More evidence why Turangi needs T2T bike trail

TRM received this email yesterday – it should be self explanatory.

TRM have been promoting the T2T (Turangi to Taupo) bike trail for about ten years now.  Turangi is still waiting. 

In the meantime Bike Taupo continue to develop new tracks and expanded other trails using Government and Council funding – while Turangi still waits.  Despite their bike tracks being more suitable for club members – real mountain bikers – and you can see from their locations at Kawakawa Bay and Waihaha Bay they are too remote for tourist use, that does not appear to matter.  It is unfortunate that Turangi has to rely on Taupo Council to prepare any applications to MBIE (Ministry of Everything) but that is the way it is. 

Despite Council promises over the last decade nothing has really happened.  The Council’s own feasibility report confirmed the T2T “ticked all the boxes” but was shelved.  The 2017 Turangi Economic Development Strategy report identified the T2T as top priority and described it as “transformational” for the future of Turangi.  Still nothing has happened. (Where is Pinetree Jones?)

Accordingly, to raise awareness, TRM have posted the dilemma on the web via our Daily Reports and Facebook, but after many years Turangi continues to get ignored…

So this comparison of the success of the A2O (Alps to Ocean) trail, developed in a far more remote region of the South Island over the same time span, is very pertinent and instructive of the obvious tourism benefits. 

The images above are from TRM library when we visited Twizel and Omarama for “research” in 2017, images below were supplied with the email.

Greetings, Ross

Thank you for pushing so hard for the T2T. Difficult to get ahead when some are so heavily blinkered!
I have been a regular visitor to Omarama over many years and have seen first hand how the A2O (Alps to Ocean … Mt Cook to Oamaru) has impacted on tourism and development of support industries.
I could always book our motel room at Omarama a few weeks out but this year, I found that Nov/Dec was the start their cycle season and I could only book their remaining 2 nights and this wasn’t weekend peak time!
The numbers of cyclists has dramatically multiplied. 12 of the 15 units had 2 to 3 bikes. ‘Straight’ as well as multiple ‘e’ bikes. Many groups of Kiwis plus International visitors. Most had completed the ‘Rail Trail’ and were looking for new adventures.
The adjacent restaurants benefited from evening and breakfast meals, plus tour support groups providing logistical requirements.
With accommodation being required around every 50kms, hospitality opportunities are being progressively developed.  Old cottages and farmhouse upgrades, along with the closed Duntroon hotel being refurbished to cater for high demand.
The A2O trail is not completely ‘offroad’ but work is continuing to move to this goal.
Its a massive undertaking but through vision, planning and the desire to ‘share and benefit’ from local resources… these benefits are mounting in so many directions.
As long standing residents of Turangi, we have sadly watched the frustrations of Turangi interest group(s) in promoting tourism / cycling developments.
Sure, there would be some tricky passages on the T2T but the gorge  section immediately West of Kurow on the A2O demonstrates what can be successfully achieved.
It will happen eventually! When that time comes… a lot of comment will be centred around…  ‘why has this taken so long?!’
Thanks and best wishes, Ross. Keep up the good work.
Regards Dave Macrae
An excellent summary of the situation thanks Dave – TRM receives similar encouragement all the time about the T2T but many are ‘not suitable’ to repeat on FB – they are so disappointed with the lack of progress…