpture Trail and Hāwea River Track

Week four is here!

On the Queenstown side we have Kelvin Heights Sculpture Trail. This trail circumnavigates the Kelvin Heights Golf Course! It has impressive views, hidden beach coves and a series of impressive art pieces generously gifted by an anonymous benefactor. Why not pack a picnic and enjoy the views?!

On the Wānaka and Upper Clutha side we have the Hāwea River Track.   Another trail starting at Albert Town Campground, but this time we're following the river to Lake Hawea Village. Given the out and back nature of the trail, I guess you could also start from the village and just turn back when you're ready. Pick your adventure!

Walk 3 - Bob's Cove and Outlet Track

Week three is here!

On the Queenstown side we have Bob's Cove. It’s a moderately challenging route that takes you along the shore of Lake Wakatipu. This walk takes you through the forest with mature stands of red beech. A small car park is available at the trailhead. This is an out and back track, so just turn back when you've had enough!

On the Wānaka and Upper Clutha side we have the Outlet Track.  This track will take you from Wānaka to Albert Town along the shores of Lake Wānaka and the Clutha River. It's a point to point walk, so turn back when ready!

Walk 2 - Lake Hayes Loop and Butterfield Wetlands Track

Week two is here and it's conservation week!

On the Queenstown side we have the  Lake Hayes Loop. It’s been the focus of a number of conservation efforts. There have been community plantings, restoration of hundreds of native plants, predator control efforts and really just a bunch of great work between the Department of Conservation, the community and council.

You can read about the latest restoration project under way to restore the Lake Hayes' northern foreshore.

On the Wānaka and Upper Clutha side we have the Butterfield Wetlands Track. There’s currently a restoration project underway by the community to increase native biodiversity of the Lower Hāwea River reserve and surrounding dry land.

The Butterfield Wetland Track is an easy and short loop walk ideal for walking, running, and mountain biking. It starts from Albert Town Campground located by the Hāwea River Swing Bridge

Walk 1 - Arrowtown Millennium Trail and Wānaka Millennium Trail

On the Queenstown side we have the Arrowtown Millennium Trail. Find a park down by the river and join the trail, enjoy the bridge crossings and loop back to complete your journey.

On the Wānaka side we have the Wānaka Millennium Trail. Now this one is a little long (27km!) so just choose your own adventure here - bike, walk, run and take on as much or as little as you like and soak in the views.

What is the Winter Wander?

We want to the district to stay healthy this winter and get outside  for a walk! It might be cold, but let's not hibernate!

The Winter Wander will be a series of walks starting 7 August. One walk will be released weekly and can be done at any time.

If you complete this walk, then let us know and you'll be entered into a prize draw (more on this below!).

Register with us to keep up-to-date!

Enter your email

How to participate

One walk will be released each week beginning Monday 7 August. 

You can get these straight to your inbox using the form above or follow us on social media where we'll publish the walks every week.

A chance to win!

We want there to be some sort of incentive to participate, so we're offering the chance to win memberships at our sport and recreation facilities. We have the following prizes up for grabs:

  • A 3-month gym and swim membership to Alpine Health and Fitness and Alpine Aqualand

  • A swim membership to Wānaka Recreation Centre

Here's how it works:

  • We'll send you a walk to complete each Monday starting 7 August

  • Let us know when you complete each walk by either uploading a photo of yourself on the walk to #qldcwinterwander (to social media). If you upload to social media, make sure the post is public so we can see it!

  • You get one entry per walk, so if you do all four available walks then you'll get four entries into the prize draw

  • The winners will be randomly chosen on 7 September and contacted via social or email depending on the entry method!

Why wander in winter?

The Winter Wander is all about staying active during the colder months when we tend to hibernate and do less exercise. It's all about maintaining, or creating, long lasting healthy habits to reap the physical and mental benefits of low impact exercise.

You don't need to sweat, there is no cost involved, it can be done at any time, in any weather and you don't even need special equipment! Grab a friend, family member, the dog, or put some headphones in and take some time for yourself.

You'll get an epic, local walk in your email each week to make sure you get those steps in and start a regular walking habit. 

Walking is one opf the most underrated forms of exercise with some phenomenal benefits:

  • Increase and maintain your fitness and cardiac health

  • Strengthen bones and muscles

  • Improve your mood, decrease anxiety, sleep better and boost immune system function

  • Help manage and improve certain health conditions

We're looking forward to seeing everyone out on the trails this August during the Winter Wander and we hope you'll see an improvement to your health and wellbeing!