Issue #951

Mark Williams | CEO | Queenstown Trails

I reckon we’re pretty lucky to call Queenstown home. Despite all the growing pains and challenges we’re facing; we live in spectacular place which draws people from all around the globe – I think most of us came here for the same reason and feel quite at home amongst fellow adventurers and thrill-seekers in this magnificent playground.

At Queenstown Trails, our small team is privileged to be in a position to enhance the experience of living here, inspiring adventures and connecting people through an integrated trail network, from backcountry epics (think Coronet Loop) to commuter routes like the Frankton Track – all enabling our community to get out and enjoy the great outdoors either by bike or on foot – with a trail close to home for everyone.

These trails then act as a conduit to witness the amazing restoration work of the Whakatipu Conservation groups who are busy restoring our environment for the benefit of future generations. Our trails create a network of ‘green corridors’ where native wildlife flourishes aligning perfectly with QLDC’s Vision Beyond 2050, as well as providing an opportunity for active transport, reducing congestion and supporting DQ’s Carbon Zero 2030 targets.
And there’s more to come: the new Wharehuanui Trail is nearing completion and is set to open this winter, linking the Coronet Peak MTB trails back into Arthurs Point and Arrowtown and reducing the need for shuttles. The next phase of the project connecting Arthurs Point downstream to Tucker Beach is underway, which includes the historic tunnel at Big Beach, and a new suspension bridge over the Kimiakau River. This new trail down the Shotover Gorge is set to become one of the most exciting trails on the New Zealand Cycle Trail network.

Working at Queenstown Trails, our job is our passion: We love the trails, and the legacy they are creating for future generations. We’re stoked on the significance of the trails for the Queenstown community, and the benefits for tourism and the local economy, safe in the knowledge that the trails touch, improve and are part of the lives of a huge number of people who live here. Our Trails are your trails – and that’s why we need your help.

May is Trail Lovers month – Queenstown Trails’ annual appeal for 2024. As a Charitable Trust, we rely on community grants, charities funding and donations to develop and enhance the network. If every runner, walker, or biker who used the Queenstown Trails this year donated $1, we’d have a sustainable funding model. So, if you’re one of those 200,000 trail users, jump onboard and become a Trail Lover to ensure your children and their kids get to enjoy the same trails you have.

To make a donation and become a Trail Lover visit Become a Trail Lover - Queenstown Trail (queenstowntrails.org.nz)