Thursday, 18 May

Gearing Up The Hurunui Heartland Cycle Tour With New Coordinator

A proposed cycle route, the Hurunui Heartland Cycle Tour, is set to push ahead with adventurer, researcher and entrepreneur Mark Inglis being appointed as coordinator for the tour.

The proposed Hurunui Heartland Cycle Tour will take riders from Amberley through to Kaikoura along less used, scenic, back-country roads avoiding State Highway 1 and, as much as possible, State Highway 7. Funding from the Lottery Hurunui Kaikoura Marlborough Earthquake Relief Fund provided for Mr Inglis’ position to install signage and market the cycle route to local and visiting cycle enthusiasts.

Mr Inglis is a Hurunui resident passionate about what the district has to offer locals and visitors and is pleased to be part of a project, which will promote the district as a destination, boost residents’ morale and bring a newly established asset to Hurunui following the November earthquakes last year.

“Living in Hurunui I am privileged to wake up to unique and beautiful mountainous scenery – this scenery is one of the New Zealand’s best kept secrets and I would love for visitors to experience what we locals experience daily. A relatively dry, warm climate makes this tour on the bike very appealing for all, taking cyclists onto the roads less travelled” says Mr Inglis.

Mr Inglis will work with the umbrella organisation of the proposed tour, the Hurunui Trails Trust along with New Zealand Cycle Trails, the Council and the community to meet the necessary legal and safety requirements, design, develop and install signage along the route, and begin marketing Hurunui as a tour biking destination to the domestic and international markets. He will also engage local communities to be part of setting up the cycle route, creating local ownership of the project.

Dr Richard McCubbin, who is a keen cycle tourist and a trustee of the Hurunui Trails Trust, first proposed the route and gathered together other cycle enthusiasts to realise and promote the project. He says having Mr Inglis on board means the project can move along at a faster, more coordinated approach.

“We are so pleased to have Mark in the coordination position and have begun working with him to promote and encourage use of this cycle tour gem with locals and visitor,” says Dr McCubbin.

Mayor Winton Dalley says it will be a great benefit having Mr Inglis taking the lead on the project with his local expertise and well-respected reputation.

“Mr Inglis is well-known locally, nationally and internationally for his achievements and is a great advocate to have on board for this cycle tour. I’m looking forward to working with Mark, a man with drive and inspiration, and the Hurunui Trails Trust to get the route up and running for the benefit of our district,” says Mayor Dalley.

To see a video visualisation of the tour please click here.

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