SPINNING THE SENSES
INTERNATIONAL CYCLING TOURISM IS A RAPIDLY GROWING AND LUCRATIVE MARKET WITH STRONG GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN the country’s tourism infrastructure is breathing life into the provinces and spurring the development of “new gold” from cycle trails.
Tourism minister Kelvin Davis announced $14.9 million of new expenditure in December 2017 saying tourism is New Zealand’s number one export-earning industry and cyclists are among the most valuable of all international visitors.
“We need to make sure we have the basics right so that visitors continue to have high-quality experiences at every point of their holiday and want to return,” he said.
“We know that Ngā Haerenga (the national cycleway of 23 trails) is delivering significant economic benefit to communities around the country — $37.4 million per year according to the latest estimate. These trails are important in drawing high-value visitors off the beaten track and helping provide employment and new business opportunities for our regions.”
While much of the funding will go on new infrastructure, a large portion will be spent on existing trails and developing new ones. New Zealand’s most popular cycleway, the Otago Central Rail Trail, will eventually link the entire Otago trail network to 30 communities. About 122 kilometres of new trails will connect the Clutha Gold Trail, Otago Central Rail Trail, Roxburgh Gorge Trail and Queenstown Trails, and extend the network north to Wanaka. A further 47 kilometres of existing trail will be upgraded.
The 530-kilometre continuous cycle trail network across the Otago region will spread tourism spending to more communities and create an estimated 329 fulltime jobs.
The total project cost is $26.4 million with a government contribution, through Ngā Haerenga (the New Zealand Cycle Trail fund), matched by local funding, primarily through the Central Lakes Trust and Otago Community Trust.
It is estimated the number of people riding these trails will more than double to 174,000 by 2032, and the average length of time that trail users stay in the area will also increase by 33 per cent.
23 Great Rides of the New Zealand Cycle Trail, or Ngā Haerenga (the journeys), was promoted by former prime minister Sir John Key during his time as tourism minister and caters to both recreational cyclists and passionate mountain-bikers.
Leisurely paced travel allows riders to enjoy much more than just the biking. The breathtaking views of forest clearings and hill tops, the local wine, food, beer and even fresh water all taste so much better with a sense of achievement at the end of a day’s ride.
One of the most commented upon pleasures of cycling is the connection with the sounds and smells, as well as sights, of the countryside. In a fast-paced, screen-based world, it seems that pedal-powering through nature still spins the senses of the best sort of tourists. Naturally breathtaking. nzcycletrail.com