A major motivation for the Deaton Family in bringing LandEscape Wanaka into being is to have a vehicle to incorporate, demonstrate and, ultimately educate our visitors on the fundamentals and potential of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the built environment. This is an arena we have been involved in and passionate about for thirty years. In LandEscape Wanaka we finally have the opportunity, on a greenfields site, to put our deep knowledge of those concepts, technologies, systems and practices into real world use.

For those interested in what has now generally become known as “sustainability” there will be much of value for you at LandEscape Wanaka. The following drawings give some initial insight as what is to come in this respect. You will see terms like “Combined Heat and Power Micro Grid”, “Temperature Stratified Thermal Energy Buffer Tank”, “Building Physics” and “Wood Gasification Boiler”. Eventually these concepts will be explained in depth on the website and demonstrated in a working setting on site.

8 x hot tubs landscape plans.pdf

Explanatory Drawing – 2020-01-Ride centre services plan.pdf

Explanatory Dwgs – Hot Tub Pipework Schematics & 3D views.pdf

how the Restaurant works in 3d.pdf

LandEscape Masterplan v2.pdf

LeS Cycle Trails.pdf

Wanaka Overall Phase Two Resource Consent 01-V6-2019-07-05.pdf

By Juliet (Marjer) Deaton

As someone who is looking at two hip replacement operations in the near future I am truly delighted with the e-bike revolution as it has transformed my ability to actually get out and about on a bike.  The ease with which I can ride from home into town, go to one of the several dance classes I attend weekly (seven actually – don’t tell Rik, but I actually love dance even more than cycling and nothing as paltry as hip pain could keep me from my Hip Hop!), throw some shopping into my panniers and ride home in about the same time it would take in a car … is just wonderful. I truly love riding my e-bike around my lovely little town and I can always be assured of a parking place.  The section of steep road on the ride home simply goes away with an increase of power from my bike so there is just no excuse for taking the car instead of the YouMo.

My favourite longer trail ……. ?    Probably the ride from town out to LandEscape. This ride takes you along The Lakeside Track which meanders around the edge of our glorious Lake Wanaka.  You then arrive at The Outlet which is where the beautiful Clutha River/Mata-Au, the second longest river in New Zealand, exits the lake and starts its 338 km journey to the Pacific Ocean. The route, popular with locals and one of the real highlights of the area, winds around a narrow path right on the bank of the river until you reach the road bridge at Albert Town.  You then make your way to the start of the Hāwea River Track, crossing the river at the newly renovated swing bridge.   A well maintained gravel cycle path finds it’s way to the Hāwea River which you follow until you come out at the Camphill Bridge just 700 metres from the cycle entry point to LandEscape farm.  It’s a journey that takes you through a variety of terrain, with stunning scenery and beautiful places to stop and contemplate the majesty of nature all along the way. Even so, it remains a simple, gentle and relaxed family-friendly day out.

One of the most delightful experiences to be had in Wanaka, and then I arrive at my magnificent farm … the place where I feel most at peace on the planet … what more could one wish for?

Love … Marj

(Bayne Deaton – age 12)

I don’t particularly like super long rides, that is why my favourite ride in Wanaka are the three tracks that are on LandEscape itself.

The first track is at level one on the National Cycle Trail grading system (for overall difficulty), the next is level two and the last is level three. Four and five are also levels but none of the tracks near Wanaka or Hawea are higher than three so we don’t have tracks on the farm for four and five.

Each of the tracks are equally as enjoyable for me and I never get tired of the amazing view of the lower acres and the mountains and the fields and the animals….. well… you get the idea!!!

I love the LandEscape rides but if I’m looking for a bit more of a mountain biking track that day then I’ll do the Hikuwai loop which I love as well

Come on out to LandEscape and let me show you around!!!

… Bayne

By Rik (Fajer/Da Faj) Deaton

Two years ago I went for a test ride on a very expensive and high-spec electric assist mountain bike. This was my first exposure to an e-bike and it was true love at first ride – I placed an order for one of the bikes on the spot. At time of writing in February of 2019 I am sixty five years old and give thanks daily to the wonders of modern medicine for the freedom afforded me by my artificial hip along with hernia and achilles tendon repairs that, in combination with the incredible new technology that is the electric bicycle, allow me to still regularly get out onto the astonishingly beautiful array of world class cycle trails we have in this area, ride long distances on moderately challenging trails … and have fun!!!

That is what happens to almost anyone who jumps onto an e-bike of any configuration, they just have fun. The e-bike magically turns heart-attack-hills into an easy jaunt, a headwind into a tailwind and a soft surface into a paved cycleway. They take all the hard work out of cycling and just leave fun and gentle exercise. I still ride my fabulous e-mountain bike whenever I want to do one of the more challenging true mountain bike trails in the area, but more and more I find myself gravitating away from the inherently uncomfortable seating posture of a mountain bike to the far more relaxing, upright and scenery-facing seating position of the YouMo e-cruiser we operate in our LandEscape rental fleet.

We believe our YouMo e-cruisers to be the perfect all rounder, ideal for our wide array of guests and the relatively easy and scenic trails they will mostly be riding. The e-bike is bringing older people back to cycling in droves at the same time it attracts new acolytes in equal measure. The e-bike is a short to medium distance transportation revolution in the making and, in an area blessed with the unbelievably rich variety of scenic cycle trails that Wanaka and its environs enjoy, the e-bike provides a way for the visitor to see more of the area in a single day than they might do in any other manner, even in a car.

So, which of our amazing selection of local trails is my personal favourite? That, I have to admit, really is a hard one. Depends to some extent on mood and energy levels. If there is a more scenic and enjoyable cycle trail on the planet than the fabulous Millennium Track from the Wanaka Tree to Glendhu Bay campground and back then I don’t know of it. This is at the upper range of terrain that the YouMo is suited to. Although only rated at difficulty grade 2 (easy) it still has a pretty rough surface in places along with some steep drop offs at the trailside and challenging climbs and downhill sections … but, damn, what a ride. The YouMo will handle it just fine as long as the rider respects the limited suspension travel of the bike (remember it does not have the incredible suspension of a true mountain bike) and takes it a bit slowly on the rougher sections. This is not a ride for the inexperienced or the faint hearted however, so do come out to the farm at LandEscape and practice on our graded trail system before you attempt it if you are not sure of your abilities.

My other personal favourite, if I am feeling like a really big ride, is to combine the 30 kilometres of off-road scenic grandeur that is the ride from our present home in Wanaka township out to the LandEscape farm, with a detour down the fantastic riverside loop trail to the little town of Luggate and back, known as “The Newcastle Loop”. If you have the legs to add the Newcastle Loop track to the standard Wanaka to LandEscape ride, you will have seen some of the most wonderful scenery this incredible region has to offer and you will find endless delightful spots to pause and enjoy your trailside picnic. The combined journey of 80 kilometres is a full day outing but no biggie to a reasonably capable and fit rider (you are on an e-bike remember) but it requires that you slap on a second YouMo battery and swap them over when you exhaust the first. But that is just one more reason we chose YouMo for your Wanaka trail riding experience – few other e-bikes carry two batteries!

The ride from Wanaka to the farm at LandEscape is the standard ride that many of our e-bike rental guests will be doing and it is just a delight. The addition of the Newcastle Loop is truly the icing on a very rich and delicious cake. The ride meanders from Wanaka township via the lakefront to the outlet trail and then across the suspension bridge to the Hawea River track which is where you have to decide if you want to throw the Newcastle Loop into the mix for the day.

Anywhere you go on the local cycle trail network however, is fantastically scenic, relaxing and a delight that will set you momentarily free from whatever everyday cares may be vexing you.

Lose your mind and come to your senses … Rik