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Whale trail Riding the tail of the whale trail BRENDA WEBB
BUSINESSES IN and around Marlborough will benefit from the Government’s recent $18 million funding announcement to build the Whale Trail, say supporters. While the 200km Picton to Kaikōura cycle and walking track doesn’t go near Renwick, Steve Hill from Wine Tours by Bike says plans are already underway to link the two. “The Whale Trail is part of the spine, if you like, and we need to create safe routes to get people off it and into the towns. It is such an amazing opportunity for Renwick and other towns near the route.” Steve is excited to think that in the future visitors could leave the Whale Trail and cycle right into the heart of Marlborough’s wine region to spend a day visiting cellar doors, cafes and restaurants, providing a welcome boost to the local economy. “The benefits to the wineries and the Renwick wider area are huge.” The Renwick Cycle Group is currently working with the Marlborough District Council to look at ways of connecting the Whale Trail to Renwick, with a possible northern route utilising the Wairau River stop bank, dependent on supportive landowners, he says. “It’s a real bonus to have that confirmed (Provincial Growth Fund) funding for the Whale Trail – it gives a real impetus to our efforts and I can see it working hand in hand with our existing wine trails.” Marlborough Kaikōura Trail Trust trustee John Forrest, founder of Forrest Estate Wines and a driving force behind the Whale Trail, says bringing cyclists off the main route would provide huge benefits to the whole region. “I can tell you that the Renwick Cycle Group, Wine Marlborough and the Marlborough District Council are already strategising right now to see how that goal can be achieved,” he says. “The Whale Trail has spurred a lot of action and opportunities.” He says half of Forrest Estate’s cellar door business came from cyclists – a big change in the past five years and New Zealanders as a whole were embracing the cycling culture, which meant there were huge opportunities for locals to tap into. “I find it incredibly exciting to have the 24 / Winepress October 2020
“We just need a safe conduit from the Whale Trail into the region to unlock the potential.” John Forrest funding and we just need a safe conduit from the Whale Trail into the region to unlock the potential.” John says there are endless opportunities for locals to take advantage of the hard work that had already gone into making the Whale Trail a reality. He predicts that visiting the Marlborough wine region would become a number one attraction for cyclists on the trail. Karen Walshe from Explore Marlborough says the funding is hugely positive for the area and predicts it will bring more cycling-oriented people into the province and give them an additional focus. “People will become aware of the other cycling opportunities available such as the Link Pathway, the Wither Hills tracks and the wine trail – it gives another string to Marlborough’s bow,” she says. “You only need to look at how the cycle trails have attracted people to the West Coast to realise the importance of cycling in today’s tourism market.” With wine and cycling closely linked, a priority would be to get safe routes from the Whale Trail to outer areas, Karen says. “Those links will be absolutely vital to pulling people off the track and onto the wine cycling trails.”
