In Pursuit of Human Powered Transport

The Ministry of Tourism advised today that Government funding will be made available to Bike Taupo to construct the Lake Track Cycle Trail on the western shore of Lake Taupo.

The track as proposed is one of the National Cycleways Projects and will be approximately 100 kilometres in length.

The first part of this track, approximately 35 kilometres, has already been constructed by Bike Taupo and includes the popular W2K Track. The funding now made available by the Government is to construct the remaining 65 kilometres of the track through to the Waihaha Road bridge on State Highway 32.

“Bike Taupo is absolutely delighted that the Government has seen the wisdom of making funding available for development of the Lake Track” said Bike Taupo Chairman, Thomas Schwarz.

The track will mainly pass over and use public conservation land, but will also pass over and use some private land. “Approval in principle to pass over and use the private land has been given by some of the private land owners” said Mr Schwarz “but consultation continues with other private land owners. We are hopeful that such approval will be given over the next 2-3 months.”

If all approvals are given, then construction of the remaining 65 kilometres of the Lake Track could commence early in 2011.

Once completed, the track will be multi stage with shorter stages more suitable for beginners, and others for intermediate cyclists. Primary access to the track will be by road and/or water taxi. It is proposed that there will be 5 places on the lake where cyclists can be dropped off or picked up by boat. Two of those places, Kinloch and Boat Harbour, already have existing accommodation of some form.

The complete track will take 3 days to ride from start to finish. Using water taxis, cyclists will be able to choose separate sections of the track to ride depending on their level of experience and time available.
 

Thomas Schwarz - Chairman Taupo