Deans Bank Track
An 11 kilometre single-track loop above the Clutha River, and Wānaka's best-known mountain bike ride.
Deans Bank is a one-way cross-country loop starting from Albert Town, weaving through matagouri and tussock above the Clutha River. It is fast and flowing, with berms, banks and tight corners, and most of the technical obstacles have an easier line around them. Climbs are on switchbacks and the descents flow. A fit rider can lap it in about an hour.
Highlights
- Flowing single track through tussock and matagouri
- Views over the Clutha River and the Southern Alps
- Berms, banks and tight corners
- Easier lines around most technical features
Good to know
- Location
- Albert Town, above the Clutha River
- Start point
- Albert Town Campground, north east corner
- Duration
- About 1 hour
- Track length
- 11 km loop
- Grade
- Intermediate, with some technical obstacles
- Cost
- Free
One-way loop, so ride it in the signposted direction.
Visiting from Sundale
Deans Bank starts from the north east corner of the Albert Town Campground, a short drive from the park with bikes on the back, or a ride out if you are up for the extra kilometres. The loop is 11 kilometres of one-way single track, so ride it in the signposted direction.
A fit rider laps it in about an hour. It is graded intermediate with some technical obstacles, though most of those have an easier line around them. Take water and a spare tube, because the track runs through matagouri and tussock above the Clutha with no shade and nowhere to buy anything.
It costs nothing, which makes it an easy addition to a day that is already full. Rinse the dust off in the hot showers, and in summer the seasonal swimming pool is right there. Wānaka town is ten minutes away if you want a proper feed afterwards.
Stay nearby
Questions
How hard is the track?
It is graded intermediate with some technical obstacles. Most of those have an easier line around them, and the climbs are on switchbacks.
How long does a lap take?
About an hour for a fit rider over the 11 kilometre loop.
Do I need to pay or book?
No. It is free and open. It is a one-way loop, so ride it in the signposted direction.
Sources
- 11 km loop; about 1 hour; intermediate with some technical obstacles; start Albert Town Campground north east corner; flowing single track through matagouri and tussock with Clutha River and Southern Alps views; switchback climbs — source
Nearby
More things to do.
Blue Pools Track
An easy forest walk over two swing bridges to river pools that run an extraordinary blue.
30 minutes one wayEasy walking track
Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain
A stack of walks off one car park, from a 45 minute lake circuit up to a 775 metre summit above Glendhu Bay.
Diamond Lake Circuit Track return: 45 min. Diamond Lake lookout return: 1 hr. Lake Wānaka lookout return: 2 hr. Rocky Mountain Summit Track return: 3 hr.Sections of this track are steep, with significant fall hazard, and the track is often slippery even in summer
Eely Point Walk
A 20 minute lakeshore walk from Wānaka town to a sheltered picnic and boating spot.
20 min
Your Wānaka basecamp
Make Sundale your base.
Cabins, studios, motels and soft-grass camping, five minutes from the water and close to everything above.