More than 10km of mountain bike and walking trails are beginning to take shape on Bluff Hill as the Bluff Hill Motupōhue Active Recreation Precinct gets under way.

Awarua Rūnaka performed karakia and a bless in October before the first sod was turned and Wānaka-based mountain bike trail construction company Dirt Dynamics got started working their magic on the new and existing trails.

For now, the existing trails remain open and can be used. We know people will be very excited to use the new trails but we’d like to remind everyone that it is a construction site and to stay off any fenced off trails for the safety of the community and the people working on site.

The car park off Pearce St is now closed and will reopen on Friday 1 March 2024 to allow for the installation of a toilet block and bike wash, as well as work on the extension of the car park itself. Temporary access to the walking track will be maintained as part of these works as well.

Construction has started at the top of the hill and contractors will work their way down with the intention of the precinct being open in July 2024.