2 December 2011

First cycleway sections ready to roll

Twizel, New Zealand - Construction is underway on several sections of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail with some sections ready for cyclists to trial by Christmas. The full Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail from Aoraki Mount Cook to the coast at Oamaru is expected to be officially opened in November 2012 as part of Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail.

Chair of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail Joint Committee Mike Neilson said completed sections aren’t yet connected but there is a nice cycle loop available out of Twizel that people will be able to enjoy over the holidays.

“We will open a section of trail at the Southern end of Lake Pukaki that’s easy for the public to access by bike or by foot. This will give people the opportunity to experience the quality of tracks, the gradient and to get an early look at our signage. We’d like people to check it out and let us know what they think.”

Mr Neilson said that by Christmas, people would be able to cycle, run or walk a combination of quiet country roads, canal roads and the completed sections of cycle trail in a loop from Twizel.

“We’ve been working to get a loop available in time for the holidays. People can ride or walk out of Twizel from Glen Lyon road up over the Pukaki/Ohau Canal then up to SH 80 to join the trail to the South Eastern corner of Lake Pukaki. From there, they’ll be able to double back to info centre at Pukaki and follow the trail from there to the East of Pukaki airport then back to Twizel.

“Simultaneously, other sections of the track are underway. Construction work is beginning on the Duntroon to Elephant Rocks section in the Waitaki Valley and we are nearing the end of the approval phase for the sections from Ohau Weir to Lake Ohau Lodge and from the Lodge through Quailburn and Tarnbrae via Quailburn road and into Omarama.

“By mid January you should be able to ride from Mount Cook to Twizel then on to South Eastern corner of Ohau (Ohau Weir). At this stage this will include a short 90 second helicopter ride at a reasonable charge.”

The 312km Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail will eventually descend 780m through the Mackenzie basin down the Waitaki Valley to the Victorian town of Oamaru and is being billed as ‘a trail second to none’.

“There’s huge demand for this trail,” said Mr Neilson. “We’re fielding enquiries from all over the world and are very excited about its potential to drive the tourism we want for our area. It will showcase the amazing diversity of the Mackenzie and Waitaki regions taking visitors slowly from the country’s highest peak, through some of our most spectacular natural landscapes and wildlife right to the sea. We believe it will result in huge economic and social benefits for local communities and have no doubt it will become one of the great rides of New Zealand if not the world.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media