Meanwhile, progress on taking more sections of the 301km trail off-road was ''very well advanced'' and Tourism Waitaki general manager Jason Gaskill expected to be making further announcements soon.
''We're just working through the final stages of finalising consents, easements [and] routes,'' Mr Gaskill said.
From the eastern end of Kurow, the new off-road trail takes off alongside the Waitaki River, before curving back to run alongside State Highway 83 and then through Pasquale Kurow Winery.
''You come through the vines, you get the chance to go to the winery itself - it'll provide a slightly different riding experience than other sections of the trail ... we're quite excited about it,'' he said.
Conversations about the final stretch into Duntroon continue.
''It will come up in Duntroon in an area where people will be encouraged to experience what Duntroon has to offer.''
The trail was providing more tourism opportunities to both Kurow and Duntroon and anecdotal feedback suggested this season was going to be ''remarkable'' for Alps 2 Ocean.
''We're really excited and anxious to get as much of it off-road as possible.''
Several different funding groups, councils, businesses, land owners and individuals were all assisting with the trail.
''We'd just like to say thank-you because it's creating something that's quite fantastic.''
In August, Prime Minister John Key announced in Oamaru a $935,000 Government grant for the trail, which ''definitely facilitated a few things that were fairly well advanced''.
''The Kurow to Duntroon section in particular - it was waiting and we were gathering funds and we were putting things together, but when the Government made its announcement it meant that all those handbrakes could come off.''
