The Otago Central Rail Trail Charitable Trust this week announced a project with Otago Museum aimed at presenting a range of scientific concepts in an engaging way to visitors, schoolchildren and their communities.
As a pilot for this, a 1:100,000,000 scale model of the solar system will be created on the trail.
Its earth will be just 12cm in diameter, whereas the sun will be 14m.
Planets will be as far as 70km away from each other, meaning dwarf planet Pluto will be in Alexandra, Neptune will be near Lauder and Uranus will be near Oturehua or Tiroiti.
Trust chairwoman Kate Wilson said workshops on the pilot with local children would help them comprehend space and time.
"In order to convey the scale and the vast size and distances of our solar system, the project will create and test New Zealand's first interplanetary cycleway.
"It will also focus visitors to the amazing night-time landscape that the area offers, not one limited just to daytime.''
The trust was "always trying to add new layers'' to the trail, she said.
Otago Museum director Ian Griffin said the project would engage visitors through signs, explanatory science guides, and school and public outreach sessions.
The project received $24,000 from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's "Unlocking Curious Minds'' scheme.
It will begin with school and public meetings in Ranfurly in June that will involve design and material ideas.
Dr Griffin will lead a talk and a "hands-on astronomy experience''.
