Overview

Over 90km of the Westland Wilderness Trail is off-road on a grade 1 gravel trail, with an ambient 2-3 degree gradient and only a couple of short hundred metre sections where you may prefer to walk.

Each of the proposed cycle ways four days provides a variety of contrasting landscapes, Southern Ocean, Rain Forest, Lakes and Wetlands all with the stunning and spectacular back drop of the Southern Alps of New Zealand.

The cycleway design uniquely matches all type of user by:

The main route is an easy four day lineal class one, catering for the least physical of riders including families with varying ages of children.
Provides the ability to deliver optional, additional varying levels of challenge on each of the four days using existing tracks of various grading.
Provides multiple access points for ‘location based’ cyclists, with day rides from three urban centres
Meets holiday market requirements identified in TRC marketing Report.
Appeals to touring cyclists as it follows the traditional travelling loop path of the South Island.
The class one standard will appeal to people who have not cycled for many years while also providing many mountain biking opportunities in the form of ‘spur’ tracks along the way.
Allowing and encouraging the international visitor to be a participant in their tourism experience.
Has a good range of existing accommodation types at the 2 urban centres and along the route has access to accommodation or shuttle services to the track of not more than 15 minutes.
Has a range of existing tourism activities along its length including both water and land based activities catering for all market sectors.
Local ‘character personalities’ along the route with opportunity of a Marae visit all allowing greater interaction with cyclists.
Follows an ancient Maori Greenstone gathering & trading route and the more recent history of New Zealand’s gold mining past.
Wide variety of indigenous flora and fauna all accessible from the cycleway.

The West Coast of the Southern Alps of New Zealand is already a familiar brand and well represented in Tourism NZ’s marketing collateral. Post colonialism, tourism is also one of the oldest industries in our region and these days along side dairying and mining is one of the largest industries and employer groups.

The cycleway traverses many of New Zealand’s iconic symbols of scenery, and foundation areas of early Maori and Pakeha. The cycleway is positioned between Punakaiki & the Glaciers of Franz Josef and Fox with two world heritage parks at either end.

The trail starts/finishes at the original pah site of the local West Coast Iwi and continues through internationally recognised areas of outstanding scenic beauty and iconic natural features. The attractions and experiences on route include but aren’t limited to, gold panning, paddle boat cruise, rafting, Dolphin watching, jade, gold, wood and bone carving studios, as well as unique sculpture, ruby rock, glass blowing and pottery artisans, not to mention the many local restaurants and pubs.

The proposed cycle way’s participation in Nga Haerenga will benefit the whole West Coast Region, continuing to build our positive Tourism culture and give confidence to the industry for future investment.

View a summary of the trail.

Further information is available from council@westlanddc.govt.nz

Location http://www.wildfoods.co.nz/index.cfm/1,556,0,0,html

Overview

In this section