Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail
{{Short description|Cycle trail in New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox trail
| name = Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail
| photo = Lake Ohau from Lake Ohau Village, September 2020.jpg
| caption = Lake Ohau from Lake Ohau Village
| map = {{Maplink|frame=yes|type=line|plain=yes|zoom=7|frame-align=center|frame-width=270|frame-height=270|stroke-color=#0000ff|stroke-width=2}}
| map_caption = Interactive map of the Alps 2 Ocean trail
| location = Mackenzie, Waitaki districts, New Zealand
| designation =
| length = {{convert|315|km|abbr=on}}
| trailheads = Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, Oamaru
| use = Cycling
Walking
| elev_gain_and_loss =
| elev_change =
| highest_m =
| lowest =
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| season = Year round
| months =
| sights = Alpine scenery, rural scenery, lakes and rivers
| hazards =
| website = {{URL|www.alps2ocean.com/}}
}}
The Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail is a cycle trail in the South Island of New Zealand. This trail is one of the projects of the New Zealand Cycle Trail project. The trail extends more than {{convert|300|km|abbr=on}} from Aoraki / Mount Cook to Oamaru on the Pacific Ocean. From west to east, it descends from an altitude of {{convert|780|m}} down to sea level. The trail has both on and off-road sections.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail Maps |url=https://www.alps2ocean.com/trail-map |access-date=24 June 2022 |publisher=Waitaki District Council & Mackenzie District Council |language=en}}
Funding for the trail from the New Zealand Community Trust budget was approved in July 2010,{{cite news |title=Editorial: Pedalling to a windfall |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/opinion/3891207/Pedalling-to-a-windfall |access-date=13 July 2010 |newspaper=The Timaru Herald |date=7 July 2010 |archive-date=11 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711083053/http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/opinion/3891207/Pedalling-to-a-windfall |url-status=live }} after the trail had been shortlisted as one of 13 from 54 nationwide proposals.{{Cite press release |title=National Cycleway Success For Mackenzie Region |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1002/S00171.htm |accessdate=13 July 2010 |publisher=Scoop.co.nz |date=12 February 2010 |archive-date=5 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005081422/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1002/S00171.htm |url-status=live }}
Sections
The trail is composed of eight sections:
= Aoraki / Mount Cook to Braemar Station =
The first section, which is {{Convert|32|km|abbr=on}} long, starts out on a dedicated cycle trail, and continues on a gravel road. The first section is the most remote section of the trail and includes stream crossings without bridges.
= Braemar Station to [[Twizel]] =
Continuing on a gravel road over hilly terrain, this {{convert|43|km|abbr=on}} section takes in the southern shore of Lake Pukaki and the hydro-electric system of the area around Twizel once on sealed roads. Towards Twizel, the cycle trail leads across the Pukaki Flats, an area of tussock grasslands that are typical for the Mackenzie basin. Twizel is the largest town along the cycle path until the conclusion at Oamaru.
= Twizel to [[Lake Ōhau]] =
The third section is {{convert|38|km|abbr=on}} long and is the only one with a slight gain in elevation. It partly follows canals that are part of the hydro-electric system connecting the glacial lakes. A cycle trail goes around the southern shore of Lake Ōhau, finishing on a sealed road to Lake Ohau Alpine Village and the Lake Ōhau Lodge.
= Lake Ōhau to [[Omarama]] =
The next section leads through an old beech forest and includes the biggest elevation changes. It climbs about {{convert|400|m}} along the Ōhau Range to the highest point of the trail at over {{convert|900|m}} above sea level, before descending to about {{convert|100|m}} lower after a total length of {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}}.
= Omarama to [[Otematata]] =
File:Alps to Ocean Lake Benmore.jpg
The first half of this {{convert|24|km|abbr=on}} section over the Omarama Saddle is on a dedicated cycle trail next to SH83, from Sailors Cutting the trail follows the edge of Lake Benmore to Benmore Dam. From here it is a {{convert|6|km|abbr=on}} detour off the main route to Otematata.{{cite web | url=https://www.alps2ocean.com/trail-map/section-5-omarama-to-otematata | title=Section 5: Ōmarama to Otematata | access-date=5 August 2022 | publisher=Waitaki District Council & Mackenzie District Council | archive-date=30 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630173312/https://www.alps2ocean.com/trail-map/section-5-omarama-to-otematata | url-status=live }}
= Otematata to [[Kurow]] =
Continuing into the Waitaki Valley is the sixth section. It is {{convert|44|km|abbr=on}} long and follows sealed public roads and takes in Benmore Dam, the largest dam within the Waitaki hydro-electric power scheme, as well as Aviemore Dam and Waitaki Dam.{{Cite web |title=Benmore dam hydro station |url=https://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/who-we-are/our-power-stations/hydro/benmore |access-date=8 May 2022 |website=Meridian Energy |language=en-NZ}} An off-road {{convert|16|km|abbr=on}} cycling section was opened on 17 December 2020, from Sailors Cutting to the top of the Benmore Dam in the Waitaki Lakes region.{{Cite news |last=Ryan |first=Rebecca |date=21 December 2020 |title=Exciting off-road section of trail opened |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/exciting-road-section-trail-opened |access-date=8 May 2022 |work=Otago Daily Times |language=en |archive-date=8 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508050342/https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/exciting-road-section-trail-opened |url-status=live }} $1.2 million was spent creating the section.{{Cite news |last=Hodge |first=Kayla |date=22 May 2021 |title=Bike trail a beacon in bleak times |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/bike-trail-beacon-bleak-times |access-date=8 May 2022 |work=Otago Daily Times |language=en |archive-date=14 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814190003/https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/bike-trail-beacon-bleak-times |url-status=live }}
= Kurow to [[Duntroon, New Zealand|Duntroon]] =
From Kurow, the cycle trail continues {{convert|23|km|abbr=on}} off-road to Duntroon.{{Cite news |last=MacLean |first=Hamish |date=14 January 2016 |title=New A2O section opened |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/new-a2o-section-opened |access-date=16 January 2025 |work=Otago Daily Times |language=en-NZ}} The area contains limestone formations, Maori rock drawings and dinosaur fossils.
=Duntroon to [[Oamaru]] =
File:St Lukes Church in Oamaru.jpg
The last section partly follows the Vanished World trail and past the Elephant Rocks on a mix of sealed public back roads and dedicated cycle trails. From Weston, the cycle trail follows an old railway line and enters Oamaru via the Oamaru Gardens. It finishes after {{convert|55|km|abbr=on}} at Friendly Bay, adjacent to Oamaru's Victorian Historic Precinct.
Sites
Sites on the trail include: • Aoraki/Mt Cook • Snow-capped Mountains • Golden Tussock Landscapes • Glacier Lake Tours • High Country Stations • Hydro Canals • Native Forests • Elephant Rocks • Limestone and Clay Cliffs • Maori Rock Art • Vanished World Fossil Sites • Boutique Shops • Museums • Lakes: Ōhau, Pukaki, Benmore, Aviemore • Historic Limestone Tunnels • Hydro Dams: Benmore, Aviemore, Waitaki • Waitaki Valley wine region • Oamaru's Victorian Precinct • Galleries & Gifts • Steampunk HQ, Oamaru • Blue Penguin Colony • Pacific Ocean{{Cite web |title=Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail |url=https://alpineoamaru.co.nz/local-attractions/alps-2-ocean-cycle-trail/ |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=Alpine Motel |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://www.alps2ocean.com}} of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail.
{{New Zealand Cycle Trail}}
{{Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park}}
{{coord|-43.7192|170.0937|region:NZ|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail, The}}
Category:New Zealand Cycle Trail
Category:Tourist attractions in Otago