From an email passed on to the club:

 Plantation Forest Survey – Pssssssssssst … pass it on

Did you know that the Plantation Forest, where most of Wanaka's fabulous mountain biking takes place, is privately owned?

For the past 10 years, the Office of Treaty Settlements has managed the land while the rightful owners were sought. In the coming year, these new owners will acquire the land outright.

In the past, the OTS has kindly allowed us to continue to ride in the Plantation. Obviously, continued recreational use of the forest will no longer be assured once the land passes into private hands.

In the past, the OTS has kindly allowed us to continue to ride in the Plantation. Obviously, continued recreational use of the forest will no longer be assured once the land passes into private hands.

Lake Wanaka cycling Inc., Wanaka's cycling club, is working to encourage Queenstown-Lakes District Council to compensate the new landowners and acquire the Plantation as recreational reserve, so that locals and visitors can continue to enjoy this fantastic track network.

Help us preserve Bilantis, Venus, Crankenfine, Hoe Down, Peroxide, Kooza, Scooby, the Tunnel of Love and all those other tracks we know and love!

We already know how many "rider visits" the Forest gets per year (more than 20 000), but we want to know who uses the forest, when, and how often.

Sounds great – how can I help?!

 You can help us by filling out our survey, and passing the survey anyone you know so they can fill it out too!

You have two options.

 1) Print the following survey questions, fill out your ansers and either drop it off or post it to: Thunderbikes, 48 Helwick Street, Wanaka OR

 2) Answer the questions below and email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ,

Gee, that seems low tech – couldn't you give us an online form to fill out?

Nice thought, but we're just a bike club! What's important is that we collect as many completed surveys as we can. It's all part of showing the local Council how vital a facility the Plantation Forest is, and what a huge variety of people use it.

We thank you for your support – hopefully, with your help, we'll be riding Wanaka's legendary tracks next year, the year after that, and the decade after that!

Plantation Forest Survey

1. What do you do in the Plantation (Mountain Bike, Walk, Run, Walk the Dog)?

2. How many times a week do you visit the forest in each of the four seasons – Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter?

3. Do you visit during the week, weekends or both?

4. Did you know that the Plantation Forest is on private land (Yes or No)?

5. Should the Queenstown-Lakes District Council take steps to secure the Plantation Forest for recreational use (Yes or No)?

6. Please give us your name, address, phone number and email address (if you would like to).

7. Would you like to be updated via email (Yes or No)?

8. How long have you lived in Wanaka OR how often do you visit Wanaka?

9. Is Mountain Biking one of the reasons you live or holiday in Wanaka (Yes or No)?

10. What do you do for a living?

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