Taranaki group planning attraction similar to rail trail

Plans are under way to create in Taranaki a cycling destination to rival the massively popular Otago Central Rail Trail.

The cycleway, which runs for 152km along the route of the former Otago Central Railway, brought in $11 million last year, has revived small towns and attracts of thousands of visitors. They included South Taranaki Mayor Ross Dunlop, who was so impressed he is looking into a Taranaki version, which could start with a route from New Plymouth to Ha¯ wera.

‘‘I thought, ‘Hey actually, Taranaki, we’re really missing out on that side of things’,’’ Dunlop said.

Although the idea is still in the brainstorming stage, a working group is looking to develop a walking track and bike trail crossing significant cultural points and small towns.

Dunlop brought the idea to a mayoral forum around 12 months ago after realising the economic perks of the Central Otago trail for the towns it passes through – cafes were booming, accommodation was steady, and jobs were being supported.

‘‘Some towns just have a pub, and that pub is flourishing.’’

The working group is looking at using rail corridors and paper roads – mapped roads owned by the council – to connect interesting places and small communities, including around the mountain. ‘‘We want to tell all the stories,’’ Dunlop said.

‘‘But this is just the beginning. I eventually see this going to Whanganui to Ha¯ wera, Stratford to Taumaranui.’’

Mark Button, who has owned accommodation along the Otago rail trail with wife Nikki Meyer since 2011, said he thought a Taranaki trail would be brilliant.

‘‘It would go exceptionally well,’’ said Button, who lived in Egmont Village before moving to Waipiata. ‘‘That would be quite a fascinating story as well.’’

Last year, Button saw around

2500 people visit his accommodation, the Tussock Lodge and the Waipiata Country Hotel, and three-quarters of them came from the trail.

Before the attraction opened in 2000, things weren’t looking good for Waipiata, Button said.

The country hotel, which was historically known as the Waipiata Tavern, was built in

1899 and has seen many rebuilds and refurbishments since. Button said it thrived in the gold mining decades, but in the 1980s the tavern was close to closing after years of ‘‘decline’’.

The last train came through the area around 1989, which Button said was the ‘‘the death nail of Waipiata’’ until the trail came along.

‘‘Without the rail trail, it wouldn’t be open.’’

Stratford Mayor Neil Volzke said the plan for Taranaki was taking shape.

‘‘Essentially, what they’ve been doing is looking at what tracks and trails exist already and how we could link them up so that you get a longer journey and better experience.

‘‘We’re not too far away from trying to develop a preferred route and getting some public input on it.’’