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by Willy - Queenstown Trails Trust

As we wrap up another summer season, the Queenstown Trails Trust is putting a new spin on its annual ‘Trail Lovers’ Campaign, celebrating the benefits the trails increasingly bring to our community and thanking all our recent and reoccurring supporters who are instrumental to the trail’s success.

Following the opening of the Wharehuanui and Shotover Gorge Trails last year, the recognition of what the trails mean for Queenstown’s tourism proposition are clear, with over 120,000 users confirming their popularity, with spectacular recreational opportunities including the Hugo Tunnel and Kimi-ākau bridge.

The positive impacts of trails in our region are set to be boosted further with the completion of the Kawarau Gorge Trail in September 2026, which will connect the 150km Queenstown Trail network to Central Otago and beyond.

Equally at the heart of what inspires Queenstown Trails, is the appeal of trails to locals and their important role in connecting our communities, conservation outcomes, and alternate modes of transportation.

Our current focus has shifted to linking our fastest growing residential suburbs to the wider trail network and places of work or school. The Southern Corridor route from Jacks Point to Frankton is consented and has recently gone through its detailed design phase, ready for construction later this year. We were extremely thankful to Central Lakes Trust to grant an initial $313,000 towards this project which got us on our way. The community rallied to the cause and raised $33,000 during our Tour Aotearoa fundraising effort and subsequently the shortfall has been made up through generous funding commitments made by Park Ridge and Darby Partners with further announcements expected soon. The generosity of landowners who have enabled access has also been pivotal to establishing this trail.

Another vital aspect of our active transport network has been a safe crossing of SH6 to link the eastern suburbs of Lower Shotover into Frankton and Queenstown. To support this Waka Kotahi NZTA project, QTT successfully applied for funding of $110,000 from the Mactodd Community Charitable Trust to construct the trail connections to the new Pūāhuru Bridge, linking the Old Lower Shotover Bridge to existing shared pathways through Five Mile and the new BP intersection. These projects will provide additional transport choices, reduce congestion and bring health and wellbeing benefits for our community.

Looking further ahead, we are also lining up permissions for our next exciting trail expansion projects that align with our ten year strategic plan – including a recently granted DOC concession for a trail from Sunshine Bay to 12 Mile which will form the initial phase of an off-road trail all the way to Glenorchy in conjunction with Te Araroa and the Glenorchy Trails Alliance. There are plenty more irons in the fire which we’re keen to develop into trails on the ground, subject to funding support.

So, a resounding THANK YOU to all our incredible Trail Lovers, recurring donors, corporate sponsors and generous philanthropists who keep the cogs turning and enable us to turn trail dreams into epic adventures. See you out on the Trails!