Construction of a stunning $8 million cycleway between Gibbston and Bannockburn starts early in the new year.
Expected to turbo-charge Queenstown and Central Otago cycle tourism, the 32km Kawarau Gorge Trail will take about two years to build.
It not only links the Queenstown Trails Trust network with the Lake Dunstan Trail, but it’s one of the last cogs in what’ll be a chain of cycleways connecting Queenstown and Dunedin.
Southern Lakes Trails (SLT) — formerly the Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust — is also looking to build a Wānaka to Cromwell trail, from next year.
SLT opened the hugely-popular Lake Dunstan Trail, between Cromwell and Clyde, two years ago.
‘‘Our business case to central government was 7000 users in the first year, we got 80,000,’’ trust chair Aaron Halstead says, ‘‘and we’ve had 150,000 since we built it, so we’re expecting the same with the Kawarau Gorge Trail.’’
The trust’s just awarded Southern Land Development Consultants the project management contract — it’ll in turn appoint, most likely, two or three contractors to build the trail.
‘‘The Kawarau Gorge is packed with amazing terrain that will deliver a truly memorable experience for generations to come,’’ Southern Land’s trail designer/project manager Dave Howard says.
‘‘The remote location will provide some challenges for our contractors, but nothing that has not been overcome in other locations.’’
SLT is also partnering with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to build a bolted-on section beneath road level around the Nevis Bluff and an
underpass opposite Oxbow Adventure Co, at Victoria Flats.
The trust’s also building two massive bridges over the Kawarau River.
Cyclists ‘gagging’ for stunning, scenic trail
Attractions along the way include the Roaring Meg power station and Goldfields Mining Centre.
The trail straddles the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago District Councils’ border — 6km within the former, 24.7km within the latter.
‘‘It’s a bit like Queenstown Trails Trust building from Arrowtown to Arthurs Point to town, people are gagging for it,’’ Halstead says.
Trailblazer: Southern Lakes Trails chair Aaron Halstead
‘‘When they finally get on it, they’ll just go ‘wow’,’cos it’s wow factor when you’re on the other side of the river [from State Highway 8] looking back.
‘‘No one gets to see this apart from the farmers over there.
‘‘Suddenly they’re going to get access to a beautiful part of New Zealand no one else has seen.’’
Howard notes the beauty of the trail is people will be able to experience nature, culture and history — especially from the goldmining days — ‘‘and the Kawarau Gorge has plenty to offer on these three fronts’’.
There’ll be interpretation panels, and an old moa’s nest, discovered by archaeologists, will also be displayed.
With the trail being, for most people, a day-long ride, Halstead says it’ll contribute to visitors staying longer and appreciating the environment more.
He adds it’ll also present business opportunities for cycle tour operators and the like, as has occurred with the Lake Dunstan Trail.
‘‘Who knows what opportunities are going to come up?’’
Halstead says the trust’s truly grateful to land owners who’re allowing access, including the Department of Conservation and Land Information NZ.
‘‘They need to know we’re good stewards of the land, and we have to prove we can build these trails in a sustainable way.’’
This trail, Lakes Dunstan Trail and the Wānaka Link are being funded from a $26.3m pool provided by central government ($13.15m), Central Lakes Trust ($11.15m) and Otago Community Trust ($2m).
Halstead says an 1898 Otago/Southland tourist guide ‘‘talked about, ‘wouldn’t it be amazing to be able to cycle from Queenstown to Wānaka to Dunedin?’’’
‘‘It’s just taken about 120 years, but we’re nearly there,’’ he adds.
