Access

1.5 km from Wanaka town on SH6, Mount Iron Track is signposted by a parking area on the left.

Track

Heading clockwise around the mount, there is a steady climb through kanuka scrub, with panoramas up the lake to the mountains of Mount Aspiring National Park.

At the summit is a plaque with the names of the main peaks and features, including Cardrona Valley, Pisa Range and Lake Hawea.

Return via the same track or continue on the loop. The descent via Albert Town is steeper and less scenic.

Geology

The entire area around Mount Aspiring National Park and Lake Wanaka underwent glaciation over several periods during the last 2 million years. Each successive penetration by the glacial advances obliterated what had gone before.

During the last Pleistocene, with it’s maximum around 17,000 year ago, glaciers descended the Matukituki Valley and met with others at Lake Wanaka, excavating deep valleys. Advances carved the inclined beds of the schist rock.

One notable feature is known as a roche moutonee - or rock sheep. An outcrop of resistant rock has the effect of slowing a glacier in its tracks, arresting its flow and diminishing its erosive powers. An attenuated slope results. Conversely on the downstream side, an acceleration increases its erosive power, giving a steeper slope. Observed from a side view, the shape resembles a sheep - at least it did to French geologists who first described these features.

Polynesian History

The first Maori tribes said to have visited the region were Waitaha. They were later usurped by Ngati Mamoe and later Ngai Tahu.

Waitaha stories are contentious and there are many differing accounts of their origin. Te Rakaihautu was said to have landed the Uruao canoe in Tasman Bay around 850 AD and been responsible for the formation of many land features on Te Wai Pounamu (the South Island). He was like a demi-god.

Over 20 generations later, the descendant O Roko te Whatu lived near Wanaka, at the Neck between Lakes Hawea and Wanaka.

Around 1700, the Waitaha chief Potiki-Tautahi was murdered at Lake Wanaka by his nephew Te Weka.

Later, Katimamoe (K often replaces Ng in the southern dialect) migrated south from homelands in the Hawkes Bay. Some settlements are recorded around Lakes Hawea and Wanaka in early accounts. These were probably seasonal. By 1780 all Waitaha and Katimamoe pure breds had disappeared.

Maori likely used the lakes as mahinga kai - places to gather food like eels and fish, weka and ducks, ti kouka and aruhe (fern root). The area was strategic too, with crossing points nearby like the Motutapu Valley, Matukituki, Cardrona Valley and Tiori-patea (Haast Pass), which accessed valuable deposits of pounamu (greenstone). These greenstone trails were well documented in story and song. Sacred knowledge of techniques to keep travellers alive in these harsh parts were transmitted orally and with reverence.

In 1836, raids by Ngati Tama chief, Te Puoho, scattered many Ngai Tahu groupings. Affiliated to the notorious chief Te Rauparaha, his war parties migrated south, crossing Haast Pass and killing two young girls at Makarora. They feasted on their flesh and took Pukuharuru, son of Te Puoho, as captive. Battles ensured, freeing the kidnapped son, and the family fled to the west. Or maybe the east. Details are unverifiable.

By the time Europeans arrived, there were no Maori left in the region.

European History

This walk, close to town, shows off the recent boom in Wanaka’s house building. Many of those shiny roofs and manicured suburbs have sprung up in the last few decades, as the world has discovered that Wanaka is a really nice place to live. Pretty views, clean and with heaps of summer and winter activities. The problem is that many of those homeowners don’t actually live here. Over 50% of Wanaka’s houses are absentee owners, either investment properties, Air BnB or long-term rentals. Great for property prices. Not so great if you are a local worker on average wages who would like to stay and contribute to the spirit of the local community.