It’s been a big year for the Whale Trail which has now passed the halfway mark in its overall construction journey. In the past 12 months we have built multiple bridges north of Tuamarino, and constructed some fantastic trail between Tuamarino and the Picton Elevation as well as in Kaikōura between the town and Middle Creek.
November’s big storm damaged a few sections of track, but the good news is that we’ve repaired all damaged sections in time for you to enjoy this summer. To help guide you through what parts of the trail are open to ride over the summer break we have updated our website and also prepared this brief update below:
Waitohi section (Picton to Tuamarino):
There is a wonderful short section from Factory Road in Koromiko through to the Picton Elevation and return (for your safety you will need to turn around at the locked gate at the top of the Elevation). If you’re looking for a fun excursion this ride will suit the entire family, it’s a delightful gem and you’ll see bits of the Koromiko Valley not usually accessed by the public.
Please note there is no parking at the Elevation, so your plans need to be for an 'out and back' from Factory Road to accommodate this.
The ride north from the Wairau Affray to the Tuamarino Bridge is a lovely short ride under trees following the Tuamarino river. You won’t be able to ride further than the bridge - we suggest you take a picnic and enjoy the scenery!
Wairau and Awatere (Tuamarino to Seddon)
The Wairau, and Awatere sections are open, so you’ll be able to ride from the Tuamarino Bridge all the way to Seddon.
Kaikōura (Hapuku bridge to Kaikōura)
This is fully open from the town north to Hapuku Beach. Some riding will be on the new trail and some on the road but it's all good! Enjoy your riding on this spectacular section of coast this summer and look out for new and upgraded trail coming next year.
Please note, there are several closed sections of trail that are in construction and not ready for use.
Our trail relies on the good will of landowners and rogue riders who jump over clearly marked closed signs risks the entire project. For your safety, and our project please respect the trail signage. If in doubt, please take time to visit: Section Maps (List) | The Whale Trail
Next year is shaping up to be a huge year of construction for The Whale Trail with multiple sections of trail and numerous bridges between Seddon and Kaikōura scheduled to be built.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our partners, supporters, and especially the many landowners who are helping to make this exciting community project a reality.
All of us here at The Whale Trail wish you a wonderful summer and encourage you to enjoy the open parts of the trail this summer.