Mayor Kevin Winters is encouraging locals to celebrate the completion of the Te Ara Ahi (Go Thermal by Bike) cycleway while helping to raise funds for the Rotorua Special Olympics Team.
The Special Olympics Te Ara Ahi Charity Funride and Hot Swim is on August 25 to help the Rotorua
team travel to the national summer games in Dunedin in September.
The event coincides with the official blessing ceremony at 1pm for the underpass beneath State Highway 5 at Waiotapu - and final link of the Te Ara Ahi cycleway. Works for the $400,000 build started this week.
Mr Winters said the Waiotapu underpass would be an impressive curved structure that should be finished in time for the blessing ceremony at the end of August. "While the underbridge will complete the cycleway route, on-going enhancements such as a toilet block at Kerosene Creek, viewing platforms and interpretation panels at Te Kopia Geothermal Reserve, and facilities at Paradise Landing at Lake Ohakuri are planned in conjunction with the Department of Conservation."
Meanwhile event organiser district councillor Dave Donaldson said the funride was comfortably achievable in three hours by people of average fitness. "People can set off in their own time from 8.30am to ride Te Ara Ahi [Go Thermal by Bike] and reach the new Waiotapu underpass by 1pm in time for the blessing ceremony. Following that, it's an easy 30-minute ride over the hill to Waikite Valley Thermal Pools where food, coffee and soothing thermal waters await."