Bus tours – tick; cruise – tick; self-drive – tick; now it’s time for New Zealand to pedal in more cyclist.
According to the country’s tourism leaders, more than $80 million was invested over the last few years to develop Nga Haerenga – a top cycling trail – after it was identified as a fast growing sport amongst Australian travellers.
Since the upgrade, the country’s cycle trails have seen a 10 percent increase in Australian participants during their visits.
Kevin Bowler, Chief Executive of Tourism New Zealand said research shows there’s still nearly a quarter of all Australian visitors still open to the idea of cycling.
He said this illustrates that there’s still plenty for the country to do to appeal to these two-wheeled journeyers.
To help promote the sport, Tourism New Zealand has partnered with Fairfax Media Limited to distribute a 32-page cycling lift-out that will appear in newspapers across the country on Saturday 2 May 2015.
The lift-out will be supported with Fairfax editorial and digital activity.
“With over 2,500 kilometres of pristine trails, the diverse routes offer visitors a unique way to see untouched national parks, mountains and lakes of the North and South Islands”.
Kevin Bowler, Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive
“The 23 Great Rides give Australians an active way to explore landscapes that are hidden away from roads yet close to everything – including food and wine.”
“Some of the most popular trails include the abandoned gold mining country and snow-capped peaks of the Otago Central Rail Trail and West Coast Wilderness Trail, as well as the mighty rivers and geothermal hot pools on the Te Ara Ahi Trail.”
New Zealand’s 23 Great Rides are of varying degrees of difficulty, appealing to all ages and cycling tastes.