Wānaka Trail Ride

The Wānaka Trail Ride offers a unique and stunning, all-abilities trail bike ride over Deep Creek, Long Gully & Lindis Peak Stations for spectacular trail riding. Trails cover all levels of riding, from beginners to experts. Riders have the rare opportunity to explore private high country farmland, whilst helping to raise funds for Wānaka Primary School and Montessori Children’s House. Tracks include family, intermediate, advanced and expert trails as well as a pee-wee track for children. The Wānaka Trail Ride is an event for motorbikes and farm-style quad bikes.

Register online at www.wanakatrailride.org

Putting out the call for trail-riding volunteers

With one of the South Island’s top trail rides back for 2023 and organisers are on the hunt for keen volunteers to join the crew. After Covid restrictions cancelled Wānaka Trail Ride in 2022, it’s expected this year’s event, to be held on April 1, will see a bumper turnout.
According to Wānaka Trail Ride Track Manager, Phil Pendlebury, a big event takes a big team.

“It’s great to see so many familiar faces back again this year to join us on the marshalling team, but there’s still a few gaps to fill,” Phil says.

“All up, we’ll have around 40 marshals on the day. Anyone who is a keen trail rider and wants to be part of a fantastic experience should get in touch.

“It’s always a big job to get the trails ready each year. These are working farms every other day, so there’s a lot of work that goes into clearing growth and marking trails before the event. And there’s an even bigger team needed on the day.”

Wānaka Trail Ride is an entirely volunteer-run event and the marshalling team plays a crucial role in maintaining the high levels of safety—and fun—the ride is known for.

“Roles cover everything from marshalling the young riders on the pee wee track to working in the communications tent in the base paddock through to setting up and marking trails prior to the event.”

This year’s event will mark the seventh Wānaka Trail Ride, which has now raised over $140,000 for Wānaka Primary School, Montessori Children’s House Wānaka, Tarras School and the RSA Appeal.

The event will be held Saturday, April 1 with online registration now open.

Volunteers can sign up at https://wanakatrailride.org/volunteers/ or email Gillian directly at volunteer@wanakatrailride.org