A top 10 adventure

Wildlife, native bush, a 1.5-kilometre tunnel and a secluded ocean lookout are a few of the sights offered by Gisborne Railbike Adventure. The tourist attraction is listed at No.1 on NZ Stuff’s “Top 10 best things to do in New Zealand for under $100”. Having launched the tourist attraction with a special “Gizzie locals” package in December, owner/operator Geoff Main, pictured with Kendra Tate, is offering another discounted package for locals, this time for a return run to Beach Loop. Picture supplied

Riding high at No.1 on Stuff’s top 10 “best things to do in New Zealand for under $100” is owner-operator Geoff Main’s Gisborne Railbike Adventure (GRA).

“An old section of the Gisborne to Napier rail line now hosts an epic adventure through native bush, a 1.5km tunnel, and eventually up to a secluded ocean lookout,” enthuses the listing.

“A world-first design sees two pushbikes fused together on a rail line, with an aluminium chassis holding them in place. All you need to do is pedal. There’s no steering and you can’t fall off.”

A “locals week” at greatly discounted prices launched the adventure shortly before Christmas and now Gisborne locals can enjoy discounted prices again for a month and a longer biking adventure.

The ride was initially a one-hour return trip from the Awapuni Road-Macdonald Road to Browns Road, Muriwai. A four-hour run, that includes a photo opportunity, to Beach Loop and back is now available for locals at $89 a head — discounted from $120.

Electric bikes are also available.

“We’re into ‘locals mode’ again,” says Mr Main, “every day for the whole of April.”

Eight years in development and three months since the launch, Mr Main now has a clearer sense of the general age range the railbike adventure attracts.

He had originally thought people in the 50+ age bracket would make up most of his customers but enthusiasts from 30 to 70 years old have enjoyed it.

The business is at stage one of a three-stage development.

Mr Main said people made the most of the summertime “Gizzie locals” weeks while about 40 percent of adventurers who tested the day excursion came largely from Tauranga and Hawke’s Bay.

The rest were people who were touring around the country and had Gisborne on their itineraries.

About 25 percent of railbike users had gone to Gisborne to visit family and a small percentage of travellers detoured to Gisborne to try railbiking.

Corporate groups looking for team building activities or just an adventure are also taking an interest in GRA.

“We’re getting inquiries about that now from businesses in Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and Tauranga. To attract people from further afield we really need the two-day excursion from Gisborne to Mahia, where railbikers will spend the night before continuing to Wairoa the next day.”

That package is about a year away but now Air New Zealand offers cheaper airfares in and out of Gisborne, Mr Main expects the uptake of railbikers to increase.

“I’m really happy with the way it’s going. Everyone who has tried it loves it. There has been fantastic feedback on social media.”

Now Gisborne Railbike Adventure is well on track owner-operator Geoff Main is in search of someone to take over the role of operator. He is also seeking a tour guide. Both operator and tour guide need to be locals and good with people. For more information and contact details go to www.railbikes.nz