Wānaka local and Puzzling World owner Stuart Landsborough formed the track in 1993 when he came up with the idea of finding a route to the top of Rocky Mountain after a visit to Diamond Lake which sits below.
Mr Landsborough said he "bush-bashed" and found a route right to the top realising it could be a viable track.
Over time and hundreds of visits, the track was created "bit by bit".
"Every time it rained part of the track got washed away and that’s why even now it’s in really bad condition."
"When I put in a very rough route to the top, I didn’t want people to think it was an easy hill so in all my publicity I called it Rocky Mountain," Mr Landsborough said.
Mr Landsborough does not walk the track any longer because of his age but has donated $100,000 to the restoration project to ensure it continues to have a place in Wānaka’s great outdoors.
The Upper Clutha Tracks Trust has fundraised around $40,000 to support the work, while the Department of Conservation is contributing materials and staff time.
The trust is now seeking a further $50,000 to complete the upgrades.
For Mr Landsborough creating the track was a break from work.
The original track had received minimal maintenance since its completion.
"Its wonderful to hear things are going ahead and Doc are right behind it," he said.
Doc Central Otago operations manager Charlie Sklena said the project showed what was possible when Doc and the community worked in partnership.
"Together we’re improving visitor experience on public conservation land while caring for the landscape for future generations," she said.
Upper Clutha tracks trust chairman David Howard said it was a significant project as it demonstrated a model of how Doc, the trust and the community could work together to create and maintain outdoor experiences.
Mr Howard believed Rocky Mountain was one of New Zealand’s best walks.
"It holds many memories for my family and I," he said.
Full closure of the track is not expected as steps and surface improvements are to be completed in sections.
