Project scope

The cycleway was originally proposed to be a continuous route with a concrete surface,^[7] and it was proposed that the Department of Conservation was to supervise the construction process.^[20] Cycling advocates noted that having the feasibility study undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism, rather than the Ministry of Transport, boded well for the future of the project.^[21]

In the middle of March 2009, comments started to emerge from government indicating that the initial vision of a single track throughout the country would probably not be realised, at least not in the same form. Rather, it was now envisaged that a whole network of tracks would be created, combined from existing part sections, or upgraded from other forms of tracks and roads. The tracks would likely be to different standards in different areas, as some estimates have set the cost for the original proposal of a full track formed in concrete at least $300m rather than the $50m initially suggested.^[22]

Setting out further specifics, in May 2009 it was confirmed that instead of a single route throughout New Zealand, the project would, at least initially, concentrate on a number of promising individual links. Substantial parts of these routes could use existing railway corridor reserves or possibly paper roads, or existing cycle infrastructure, where present. They would also have the ability to run through conservation land where appropriate, and take into account existing tourist destinations, thus providing particularly interesting routes.^[2][8]

Prime Minister John Key, in mid-2010, noted that he expected 2,000 km of cycleway to be completed by the end of 2011.^[23]

Intended benefits

The intention of the trail, apart from creating jobs in an economic downturn (both in construction and later in the tourism industry associated with it), is to provide local and international cycle tourists with a route to travel on.^[24] Cycle Action Auckland noted in an editorial that the Otago Central Rail Trail had brought substantial benefits to an otherwise struggling rural region, and had been assessed as supporting up to 1,000 full and part-time jobs in the region, and that the tourism benefits of a national cycleway would likely be similar.^[25] Cycling Advocates' Network supports the proposal as encouraging cycling in New Zealand, while walking advocates also see benefits to be gained from such a route.^[26] Tourism New Zealand noted that the project could also provide a much-needed boost to the viability and funding of many cities' languishing cycling strategies and plans.^[27]

Ministry of Tourism figures show that so far (as of 2009), only about 2% of all tourists to New Zealand undertake cycling as part of their activities. The data did however also indicate that cycling tourists stay more than twice as long as the average tourists, and during their time in the country spend about 1.6 times as much as the average tourist.^[1] Tourism New Zealand also noted that so far, there was effectively no promotion of New Zealand cycling to overseas tourists, even though it was a significant tourism industry in places like Europe.^[27]

Estimates for the quick-start projects estimate that each might occupy approximately 40 people in the initial construction period.^[28] Prime Minister John Key noted that he expected about 500 jobs to be provided in construction of the cycleways in total, with up to 4,000 eventually created through tourism benefits the trails would bring.^[23] In mid-2011, the newsletter of the New Zealand Cycle Trail reported 511 people employed on trail construction.^[18] Job experiences from the Far North District were also positive – among other effects, it was reported that of 110 formerly unemployed young people who worked on the project for half a year as part of a government subsidy scheme, 80 had gone on to other work, rather than returning to the dole.^[29]

Funding

In May 2009, the government announced that $50 million had been allocated for the cycleway in the budget for the coming three years, provided by the Ministry of Tourism. It was hoped that local authorities and other entities would also provide further sums,^[2] with co-funded projects receiving priority for money from the budget.^[8]

Of the total sum, $2.5m have been set aside for management and advisory functions in the Ministry of Tourism, while $47.5m will be used to create the National Cycleway Project Fund, from which successful applicants will draw money for construction of routes.^[8] By September 2010, $45.6m had been allocated to track construction, and had attracted a further $30m in co-funding from local Councils and other organisations.^[13]

In July 2010, it was announced that 8 of the 13 cycle trails had received the go-ahead, four needed further study, and one (Tauranga Moana) had been rejected, due to land-use/access issues making the proposal unfeasible in the short term. $18.8 million have been set aside for the approved tracks, with the local authorities adding another $16 million to the project costs.^[30][31] Five more tracks from the list were approved in September 2010.^[13]

Among the projects that had applied for funding from the new fund after the scope was changed are routes in urban Auckland, as well as on Waiheke Island and Great Barrier Island.^[32] However, none of these were successful, though Nikki Kaye, National MP for Auckland, and other sponsors of the proposals, such as Cycle Action Auckland were optimistic that deserving projects like the Waiheke Cycle Trail would still be realised by other means.^[33]

In February 2014, Prime Minister John Key announced $8 million worth of maintenance funding over four years for the New Zealand Cycle Trail Great Rides^[34]

In May 2016, another $25m of new-route funding was announced.^[4]

In December 2023, the New Zealand Cycle Trail network expanded with the commencement of construction on a new section linking Queenstown to Cromwell, funded through a collaboration among the New Zealand Government, Central Lakes Trust, and Otago Community Trust, reflecting the ongoing investment in the trail system.^[35]

Great Rides

North Island

• Great Lake Trail 88 km (55 mi) is in 4 sections centred around Kinloch, near the edge of Lake Taupō.^[36]
• Hauraki Rail Trail – 160 km (99 mi) from Paeroa to Waihi and Paeroa to Thames^[37]
• Hawke’s Bay Trails – 200 km (120 mi) consist of -
  • Wineries Ride loop, accessed from Hastings via the iWay city cycling route, or Clive by the Ngaruroro River trail
  • Puketapu Loop along Tutaekuri River, from Taradale via Puketapu
  • The Water Ride loop, which follows the coast from Ahuriri to Bay View and
  • Clive—Clifton, which is part of the Landscapes Ride, linking to Cape Kidnappers.^[38]
• Motu Trails – 121 km (75 mi) is made up of a dunes trail starting at Ōpōtiki, Motu Road Trail from Mātāwai to Mōtū and the Pākihi Track, via Pākihi Hut. They can be ridden as a 91 km (57 mi) loop.^[39]
• Mountains to Sea, Ngā Ara Tūhono 231 km (144 mi), including 32 km (20 mi) by jetboat, or kayak, starts at National Park, or Turoa, on Mount Ruapehu and runs to the sea, including Ohakune Old Coach Road, Mangapurua (Bridge to Nowhere), a boat to Pipiriki, Whanganui River Road, Upokongaro cycle bridge and Whanganui Urban routes.^[40]
• Pou Herenga Tai – Twin Coast Cycle Trail – 87 km (54 mi) In the Far North from Opua to the Māngungu Mission west of Horeke^[41]
• Remutaka Cycle Trail – 125 km (78 mi) circuit from Petone via Maymorn, the old railway towards Featherston, Ocean Beach and the coast to Ōrongorongo, then Wainuiomata and back to Petone.^[42]
• Timber Trail – 85 km (53 mi) through forest, over large suspension bridges and on a former timber tramway, from Pureora to Ongarue.^[43] Originally called Central North Island Rail Trail^[44] and proposed as a 75 km (47 mi) trail.^[45]
• Waikato River Trails – 104 km (65 mi) from Karapiro to Ātiamuri in the south,^[46] opened in November 2011^[47]
• Whakarewarewa Forest Loop, 33 km (21 mi) through forest, with volcanic and lake views. It can be reached via Te Ara Ahi, which joins Rotorua and Waimangu Volcanic Valley.^[48]

South Island

• Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail – 315 km (196 mi), Waitaki Valley is the longest Great Ride, running from Aoraki/Mt Cook Village to Oamaru.^[49]
• Around the Mountains Cycle Trail – 186 km (116 mi) trail of lakes and mountains via Walter Peak, Von Valley, Mavora Lakes, Mossburn, Lumsden, Athol, Garston and Kingston.^[50]
• Clutha Gold Trail – 73 km (45 mi) between Roxburgh and Lawrence.^[51]
• Coppermine Trail – 43 km (27 mi) in the hills behind Nelson, via forested valleys, rocky mountains and a riverside trail.^[52]
• Lake Dunstan Trail – 41 km (25 mi) along the edge of Lake Dunstan and the Kawarau and Clutha / Mata-au rivers. It links the Otago Central, Roxburgh Gorge and Clutha Gold trails.^[53]
• The Old Ghost Road – 85 km (53 mi) via West Coast valleys mountains from Lyell to Seddon.^[54]
• Otago Central Rail Trail – 152 km (94 mi) the original Great Ride on the Clyde to Middlemarch section of the Otago Central railway.^[55] Created as a cycle trail in 2000,^[56] joined the NZCT system in 2012.
• Queen Charlotte Track – 73.5 km (45.7 mi)^[57] Created as a walking track, joined the NZCT system in 2013^[58]
• Queenstown Trail – 138 km (86 mi) alpine views, wineries and pioneer history, including Arrowtown and Frankton sections.^[59]
• Roxburgh Gorge Trail – 21 km (13 mi), in 11 km (6.8 mi) and 10 km (6.2 mi) sections, with a 13 km (8.1 mi) jet boat ride in between. The northern section links to the Clutha Gold Trail.^[60]
• St James Cycle Trail – 60 km (37 mi) in St James Conservation Area^[61] on a grade 3 loop mountain bike trail built by the Department of Conservation^[16]
• Tasman’s Great Taste Trail – 200 km (120 mi) loop via Nelson, Wakefield, Motueka and Kaiteriteri, by coast and countryside, with galleries, vineyards and restaurants.^[62]
• West Coast Wilderness Trail – 133 km (83 mi) rainforest, rivers, lakes and beaches from Greymouth to Ross.^[63]

Touring Routes

In mid-2011, the New Zealand Cycle Trail announced a second type of route, the "touring route". Composed mainly of existing on-road routes (rather than new dedicated cycleways), these routes are to start linking the various Great Rides and New Zealand in general with officially designated cycling routes, chosen for scenic appeal and suitability for cycling (low motor vehicle traffic volumes etc...). The first three such routes announced, all centred on Taumarunui in the central north island, were:^[64]

• Taumarunui to New Plymouth (including part of the Forgotten World Highway)
• Taumarunui to Whakahoro (linking to the Ruapehu-Whanganui Trails)
• Taumarunui to Ongarue (linking to the Pureora Timber Trail)