Economic and tourism spin-offs from Taupō's new biking hub

Pete Masters, left, and Rowan Sapsford, right, of Bike Taupō hold the bike tubes while Bjarne Larsen, centre left, and Taupo district mayor David Trewavas prepare to declare The Hub area officially open. Photo / Laurilee McMichael

It began in March 2018 with a hole being dug for an underpass.

Now it has gone from an unloved piece of roadside land to a hub for visitors, cyclists and locals, and last week, it had its official opening.

It's the area known as The Hub, the new car parking, shelter, bike wash down, cafe, bike hire and picnic area on the corner of Huka Falls Rd and Wairakei Dr.

Developed by Bike Taupō with the support of Taupō District Council and Craters of the Moon Trust, and tourism infrastructure funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, The Hub now provides an off-road parking area, toilets, a shelter with information boards and picnic tables. An underpass beneath Wairakei Dr leads mountain bikers into the Craters of the Moon mountain bike park, while across the road you can rent a bike or buy an icecream at 4B Bike Hire, or slip into cafe Kefi @ The Hub for a coffee and something tasty to eat.

The idea was to improve access to the Craters mountain bike trails as well as overcoming the headache of crossing such a busy road and Bike Taupō's 2018 plan of developing the Hub area as a mountain bike destination has also created other opportunities, with spinoffs to the businesses in the nearby area.

Hynds branch manager Darryl Watson monitoring progress at Wairakei Drive in 2018 as the earthworks began to create the cavity for the underpass at The Hub. Photo / File

At the opening, Bike Taupō chairman Pete Masters said the new area was "fantastic" and added there would not be many other district councils who would allow a community group to do what had been done at The Hub.

He said the council's main stipulation had been that what was built could not be an eyesore because "it's the first thing you see on the way into town". He also praised the work of Shawn "the Vegetator" Vennell and Greening Taupō for beautifying the area.

Mayor David Trewavas said he still remembered Mr Masters coming into his office to talk him into supporting the idea of a hub and underpass.

"On behalf of the wider people of Taupō, thank you so much. This has been a game-changer for our district. You can see it by the people that pull up here on weekdays and weekends and we can see the economic benefits."