Fiordland Trails Trust - Oct 21st '13

From the Meeting of 21st October 2013 in Te Anau

In Breif, the Trust is waiting for the Department of Conservation to regoup after thier traumatic reshuffle
and get an agreement sorted to start construction of an upgraded trail from Rainbow Reach Bridge to Manapouri Township  or redefine the Existing Walking Trail from Te Anau to the Golf Course as a Multi Purpose Cycle Trail.

The Trust has also made a provision for Associate Members to be invited to join the trust from the Community, So if any one wants to donate time, equiptment, skills or Money they are welcome to come on board.

The Local elections have returned Community Board Members who are in favour the Manapouri Te Anau Cycle Trail project and the New Mayor has been breifed.

The big Headache with the District Council is that they are dedicated to a finacial Blowout on the Ill-fated 'Round the Mountain Cycle way that will cost more than 6 times more than the Manapouri Te Anau Trail just to get the last section finnished.

It was also noted at the Meeting that Venture Southland is no longer the Dynamic Orgainisation it once was probably due to financial fatigue, I Figure in part from too many over budget grand Ideas like Round the Mountain.

Manapouri Te Anau Trail Volunteers

A MESSAGE from Aaron Nicholson founder of the Fiordland Trails Trust concept

If you are a Member of the Comunity that likes to get stuck into something that will benefit your community you can just go for it !

Right Now there is a Network of Walking Trails from The Rainbow Reach Swing Bridge to the Township of Manapouri that needs your attention.

Next time you want to spend a day or afternoon out enjoying Fiordland National Park remember you can help keep our local track open, they are used by locals and are not maintained by DOC

There is allways a Problem with Windfalls and Fallen Vegatation, that can be removed by volunteers without direction from the Government or the CMS.

Just be mindfull that although the Supply Bay Area seems like our back yard it is still Fiordland National Park and should be treated with respect as it is every bit as dangerous if you leave the Trail Network.

The Area is worth a visit for Birdlife, Unique Forest and Scenic Vistas of Beaches, River, Mountains and Lake.

Fiordland Advocate - Skate Board Luge Idea.

Posted 13th September 2013 to the Fiordland Advocate Te Anau

I recently told an Invercargill Newspaper about an idea I had For Manapouri Some Years Ago... A Skateboard Luge Track but like Queenstown’s Sky Line Luge,
With a scenic backdrop... It stands to reason that Te Anau would be an ideal place for such an attraction as well as the Likes of Bluff...

Two Places stick out as Ideal Locations, Lookout Hill 6 km’s out of Te Anau on the Road to Milford Sound Would be a definite Starter and the un named Hill Between Pleasant Bay and Te Anau Downs would have a perfect out look..  Just think another reason for people to stay in "the Basin" for another night...


The Queenstown Luge is a great concept but a I have seen kids in Germany skating along half concrete pipe water races and having a great time of it..
Perhaps we could get creative here too...

Southland Express - New Cycleways 2013

Letter to the Editor Southland Express posted: 21 Aug 2013

Good on the Express for highlighting the need for Cycle Trails in the Southland Area...
As a Member of the Local Trails Trust I should point out that There is absolutely no need to convert any walking tracks to
Cycle ways! There are miles of designated areas that just need a modest amount of Infrastructure to make them desirable
For cycling..

For the mere price of just one trophy Home we could have a World Class Trail linking Te Anau to Manapouri through a
Beautiful Forest Landscape along River and Lake Shores that supports just as much Bird life as other part of the National Park.

The forgotten Percy Pass Road and the Borland Road only need a bit of linking digger work / shelters and they can allow cyclists a Fiordland Experience second to none,
Indeed there has been a local industry waiting to use this National Asset since the 1980s. Again, only the price of a modest house in Auckland.

Of Course The Absolute Cheery on the top of them all would be a Hollyford Haast Paper Road Cycleway

But for some Reason when our new Prime Minister said he was handing out Money For Cycle Trails the Department of Conservation forgot to put their hand up.

Fiordland National Park - Cycle Draft

From This Years Conservation Management Strategy DRAFT June 2013

PROPOSAL TO ALLOW MOUNTAIN BIKING ON EXISTING AND NEW

TRACKS IN FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK (Page 51)

In addition to the existing mountain biking opportunities in Fiordland National

Park (see Table 3.1, Policy 3.3.1), the Department is considering allowing

mountain biking on a number of other existing and/or new purpose-built tracks

(see Table 3.2, Policy 3.3.6) in Fiordland National Park. The existing tracks are on

sections of the Kepler Track and sections of the Hollyford Track from Hollyford

Road end to Martins Bay. The new tracks are proposed to be at Forest Burn, at

Harts Hill, along the edge of Lake Te Anau (Te Anau to Te Anau Downs), from

Supply Bay to Frazers Beach (Lake Manapouri), and from Balloon Loop to Supply

Bay Road.

Your initial feedback is sought on these proposed new mountain biking

opportunities in Fiordland National Park through the public notification of this

strategy.

If there is public support for new mountain biking opportunities in Fiordland

National Park, the Department will undertake a partial review of the Fiordland

National Park Management Plan 2007. This will be carried out in accordance

with sections 46 and 47 of the National Parks Act 1980 and General Policy for

National Parks 2005. Any such review will consider a number of matters,

including measures to minimise adverse effects (including cumulative effects) on

national park values and to protect the experiences of, and avoid creating

hazards for, others. This could include trial periods, restricted seasons, limits on

numbers, one-way flow and adherence to a nationally recognised user code.

Monitoring of mountain biking use would also need to be considered, along with

what actions should be taken if adverse effects arise, including the possibility of

use no longer being allowed.

Mountain bikes (Page 142)

3.3.1 Should allow independent mountain biking, and may grant concessions

for guided mountain biking or mountain bike events, on the tracks and

roads or other areas listed in Table 3.1, subject to the criteria specified in

Policy 3.3.5.

Table 3.1. Existing mountain biking opportunities in Southland Murihiku

(as at 31 Dec 2012)

Location Land status

Borland Road, from Borland Lodge to South

Arm (Lake Manapouri)

National Park

Percy Saddle, and South Arm Bridge to Percy

Saddle Road

National Park

West Arm (Lake Manapouri) to Percy Saddle

Road

National Park

Wilmot Pass Road National Park

Supply Bay Road National Park

Croydon Bush Scenic Reserve

Mt Bee 4WD track Conservation Park

Irthing Stream Picnic Area road Conservation Park

Five Rivers Station to Cromel Hut Conservation Park

West Dome forestry roads Conservation Park

Queens Reach Road Conservation Area

Rainbow Reach Road Conservation Area

Balloon Loop Road Conservation Area

Rainbow Reach to Balloon Loop Conservation Area

Kepler Track Developments 2012

From the Southland Times August 2012

Trampers on the Kepler Track could soon be sharing the route with cyclists and groups of guided walkers if two separate proposals are approved by the Conservation Department (DOC).

The mountainbike fraternity is seeking a change to the Fiordland National Park Management Plan to allow cycling on the Kepler Track, while two of the department's largest concessionaires, Trojan Holdings and Ngai Tahu Tourism, want to run fully catered and guided walks.

Representatives from Te Anau Cycling Incorporated made a presentation to the Southland Conservation Board on Thursday in a bid to make cycling the Kepler Track a reality.

Te Anau Cycling Incorporated member Steve Hoskin told the board the group was one of many organisations wishing for a change in the Fiordland plan to allow cyclists access to the track.

A change in DOC policy would bring several benefits, he said.

"More people will be able to experience the park, especially in the off-season, and luring cyclists to the region would provide an economic stimulus," he said.

Cyclists appear to have the support of DOC and the Southland Conservation Board.

DOC Te Anau programme and contracts project manager Andrew Cudby said the limitations on cycling in Fiordland National Park were setting the region back.

Any plan changes would need to place serious consideration on the impact on other users and the environment, Mr Cudby said.

Southland Conservation Board chairwoman Viv Shaw said the board supported a review of the ban on cycling in the plan.

Representatives from Trojan Holdings and Ngai Tahu Tourism also put their case to the board.

Ngai Tahu Tourism's general manager of strategy and business development, Dean Lawrie, said the plan had provisions to allow guided walks on the Kepler Track and there was enough room on the track for independent trampers and groups with a guide.

The application for the guided walking tour proposal included the construction of two lodges in the vicinity of the existing Luxmore and Iris Burn huts.

The lodges would initially accommodate 24 people, with the capacity to expand to 48 later, Mr Lawrie said.

Ultimate Hikes general manager Noel Saxon said the lodges would have low visual and environmental impact. Design concepts would ensure they fitted the natural landscape, he said.

Mrs Shaw said there would be several areas the board would need to scrutinise with any concession application, including irreversible environmental damage during expanding current facilities and developing new infrastructure.

Fiordland Trails Trust - Open Day (Walk)

As a follow up to the March 21st 2013 Trailblazing Trek story in the Fiordland Advocate About the Manapouri Te Anau Walkway:

On Sunday 24th In down-pouring of Rain a group of Hearty Trampers Met at the Manapouri Lakeview Motor Inn to Try out the Manapouri Section of the Fiordland Trails Trusts Old Cycle Survey Route Linking the Kepler Track Rainbow Reach Trailhead to the Township of Manapouri.

A Group of 12 set off to Post Office Rock Point off Supply Bay, Lake Manapouri from the first bend on the Supply Bay Road for what was to be a True Rain Forest Experience. After 45 Minutes the Point was Reached and they Paused for a view of the Grey Rain Storm Rolling across the Lake. And the wild forest and Manuka/ Podocarp Glades on the track to Fraser’s Beach where passed at a steady Clip with the Spectre of the Manapouri Pub driving them on, there was brief Pausing at Kemper’s Grove below View Hill, the Annie Harris Tree, the Thong Tree, and the Orang-utan Tree as well as a diversion at the Briar Patch for some ripe Blackberries.

We where all a bit “soaked” by the time we reached the Pub where 6 of our number where given Hot Nibbles and Drinks for some reflection time.
 It was fair to say that this route is worthy of upgrading if not to a Cycle Trail maybe a Family Walking Trail and it covers a wonderful variety of Forest settings in a short distance with Half a dozen scenic diversions on the way.

It is hoped that The Trails Trust can show off more of the special places they have discovered in Our Back Yard with Further Public Outings such as this.
And thanks to those Locals who have kept the trail up since the First Public Walk Through Day in August 2007.

Aaron Nicholson
Fiordland Trails Trust

Manapouri Trail Afternoon 2013

20th March 2013 Bulletin


Just a Point on the "Walk thru Day" this Sunday from Supply Bay Road to the Manapouri Pub... If people want to walk through from Balloon Loop on their own they could start an Hour and a Half Earlier the Trail is marked and not hard to find Only one person has officially walked from Te Anau to Manapouri this way Via the Kepler Track
But if one wishes to joint that club they have to start about 11 am to meet up with the others at Supply Bay...Forcast is for Rain so an umbrella would be good ...       Pictures are from our 2007 Walk Thru day.