Editorial: Bike trail initiative targets slice of action

Editor Craig Cooper

The dream is for Northland to become a "go to" region for recreational cycling and a park under construction in the Bay of Islands will be a huge help.

Before the announcement of the Waitangi trail network, the region had already invested in the Twin Coast/Pou Herenga Tai Cycle Trail.

In Whangarei, the city's new Hatea loop is an easier bike ride, but a great way to relax with the kids.

And now for those seeking some off-road adventure, a Focus Paihia project will create 70km of mountain bike trails behind Waitangi.

Rotorua is probably the capital of mountain biking, possibly in the southern hemisphere.

That city's track network was started with volunteers, and labour sourced from the local courts, back when "PD" mean hard labour whilst on periodic detention - not professional development.

Given Rotorua's history and experience with creating track networks, it is heartening to read that Rotorua firm Southstar Trails is involved with the creation of the Northland tracks.

Building the trails will cost at least $1.3 million - Rotorua's mountain bike network added $13 million to the city's economy in 2014. If Northland can take even a slice of that, the tracks will pay for themselves, and then some.