Mountains to Sea Cycleway project to benefit National Park Village

Murray Wilson, National Park Community Board, National Park Village Business Association, Visit Ruapehu – Council Trustee, Mayors Taskforce for Economic Development

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As a member of the National Park Community Board and National Park Business Association as well as being a Council Trustee on Ruapehu’s Regional Tourism Organisation – Visit Ruapehu, and a member of the ‘Mayoral Taskforce for Economic Development’, Mr Wilson is well placed to see first hand the impact the development of the national cycle trail projects are having on Ruapehu’s businesses and communities.

Mr Wilson said that the opening of stage one of the Mountains to Sea is an exciting addition to Ruapehu’s existing mountain biking and cycling trails which are attracting ever increasing numbers of riders to the district throughout the year. “By Christmas 2010 the Mountains to Sea will be joined by the opening of the second of the ‘Quick Start’ cycle trails under development in Ruapehu – The ‘Central North Island Rail Trail’ (CNIRT),” he said

“The development of the two cycle trails in Ruapehu as part of the National Cycle Trail Quick Start Projects can be seen to be delivering significant benefits at a local, regional, national and international level.”

“Internationally the projects can be seen as complimenting a network of cycle trail developments and assists in providing the platform for Ruapehu to start tapping into the huge international cycle and outdoors adventure community.”

Mr Wilson said that the national cycle trail projects are remarkable in their simplicity, its boldness of vision and in creating a nationally recognised branded tourism product. “At a regional level the cycle trail projects have empowered communities and strengthened local networks as organisations and residents have the opportunity to work together on a project with a common vision and purpose which benefits a wide cross-section of people,” he said.

“Closer to home at a district level the cycle trail are assisting to underwrite a huge lift in confidence in Ruapehu tourism and investment.” “The National Park Village businesses are immensely proud to be part of the Mountains to Sea cycle trail project and believe it will be hugely popular.”

Mr Wilson stated that the cycle trail project has been a “confidence shot-in-the-arm” that has brought to reality a number of plans that communities have been working on.

“National Park Village businesses are taking advantage of their location in being centrally placed with nine cycle options radiating out from the village and a further seven trails reached from this central hub.”

Mr Wilson added that the cycle trail projects are seen by local businesses as an exciting way to offer visitors the ability to access the district’s volcanic landscapes as well as uncovering historic coach roads and bush tramways plus many rail heritage features such the Raurimu spiral, viaducts, historic railway stations and the last spike.

“National Park Village will be the highest point in the Mountains to Sea cycleway and

in New Zealand at 825m,” he said.