New cycleway would be tourism ‘game changer’

Do you enjoy cycling through majestic scenery interspersed with remnants of pioneer history and sinew straining steep ascents on one of the worlds top cycleways?

Taranaki’s 150-kilometre Forgotten World Highway might just be down your lane.

The back country highway between Stratford and Taumarunui, also known as State Highway 43, has been listed as the 10th best cycle ride in the world by Lonely Planet – and now a businessman hopes to improve it with a cycleway alongside the disused rail line.

The idea by Forgotten World Adventures owner Ian Balme has the support of Stratford and Ruapehu District Councils, which are preparing a joint proposal to the Provincial Growth Fund for a business feasibility study.

Balme, whose company operated rail carts along the Kiwirail-owned line, said the upgraded cycleway would be ‘‘an absolute game changer’’ for the region’s tourism.

Cyclists would cover the same route as tourists riding on the rail carts through spectacular scenic gorges and staying overnight at historical rail and farm settlements. Balme suggested a trust set up between iwi, KiwiRail and the two district councils would operate and maintain the cycle trail when it is built. He estimated the cost of the project between $5million and $6m.

‘‘The advantage we have compared to other cycleways in the country is that we have a 140km existing corridor of uninterrupted land,’’ he said.

Lonely Planet described the ride travelling through ‘‘farmland, lush green valleys, raging rivers, wooden-roofed tunnels, narrow bridges and unsealed roads’’. But it warned two-wheeled adventurers to be ‘‘well prepared or travel with a support vehicle, as there are very few opportunities to restock supplies along the way’’.

Occupying top position in its list is a seven-day 1000km adventure from Windhoek to Felix Unite in Namibia followed by a 55km jaunt on the La Farola in

Cuba, and the 300km high altitude pedal through Salar de Uyuni, through Bolivia.

Whangamomona Hotel owner Richard Pratt said any promotion of the Forgotten World Highway as a dedicated cycle route would be a bonus for the region. Pratt said around 20-30 cyclists had passed through the small rural settlement between Stratford and Taumarunui during January.

A public meeting will be held in Taumarunui next month to hear feedback on the proposal before it is submitted to the PGF.