Kawarau Gorge Trail on the home stretch

Construction of the 32km Kawarau Gorge Trail, which links Bannockburn to the Gibbston Valley, has officially passed the halfway mark.

The trail is a pivotal component of a game-changing project that connects the four Great Rides in the Otago region, creating a 530km of continuous trail network across Queenstown, Central Otago and connecting through to Waihola near Dunedin.

It's being built by the Southern Lakes Trails Trust, with funding from Central Lakes Trust, Otago Community Trust and Central Government (MBIE).

Contractors Wilson Keen Contracting are completing the main earthworks, while Ellis Mining responsible for suspension bridges and structures, and overall project management is by Southern Land.

Over the past year the contractors have been working in hard-to-access areas, which, at times, has been very challenging.

Equipment has been transported over the top of hills from the Cromwell side – thanks to landowner’s permission, and construction has also been affected by freezing winter weather.

But the project is still on track to open by the end of 2025.

“This year two suspension bridges will be built over the Kawarau River at the Nevis Ferry and Citroen Rapids locations, which are either side of the Nevis River,” Southern Lakes Trails Trust Chairman Aaron Halstead says.

"Two bluff bridges will also be constructed to link the landlocked formed trail sections together."

Through 2024 contractors focused on gaining access to land-locked areas including the completion of the bluff bridge upstream from Goldfields. This heavy-duty bridge, at three metres wide and 52 metres long, has been engineered to carry six tonnes and is the only way for diggers and earthwork equipment to get to into the Roaring Meg area.

“There will be several areas of trail construction visible from SH6 but we urge drivers to keep their eyes on the road,” Halstead says.

Contractors have been working with various specialists to avoid, preserve and enhance the ecology and history of the unique Kawarau Gorge environment. Several species of protected skinks and geckos are locally endemic to the Kawarau Gorge environs and so, lizard habitats have been developed by the contractors to protect the lizards during trail building.

Hundreds of native trees and shrubs have also been identified by specialists to avoid when trail building. Mitigation planting will ensure that more native trees and plants will be beside the trail.

NZ Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi are creating the trail around the Nevis Bluff and making good progress on that section of the track, linking into Gibbston Valley.

“As trustees we are excited about trail progress, and we are sure the biking community are keen to ride the newest trail in the region," Halstead says.

"However, we urge biking enthusiasts to wait until the official opening of the trail, as there are significant hazards during the construction phase. The landowners who have given us permission to build the trail over their land don’t need unauthorised people on their land until all construction has been finished."