Otago Vision (NZ)

[rifraf]

"Imagine jet-setting into Queenstown, jumping on a mountain bike and heading east through Cromwell, Alexandra, Roxburgh, Beaumont and Waihola - before boarding a plane again at Dunedin Airport.

Central Otago’s big $26.3 million bike trail network, when it is completed, will link four ‘Great Rides’ - (Queenstown Trail, Otago Central Rail Trail, Roxburgh Gorge Trail and Clutha Gold Trail) to create a whole new ‘Great Ride.’

A cut n paste from:
https://crux.org.nz/community/queenstow ... le-trails/

For further perusing of Otago trails perhaps:
https://www.centralotagonz.com/cycle-central-otago

[RonK]

No need to imagine - I've already joined the dots and added another Great Ride as well - the Around the Mountains Great Ride, and part of another - the Alps to Ocean Great Ride to make a Great Great Ride.

[rifraf]

No need to imagine - I've already joined the dots and added another Great Ride as well - the Around the Mountains Great Ride, and part of another - the Alps to Ocean Great Ride to make a Great Great Ride.

G'day Ron,

I neglected to add some quotation "marks". to indicate I'd cut and pasted from the article I'd linked to.
I'll attempt to fix that with an edit if possible.

I've been once again perusing your Whispering Wheels site again with interest after my sister emailed me the above links after I expressed an interest in some cycle touring down there.

I'm thinking about flying to Dunedin at this point and mirroring your train journey although just as easily could take the ferry across the Cook Strait should I feel my bike would be secure on board, given that would work better for a north Westland meander.

The Otago journeying route isn't cast in stone yet, but I have thoughts of incorporating a heading northwards to have a look at the Old Ghost Trail and maybe a couple of days in Karamea.

Too late in the season to ride the Heaphy Track (or it will be before I get there), but I've a hankering to wet a line at the mouth of the Karamea for a feed of ocean fresh Kahawai (Pacific Salmon) and perhaps a flounder or three from the lagoon, assuming I don't spear one of my own clod hoppers.

I'm currently visiting my sister in Horowhenua (NZ) and have my bike with me.

[RonK]

I'm sure the bike will be safe on the ferry. It's a very popular cycling route - one of my local cycling group used it just a couple of weeks ago. He and another dozen people are now on day two of the Alp2Ocean Great Ride which I organised for them.

Here's a link to the aforementioned Great Great Ride if you haven't already found it.

The OGR would be an excellent ride but I'm doubtful you would be able to book the huts at short notice.

Enjoy Central Otago. It's a fantastic region for cycle touring.

https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/sou ... circuitnz/

[rifraf]

I'm sure the bike will be safe on the ferry. It's a very popular cycling route - one of my local cycling group used it just a couple of weeks ago. He and another dozen people are now on day two of the Alp2Ocean Great Ride which I organised for them.

Here's a link to the aforementioned Great Great Ride if you haven't already found it.

The OGR would be an excellent ride but I'm doubtful you would be able to book the huts at short notice.

Enjoy Central Otago. It's a fantastic region for cycle touring.

https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/sou ... circuitnz/

Thanks Ron,
I shall peruse it with great interest.

[rifraf]

Good to see more and more rides being created in NZ.
I spotted an article on one being created, albeit late due to needing repairs before its finished:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/117 ... great-walk

The new Paparoa Track was created as a tribute to the 29 miners who died in the 2010 Pike River Mine Disaster.

The track is 55km long, and required 41km of new track to be built, as well as four major suspension bridges and two new 20 bunk huts with hut warden quarters.

The track traverses from Blackball on the eastern side of the Paparoa Range over the ranges through Paparoa National Park and to Punakaiki.

Once fully open, walkers will take three days to experience the track, while mountain bikers can complete it in two.

Another article about the track: https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/10479589 ... unity?rm=m

[RonK]

Also, get the Great Rides app.

https://www.mapworks.nz/great-rides-app

[rifraf]

Also, get the Great Rides app.

https://www.mapworks.nz/great-rides-app

Thanks Ron, I've taken your advice and grabbed it.

[rifraf]

I spotted this clip on the Pike29 Memorial Trail section addition to the Paparoa Trail in the MTBR forum here:
https://forums.mtbr.com/general-discuss ... 44917.html



and more

[rifraf]

Those mad Kiwis are at it again with their visions of inter-connected trails.
This one on the cards in western Southland.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/back-you ... aiau-river

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuatapere

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiau_River_(Southland)

[RonK]

Hard to figure out where this trail is going to go. They talk about linking with existing cycle trails but as far as I know there are no existing cycle trails between Milford /Te Anau and Tuatapere. The nearest would be the Around the Mountains trail, some distance from Te Anau Is is a nice ride through there - even the highway carries little traffic.

[RonK]

Speaking of those mad kiwis, check out this extension linking the Otago Rail Trail to Cromwell. When I rode through there I had to use the highway. Now I think I'll have to go back and do it again.

https://crux.org.nz/southern-lens/south ... ike-trail/

[rifraf]

Hard to figure out where this trail is going to go. They talk about linking with existing cycle trails but as far as I know there are no existing cycle trails between Milford /Te Anau and Tuatapere. The nearest would be the Around the Mountains trail, some distance from Te Anau Is is a nice ride through there - even the highway carries little traffic.

Seems its not a new idea.
I'm basing my thoughts on what Wiki says under the "Tourism" section in the second link.
"In March 2007, the Fiordland Trails Trust was established to build a cycle trail along the banks of the Upper Waiau, linking the Township of Te Anau to the Township of Manapouri"

As to "existing cycle trails" I have to admit to currently being geographically illiterate about that far down South with its inherent much cooler clime.
The hints offered with the article of "The plan for the trail is for it to link with existing cycle trails joining the soon to be Great Walk Humpridge Track with the Milford Track and Kepler Track as it travels from Manapouri to Te Waewae Bay", went over my head.
I have read elsewhere though of the vision of "inter-connected system of trails bringing current "Great Rides and Walks" together.
Sounds grand scale and perhaps aspirational but "a good thing" if much of it could be brought to fruition.

Speaking of those mad kiwis, check out this extension linking the Otago Rail Trail to Cromwell. When I rode through there I had to use the highway. Now I think I'll have to go back and do it again.

https://crux.org.nz/southern-lens/south ... ike-trail/

Thats an impressive little site with great camerawork that left me impressed.
And wow, great scale of engineering in their "around the cliffs" engineers feat.
Thanks for providing the link as I'd not come across "Crux" before and first glance suggests a great example of community journalism.

[RonK]

Also the Clutha Gold Trail is being extended to Waihola, just 40km south of Dunedin. This will make great loop ride by combining the Central Otago Rail Trail with the Roxburgh Trail and Clutha Gold Trail.

https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/south-ota ... -extension

[rifraf]

Good to see more and more rides being created in NZ.

The new Paparoa Track was created as a tribute to the 29 miners who died in the 2010 Pike River Mine Disaster.

The track is 55km long, and required 41km of new track to be built, as well as four major suspension bridges and two new 20 bunk huts with hut warden quarters.

The track traverses from Blackball on the eastern side of the Paparoa Range over the ranges through Paparoa National Park and to Punakaiki.

Once fully open, walkers will take three days to experience the track, while mountain bikers can complete it in two.

Spotted another article on said track.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/ ... d=12355240

[RonK]

Apparently there is some friction between riders and walkers - because riders skip the first hut, and go straight to the second hut which means it is always booked out so walkers can’t get in.