The track, on a Dunedin City Council-owned reserve, crosses steep terrain under a cliff face near Pari St, on the outskirts of the township.
Council staff were alerted to the track, which appeared to have been under construction for several months, after being contacted last week by an Aramoana landowner.
Council city property manager Robert Clark said the track appeared to be the handiwork of an Aramoana resident, although it was not clear what purpose it served.
The track ran roughly parallel to the nearby Pari St towards the beach, and there were other tracks in the area, including the Department of Conservation's Haywards Point track, Mr Clark said.
The unauthorised track appeared to be similar to others in the area, but was not built to the same standard.
The concern was those using it could be unaware of the risk of falling rocks from the cliff above, Mr Clark said.
Aramoana residents spoken to said the 500m track ran towards the nearby beach and was a solo project by a long-time resident.
There had been no consultation with other residents or members of the township's Aramoana League.
"Nobody here understands why - it's under a cliff where there are rockfalls occasionally. We have nothing to do with it," one resident said.
The track included several small gardens and elevated views of the township along its course, which led almost to the nearby beach.
Work appeared to be continuing despite the rockfall risk, residents said.
"They [rockfalls] are usually after a storm or something like that, but we know there's loose rock and it comes down."
Council staff have warned members of the Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club not to use the track, and to encourage others to stay clear.
Warning signs would be installed on the track next week.
Mr Clark said council staff would also be speaking to the Aramoana man believed responsible for cutting the track, but it was not yet clear what action - if any - would be taken.
"We may take action and we will ask him to desist," Mr Clark said.
It was "not practical" to fence the land to prevent unauthorised tracks being built, he said.
"To stop that we would have to fence the whole reserve. Then we get into a situation where we are going to fence all sorts of pieces of land we have. It's not a practical solution," he said.
