With Queenstown's downhill mountain-biking scene flourishing, local riders are intending to bring cross-country biking up to speed with 75km of planned trails.
The Queenstown Mountain Biking Club's new president, Tom Hey, announced plans for the cross-country trail proposal at the club's annual meeting last Wednesday.
Designed to link Queenstown's "scattered" mountain bike trails, the 13 additional sections would create an "extensive" network of single track riding and walking, with the longest section running for 25km.
"Really, the idea is to link existing tracks so you can ride without having to get in a car and drive to your next ride. There are a lot of tracks around the Skippers Canyon area and we want to link it to Moke Lake and through to Seven Mile," Mr Hey said.
Another feature could be an "epic" back-country loop around Mt Crichton.
The proposed network would have three hubs from which riders could depart on various trips ranging from one hour or longer, up to overnight rides.
Mr Hey said Queenstown was shaping up to become the southern hemisphere's top riding destination, especially with the gondola opening to bikes and there being lots of positive marketing.
However, he believed Queenstown was a "bit behind " when it came to cross-country riding, and said it would be great to be able to enjoy longer single-track rides "in the amazing back country we have here".
"We have great downhill, jumps and, when the Wakatipu Trail Trust's Queenstown trail is completed, we will have fantastic family-commuter riding. If this network is completed, we will have filled the last void and truly can claim we are the best of the south."
The club is working on getting permission for the trails and the Department of Conservation is drawing up a management agreement for the QMTBC to construct and maintain the trails.
However, those on private land will be subject to the landowners' wishes.
To cover the costs, the club will apply for grants and possible trail sponsors when permission is acquired. As with most club projects, volunteers will do much of the work.
"Ideally, we would like to start this winter but it just depends on a permission timeframe," Mr Hey said.
• Anyone wishing to know more, help with construction or sponsor a trail can contact Mr Hey at trails@queenstownmtb.co.nz
