Council to manage all reserve land at Mount Iron, Wānaka

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has taken over management of the public conservation land at Mount Iron in Wānaka. This land was previously managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC).

QLDC Parks Manager Dave Winterburn says he’s thrilled to reach this milestone and for QLDC to be able to manage this area as one reserve for community and visitor use.

“Following the official vesting of land from DOC under the Reserves Act 1977, QLDC is now the administering body of approximately 55 hectares of reserve land, which includes the State Highway (SH) 84 Mount Iron carpark and the Mount Iron Scenic Reserve. This is a limited form of ownership where QLDC has sole responsibility for the management and maintenance of this reserve land.”

This is in addition to the approximately 100ha of Mount Iron Recreation Reserve already managed by QLDC.

“Having all the reserve land at Mount Iron managed by one organisation is a great outcome for the community and will enhance the experience for Mount Iron users long-term,” he said.

Mr Winterburn said the QLDC Mount Iron Reserve Management Plan (RMP) adopted in April 2025 will now also apply to all the reserve land at Mount Iron.

“The RMP was developed with the understanding if QLDC took over the management of the public conservation land, the objectivities and policies of the RMP would apply,” he said.

DOC acting operations manager Central Otago Andrew Watt says the management change is formalising what has already been in place since 2024.  

“QLDC has already been managing the site on a day-to-day basis, so it’s great to have this milestone reached. Having the reserve officially under one entity will provide consistency for visitors and helps DOC focus our effort on other infrastructure and critical conservation work in the region.”

Now that the SH84 Mount Iron carpark is recreation reserve, Freedom Camping will be prohibited at the site following a period of education for visitors. 

QLDC’s Freedom Camping Bylaw 2025 doesn’t apply to reserve land, which instead is managed under the Reserves Act 1977. This means that overnight camping will not be permitted at the Mount Iron reserve and anyone found staying overnight in campervans, vehicles, or tents will be subject to a fine of $800.

QLDC summer ambassadors will be advising campers of this change and delivering flyers to vehicles at this location over the coming week before enforcement starts. Signage will be installed at the site and there will be online communication and changes made to the QLDC website.

QLDC and DOC will also be contacting all community groups and concession holders to advise of the change and plan to host a community morning tea onsite in the coming month. Further details will be made available soon.  

ENDS|KUA MUTU.

Media contact: communications@qldc.govt.nz or call 03 441 1802.

FURTHER INFORMATION | Kā pāroko tāpiri

• Council supported the vesting application through a decision at a Full Council meeting in August 2022.
• QLDC applied to DOC to have the land vested under the Reserves Act 1977 following the purchase of the Mount Iron Recreation Reserve. This was so a single management and maintenance approach could be taken to all the reserve land at Mount Iron to achieve better outcomes for the Upper Clutha community and visitors.  
• There will be no change to the day-to-day operational management of the public conservation land which has been managed by QLDC under a separate management agreement since May 2024.
• The SH84 Mount Iron Carpark has been vested as Recreation Reserve.
• The Mount Iron Scenic Reserve will continue to be managed as a scenic reserve as outlined in the RMP, i.e. there won’t be a change in the purpose for which it’s managed.
• Scenic and recreation reserves have differing purposes under the Mount Iron Reserve Management Plan. The primary purpose of the recreation reserve is to provide for recreation and physical welfare and enjoyment of the public, while protecting, restoring and enhancing the natural environment, cultural landscape and retaining open space. The primary purpose of the scenic reserve is to protect and preserve scenic interest, beauty, natural features, and cultural landscape for the enjoyment of the public.
• Map of Mount Iron Reserve showing land that will now be administered by Council.
• The strip of land on the edge of the existing Mount Iron Scenic Reserve referred to as Part Closed Road Block IV Lower Wanaka Survey District (shaded orange colour on the map) will be vested following completion of survey work.