Planetary cycle plan means you can tour the solar system
Ranfurly to become the centre of the universe in latest rail trail tourism bid, writes Katarina Williams.
THE quiet settlement of Ranfurly, about 100 kilometres north of Dunedin, could soon be laying claim to being at the centre of the universe.
A pilot programme – due to get under way in late summer – will see the Otago Central Rail Trail become a 100 million to one scale model of the solar system.
The unique concept will allow families and school groups to learn about science while cycling along the popular 152km trail which stretches from Middlemarch to Clyde.
Models and interpretive signage will help transform the trail into an ‘‘outdoor classroom’’ which will see Ranfurly play home to the Sun.
Its sheer size means the model will need to be 14m in diameter, with the possibility a sun dial will be used to represent it.
Central Otago District Council mayor Tim Cadogan believed Ranfurly residents would be happy to take centre stage.
‘‘Ranfurly is a great, little town. It’s not quite the centre of the rail trail, but it’s near enough to it and I think the people of Ranfurly would welcome anything that keeps them on the map,’’ Cadogan said.
‘‘If we look at books, all the planets are squashed onto one page and it’s nothing like that. I think it’s a great initiative.’’
The model of Earth will sit around 1.5km from central Ranfurly and will be just 14cm in diameter.
Saturn will end up ‘‘orbiting’’ very close to the iconic Wedderburn Tavern which was built back in 1885 at what is the cycling trail’s halfway point.
The models will be designed to complement their rural location, with recycled barbed wire spheres possibly being used to represent hostile gas giants.
If the pilot programme – beginning in February or March next year – is considered a success, the models could become permanent features.
The project has received $24,000 from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Unlocking Curious Minds fund. GOOGLE EARTH / FAIRFAX GRAPHIC