A new trail which connects to the Otago Central Rail Trail and forms part of the Great Rides network across Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago will open next month.

The long-anticipated Lake Dunstan Trail will be officially opened to the public on May 8. 

The trail offers cyclists and walkers an easy 55km ride (grade 1-2) through many landscapes as it weaves along Lake Dunstan, the Kawarau River and the Clutha River/Mata-au.

“The trail takes you through amazing scenery (which would otherwise be inaccessible), past some fascinating historic sites and onto wonderfully engineered structures,” Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust chair Stephen Jeffery said.

The trail takes in a variety of landscapes and historic sites as it weaves along the Clutha and Kawarau Rivers and Lake Dunstan. PHOTO: James Jubb/Tourism Central Otago

And as well as extending and complementing the Great Rides in the region and connecting to the rail trail, the Lake Dunstan Trail will provide a link with the Roxburgh Gorge Trail, which is part of the Nga Haerenga - New Zealand Cycle Trails.

A few members of the public will get the opportunity to be the very first riders on the trail on open day.

“There are ten spots open in the official first bunch for local cyclists to ride the trail from Clyde Heritage Precinct to Cromwell Heritage Precinct (a distance of 42km),” Stephen said.  

The trail is made up of four sections. IMAGE: Tourism Central Otago 

“We are accepting applications until 21 April, after which there will be a ballot to select the lucky winners.”

Once the official first bunch sets off, anyone else is welcome to ride the trail from the Clyde end on the day.

Festivities will then shift to Cromwell for the grand opening celebrations from 12pm-5pm. 

“The Grand Opening will be held in the Cromwell Heritage Precinct which will be filled with live entertainment, delicious street food, and a selection of local wine,” Cromwell and Districts Promotion Group community relationships manager Gretchen Nightingale said.

“It’ll be the perfect spot for supporters to enjoy the afternoon while waiting on their cyclists to complete the trail.”

The soon-to-be-opened Lake Dunstan Trail is made up of four sections: Smiths Way to Cromwell Heritage Precinct (16km); Cromwell Heritage Precinct to Bannockburn Bridge (6km); Bannockburn Bridge to Cornish Point (7.3km); and Cornish Point to Clyde (25km).

For more information on the trail and the grand opening, and to apply to be in the first bunch, click here.