Whale Trail (New Zealand)
| Whale Trail | |
|---|---|
 Wairau River Bridge – clip-on for walking and cycling | |
| Length | 200 km (120 mi)[1] |
| Location | Kaikōura, Marlborough districts, New Zealand |
| Trailheads | Picton, Kaikōura |
| Use | Walking Cycling Horse riding |
| Season | Year round |
| Sights | coastal scenery, rural scenery, railway viaducts |
| Website | thewhaletrail |
| Trail map | |
 | |
Interactive map of the Whale Trail | |
The Whale Trail is a shared-use long-distance trail under construction from Picton to Kaikōura in the South Island of New Zealand. When completed, the trail will provide a route between Picton, Blenheim, Seddon, Ward, Kekerengu, Clarence and Kaikōura. Construction of the trail has included modifications to bridges, and environmental enhancement of places along the route with native plantings.[2] The trail is expected to become one of the New Zealand Cycle Trail Great Rides on completion.
As of January 2026[update], the trail is open between Tuamarina and Ward, and the section between the Hāpuku River and Kaikōura is also open.[3]
History
[edit]The Marlborough Kaikōura Trail Trust was formed in 2017 to develop plans for a trail between Picton and Kaikōura.[4][5] In 2019, the project received $322,000 from the New Zealand Government's Provincial Growth Fund for investigation of route options.[1][6] A further $18m of funding was provided in 2020 by the Government's Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit. It was forecast that on completion, 43,000 people would use the trail each year, with around 7,000 international tourists.[7][8]
In 2021, there was public controversy about the choice of route through the small settlement of Tuamarina, between Picton and Blenheim. Local residents were concerned about safety, and possible unruly behaviour by cyclists.[9] In 2022, a clip-on structure was added to the State Highway 1 bridge over the Wairau River, to provide a safer crossing for cyclists and walkers on the section between Picton and Blenheim.[10] A 33-kilometre-long (21 mi) section of the trail between Blenheim and Seddon was opened in 2023. This section of trail passes across the historic Awatere road/rail bridge, originally opened in 1902 and decommissioned for road traffic in 2008. The former single-lane vehicle deck below the rail deck was restored and re-opened for cyclists and walkers in December 2023.[11][12]
In 2024, work began on the construction of a 13 km (8.1 mi) section from Kaikōura northwards to Hāpuku, based on upgrades to existing cycle routes including part of the Kaikōura Trail.[13][14] By June, upgrades were completed to 3.3 km (2.1 mi) of existing trail from the centre of Kaikōura north to Middle Creek, and the Kaikōura District Council had committed funding to complete the upgrade of the 13 km (8.1 mi) section to Hāpuku.[15]
As at June 2024, 74 km (46 mi) of the full length of trail from Picton to Kaikōura had been completed.[15] At the other end of the trail, in August 2024, organisers expressed frustration that funding was not available for the New Zealand Transport Agency to complete a 1.7 km (1.1 mi) section from Picton up to The Elevation.[16]
The 39 km (24 mi) Flaxbourne section of the trail between Seddon and Ward was completed in April 2025.[17]
Route
[edit]When completed, the trail will provide a route between Picton, Blenheim, Seddon, Ward, Kekerengu, Clarence and Kaikōura.[1] Most of the length of the trail lies close to the path of the main road between the two trailheads, State Highway 1, with a major deviation between the townships of Seddon and Ward. Between these two settlements the trail runs coastwards before turning south to skirt Lake Grassmere, from there following the South Island Main Trunk railway line into Ward.[18] The trail is expected to become one of the New Zealand Cycle Trail Great Rides on completion.[8]
| Section name | End points | Distance (km) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waitohi | Picton Elevation - Tuamarina | Under construction | |
| Wairau | Tuamarina - Blenheim | Open | |
| Awatere | Blenheim - Seddon | 33 | Open |
| Flaxbourne | Seddon - Ward | Open | |
| Kekerengu | Ward - Kekerengu | Under construction | |
| Waiau toa | Kekerengu - Clarence | In planning | |
| Puhi Puhi | Clarence - Hāpuku | Future development | |
| Kaikoura | Hāpuku - Kaikōura | Open |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Picton to Kaikōura 'Whale Trail' gets government funding". RNZ. 27 June 2019. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Hampson, Matthew (14 May 2024). "Koromiko's Blue Hole gets Whale Trail facelift". Stuff. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Now open: Tuamarino through to Ward!". The Whale Trail. 22 December 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ Zaki, Anan (1 December 2017). "Trust formed to turn cycle trail idea into reality". Marlborough Express. p. 3. ProQuest 1970319166.
- ^ "Charity Summary: Marlborough Kaikoura Trail Trust". Charities Services. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Ranford, Chloe (28 June 2019). "Whale of a trail gets $322,000 boost". Marlborough Express. p. 2. ProQuest 2247786114.
- ^ Eder, Jennifer (25 July 2020). "Multimillion-dollar boost for Whale Trail". The Press. p. A9. ProQuest 2426568462.
- ^ a b Hart, Maia (22 July 2024). "Piecing together 196km Whale Trail no easy feat". RNZ. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Eder, Jennifer (16 June 2021). "Tense meeting on cycleway". Marlborough Express. ProQuest 2540832798.
- ^ "Whale Trail clip-on bridge nearly finished despite weather set-backs". RNZ. 8 May 2022. Archived from the original on 11 June 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Brew, Andy (23 March 2023). "Makeover for 'beautiful' Awatere bridge". The Press. p. 16. ProQuest 2789269121.
- ^ "Awatere Rail Bridge opens to Whale Trail walkers and cyclists". Marlborough Express. 15 December 2023. p. 5. ProQuest 2901468670.
- ^ "Wheel along the Whale Trail in Kaikōura". Wilderness Magazine. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ^ "The Kaikōura Trail - Kaikōura Cycling Club". Kaikōura Cycling club. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
- ^ a b Hill, David (6 June 2024). "Whale Trail set to boost Kaikōura's cycle tourism". Stuff. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Hart, Maia (12 August 2024). "'Hell of a frustration': No funds for Whale Trail's Elevation section". Stuff. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ Hill, David (31 March 2025). "Whale Trail: New section of great cycleway opens". Stuff. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ "Marlborough Walking and Cycling". Smartmaps – via Marlborough District Council.
External links
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