Summer business in the mountain town of Ohakune could have done with a push - and now it's got one.
The national cycle trail project launched last year by Prime Minister John Key has done wonders for the summer trade of Darren and Jane Gamble's Station Lodge, and neighbouring businesses as
well.
The Gambles took over the lodge two years ago, unaware their backpackers' business was just a stone's throw from the Old Coach Rd, now part of the cycle trail. The historic route travels through native forest and past the Hapuawhenua Viaduct.
Darren, who hails from Southland and is a keen cyclist, saw an opportunity not to be missed. To counter the impact of silence on the slopes, he and his wife opened a mountainbike hire business called Mountain Bike Station for summer visitors.
So far so good. The Gambles' gamble was paying off. Last summer they hired out up to 10 bikes a weekend to outdoorsy Kiwis and foreigners and were quickly recouping the $12,000 they had spent on 20 dual-suspension bikes and a custom-made bike trailer.
And that's before they had begun to market the venture.
The downhill stretch from the old sawmilling town of Horopito - setting for the Smash Palace movie - to Ohakune is becoming popular for bikers of all ages.
The Gambles must be doing something right. They recently rated in the top 10 per cent of the BBH backpacker network nationwide and have just been judged Ruapehu's best backpacker provider by Trade Me's accommodation arm, Travelbug. Darren once ran an outdoor education centre in Malaysia backed by a staff of more than 100.
Other Ohakune businesses are also feeding off the cycling surge.
Station Cafe Ohakune owner Jo Bolter hasn't been in the town long, but already the cycle trail is benefiting her business, found at the entrance to the trail.
Custom has reached a point where she may have to have a bike rack built at the front of the shop.
She's hoping a local business will help her out.
Ohakune ski and bike rental shop TCB is also cashing in big time.
Manager James Foubister said he and two other staffers now had fulltime employment all year round.
"Come November we would normally be looking for something to do. We started with around 30 bikes a day and that has now risen to 60."
Summer business in the mountain town of Ohakune could have done with a push - and now it's got one.
The national cycle trail project launched last year by Prime Minister John Key has done wonders for the summer trade of Darren and Jane Gamble's Station Lodge, and neighbouring businesses as
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