As more cyclists than ever pedal their way around Central Otago, the economic opportunities brought by New Zealand’s Great Rides are not being missed by locals.
The Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand 2025 evaluation report, released yesterday, showed visitor spending attributed to all 23 Great Rides around the country jumped 35% in the year to June, compared with the same period four years ago.
New Zealand Cycle Trails chief executive Janet Purdey said numbers grew during Covid and they had continued the upward trend in the past year.
"We saw cycle tourism grow during Covid, but our latest report shows our Great Rides continue to grow in popularity and are having a massive economic impact for regional New Zealand."
Nationally, domestic visitor spending made up nearly three-quarters (72%) of the $1.28 billion total spent.
Numbers on the Great Rides had surged too.
More than 2.5 million trips (cyclists and pedestrians) were recorded for the year to June - up 18% on 2021 figures with international visitors taking 17% of the trips.
In Roxburgh, Highland Pharmacy owner Alastair Forbes said he had been bike racing since he was 13 years old.
Adding a bike hire to his business was an easy decision when the Clutha Gold cycle trail was established, he said.
"I thought why not, I’d have a crack at it, but it’s harder than you think."
Supplying bikes was just part of the deal, but the process was similar to running a pharmacy.
"It’s about marketing and keeping people happy, like we do with drugs."
Shipping containers in his carpark contained a bicycle repair shop and bike storage.
And there was potential to grow that side of his business, he said.
In Omakau, former policeman Colin Stevenson and his wife Mandy have also built a business catering to trail users.
The couple and their young family moved back from Queenstown to take up a police post in Omakau before dabbling in the hospitality industry.
Noticing a rising number of cars with bikes on the back passing through, the Stevensons saw a business opportunity.
They transformed a dilapidated former draper shop into a group of en suite studio units, Mr Stevenson, who is also the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust manager, said.
Then they built three architecturally designed units complete with private decks, mountain views and a bike shed with charging stations on the outskirts of the town.
"We are definitely catering for a need.
"Our business would not have happened if it wasn’t for the Otago Rail Trail, there’s no doubt about that."
Central Otago District Council head of destination Antz Longman said the Lake Dunstan Trail and extension of the Clutha Gold Trail to Waihola had opened since the last evaluation report in 2021.
In Central Otago international visitors were key to visitor numbers in the past year.
"... especially Australian [visitors] ... with a softer domestic market, and higher domestic airfares."
However, it was not just tourists using the trails, Mr Longman said.
"Our communities are also key users and beneficiaries of the network, which enable a high-quality recreational experience, ability to share heritage stories, connect with the environment and host a range of events like Otago Central Rail Trail Park Run."
The extension of the network with the forthcoming Kawarau Gorge Trail connection to Wanaka and completion of the Roxburgh Gorge gap would open up more opportunities for Central Otago communities and visitors, he said.
