Change of course for Tour de Wakatipu

Organisers are considering whether this year will be the last for the Tour de Wakatipu, being held today, with changes to land use on the south side of the Kawarau River affecting access during the event's traditional Easter timing.

About 250 cyclists have registered to take part today.

The course for this year's tour was changed after Porter Group Ltd bought the station, which had been part of the Tour de Wakatipu course, and moved deer on to the land.

On February 13 about 150 people signed up for a 14km bike ride through the station, but cyclists have not been permitted to access it during the Tour de Wakatipu because it clashes with the mating season for deer.

Organiser Jeff Hunt said that had necessitated a change in course.

After setting out from Millbrook at 9am today, cyclists will descend via the Queenstown Trails network to Speargrass Flat Rd, go up Slopehill Rd and then down Lower Shotover Rd and Domain Rd.

From there they will bike along the scenic single track following the true left of the Kawarau River, traversing several "unknown trails'' to the finish line - this year on the banks of the river at the bottom of Morven Ferry Rd, instead of at Chard Farm.

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