Work has started on the Hawea River track, a walking and cycling track linking Lake Hawea with Albert Town along the Hawea River.
A signature project of the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust, the trail is being developed in conjunction with the Queenstown Lakes District Council QLDC community services project manager Trish Wrigley said the track will be built to a 2.2m wide cycling standard.
Trust chairman John Pawson is asking people not to use the track until it is finished.
"It's exciting to see things falling into place. Everyone has put a huge effort into this."
The 12km Hawea River track crosses some private land and negotiations with the landowners are very important to the success of the track.
"People using the track before it is officially opened will be jeopardising our negotiations and therefore the future of the track," he said.
Mr Pawson said the new trail would be officially opened during the summer.
