$1.4m GIBBSTON RIVER TRAIL OFFICIALLY OPENED ON DECEMBER 4 2010

The $1.4m Gibbston River Trail will be officially opened on December 4 2010, after six intensive years of development, launching a spectacular new 8.5km walking and cycling trail alongside the Kawarau River, providing access to prominent wineries and historic and archaeological sites.

The trail was initiated by the Gibbston Community Association in February 2005, although the idea of a walkway along the right bank of the Kawarau, had been mooted a number of years earlier.

“From about 2001 the concept just kept coming up before the committee,” says Association Chairman Susan Stevens. “I contacted landowners in 2002 but the idea didn’t gain traction until three years later when I was given the responsibility to ‘make significant progress towards creating a walking trail along the Kawarau River.’”

Ms Stevens personally spearheaded the development and together with volunteers and a workforce supplied by the Community Probation Service, thousands of hours have been spent clearing the gorse and scrub to create the national standard trail.

“The key thing about the Gibbston River Trail is that about 80% of the track crosses private land. Public use of the conservation land along the Kawarau River had previously been very limited, due to the rugged terrain and lack of access, but with the generosity of nine landowners who have provided easements, we have ensured that access to what is commonly thought of as the Queen’s Chain is preserved for public enjoyment.”

Ms Stevens paid tribute to the major funder, the Community Trust of Southland.

“The Trust never wavered even when it took us significantly longer than expected to raise the rest of the money. Central Lakes Trust, the Lotteries Board and more than 200 local businesses, groups and individuals also helped make the project possible and we owe an enormous debt to the Queenstown Lakes District Council, the Department of Conservation, the Wakatipu Trails Trust and the New Zealand Historic Places trust for their outstanding support.”

The Gibbston River Trail incorporates 12 timber bridges and two steel truss bridges. Due to its relatively easy gradient it is expected to attract up to 20,000 people annually. Parking is available at both ends of the trail at the Kawarau Bungy Bridge and Waitiri Creek Wines with other access points at The Winehouse and Kitchen and Peregrine Wines.

The official opening ceremony will focus for walkers on the 2.7km Wentworth Bridge Loop track starting and finishing at Peregrine Wines. Mountain bikers can cycle 10km to and from the Kawarau Bungy car park to also finish at Peregrine Wines.

“We will have the official part of the ceremony, and hand over the track to the Department of Conservation, before our wee trail ambassador, five-year-old Abigail White cuts the ribbon allowing people to walk or cycle the trail for the first time,” says Ms Stevens.

A community celebration will be held at Peregrine Wines to mark the milestone.

“We envisage a big picnic with food wine and live entertainment,” says Ms Stevens. “The focus of the event is the Gibbston River Trail but it is appropriate to celebrate this enormous achievement Gibbston style.”

The Department of Conservation will be responsible for the on-going maintenance of the Gibbston River Trail and Area Manager Greg Lind has hailed it as a stand out recreational facility.

“The trail will be unrivalled in the Wakatipu Basin for its river, landscape and historic features. Walkers and mountain bikers will gain access to an area of ‘outstanding natural landscape’ that was previously inaccessible.”

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