Fiordland Trails Trust
Encyclopedia
The FIORDLAND TRAILS TRUST, New Zealand
, was formed in March 2007, and is an Organisation, with Charitable and Donee Status. The Group was set up in response to the need for a Recreational Cycleway linking the Towns of Manapouri
and Te Anau
, much of which has high scenic and recreational values. The Trust aims to establish a regional Trail Network link up, of existing trails In the Fiordland
and Northern Southland
area.
as the Trustees in their absolute discretion shall determine (called "the Trail") whenever such Trail will contribute to the social, cultural, environmental or economic wellbeing of residents or visitors to that area; .'
The Fiordland Trails Trust is working with trail–focused community groups such as the Wakatipu Trails Trust, and the Tuatapere
Tracks Group, to create a contiguous trail network that is expected to become a popular tourism draw–card, bringing considerable economic benefits to New Zealand Tourism, and facilitating further natural improvements such as native birdlife restoration.
who desired a local walking track to link with the Kepler Track
since 1991. They became a founding members of the Trust Aaron Nicholson is known as an advocate for nature protection and conservation twice being nominated for the Southland Conservation Board as well as the Manapouri Community Development Association.
At the same time Shaun Cantwell a Te Anau teacher from Fiordland College
was working to get the community interested in the idea of a local cycle track to the same destination.
A 'Friends of the Fiordland Trails Trust' campaign was recently mooted to expand the group's membership and to increase support for better quality Human interaction with the Fiordland National Parks recreational assets.
end of the Manapouri–Te Anau Cycleway project has been maintained by several local residents making it possible to walk from the Kepler Track
exit at Rainbow Reach to the Centre of the Manapouri Township, Via two Famous Lord of the Rings Movie locations on the Anduin Reach
, crossing the Supply Bay Road and following the Manapouri lake shore to Post Office Rock and Fraser’s Beach.
However, the Department of Conservation
is not involved in the maintenance or administration of this trail.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, was formed in March 2007, and is an Organisation, with Charitable and Donee Status. The Group was set up in response to the need for a Recreational Cycleway linking the Towns of Manapouri
Manapouri
Manapouri is a small town in Southland / Fiordland, in the southwest corner of the South Island, in New Zealand. Located at the edge of the Fiordland National Park, on the eastern shore of Lake Manapouri, close to its outflow into the Waiau River, tourist boat services are based in the...
and Te Anau
Te Anau
Te Anau is a town in the South Island of New Zealand. It is on the eastern shore of Lake Te Anau in Fiordland. Lake Te Anau is the largest lake in the South Island and second only within New Zealand to Lake Taupo. The 2001 census recorded the town's population as 1,857...
, much of which has high scenic and recreational values. The Trust aims to establish a regional Trail Network link up, of existing trails In the Fiordland
Fiordland
Fiordland is a geographic region of New Zealand that is situated on the south-western corner of the South Island, comprising the western-most third of Southland. Most of Fiordland is dominated by the steep sides of the snow-capped Southern Alps, deep lakes and its ocean-flooded, steep western valleys...
and Northern Southland
Southland
-Australia:* Westfield Southland, a large retail complex located in the suburb of Cheltenham, approximately 16 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD in Australia-Canada:* Greater Toronto Area...
area.
1st Press Release
The Fiordland Focus ran an article on July 4, 2007 announcing the formation of the Fiordland Trails Trust under the guidance of Diana Zadravec of Venture Southland and Warwick Cambridge of Preston Russell Law.the Mission Statement
The mission statement of the Trust group is: 'To promote, plan, fund, develop and establish a functional and high quality interconnected network of trails for walking, hiking, cycling, mountain biking, horse riding and any similar non–motorised recreational leisure activities covering the area of Te Anau, Fiordland (including the Mavora Lakes) Southland, New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
as the Trustees in their absolute discretion shall determine (called "the Trail") whenever such Trail will contribute to the social, cultural, environmental or economic wellbeing of residents or visitors to that area; .'
The Fiordland Trails Trust is working with trail–focused community groups such as the Wakatipu Trails Trust, and the Tuatapere
Tuatapere
Tuatapere is a small rural town in Southland, New Zealand . It is located eight kilometres from the southern coast. The Waiau River flows through the town before reaching Te Waewae Bay, where it has its outflow into Foveaux Strait...
Tracks Group, to create a contiguous trail network that is expected to become a popular tourism draw–card, bringing considerable economic benefits to New Zealand Tourism, and facilitating further natural improvements such as native birdlife restoration.
Conception
The project was initiated by Mike McConachie and Aaron Nicholson, both Motor Camp operators from ManapouriManapouri
Manapouri is a small town in Southland / Fiordland, in the southwest corner of the South Island, in New Zealand. Located at the edge of the Fiordland National Park, on the eastern shore of Lake Manapouri, close to its outflow into the Waiau River, tourist boat services are based in the...
who desired a local walking track to link with the Kepler Track
Kepler Track
The Kepler Track is a circular tramping track which travels through some of the spectacular scenery on the South Island of New Zealand. The track passes through many landscapes of the Fiordland National Park ranging from rocky mountain ridges to tall mossy forests, from lake shores to deep gorges....
since 1991. They became a founding members of the Trust Aaron Nicholson is known as an advocate for nature protection and conservation twice being nominated for the Southland Conservation Board as well as the Manapouri Community Development Association.
At the same time Shaun Cantwell a Te Anau teacher from Fiordland College
Fiordland College
Fiordland College is a co-educational state secondary school. It is one of the two schools in Te Anau, New Zealand.Te Anau is situated on the shores of Lake Te Anau, at the gateway to New Zealand's largest National Park.-Facilities:...
was working to get the community interested in the idea of a local cycle track to the same destination.
The Current Trustees
David Prendergast (Chair), Andy MacDonald (Vice Chair), Megan Willians (Treasurer), Shaun Cantwell (Acting Secretary), Aaron Nicholson , Bob Meek, Craig Ireland, Lucy Bellerby, Dave Kelly, Dr Steve Hoskings.A 'Friends of the Fiordland Trails Trust' campaign was recently mooted to expand the group's membership and to increase support for better quality Human interaction with the Fiordland National Parks recreational assets.
Feasibility Study
In May 2010 Southern Land CKL of Wanaka put out a 12 page Feasibility study for the 28 km Manapouri–Te Anau Cycleway indicating that an International Standard grade 2 Cycleway would be expected to cost in the region of 1.2 Million.Trail Survey Route
Since 2007 the survey line route on the ManapouriManapouri
Manapouri is a small town in Southland / Fiordland, in the southwest corner of the South Island, in New Zealand. Located at the edge of the Fiordland National Park, on the eastern shore of Lake Manapouri, close to its outflow into the Waiau River, tourist boat services are based in the...
end of the Manapouri–Te Anau Cycleway project has been maintained by several local residents making it possible to walk from the Kepler Track
Kepler Track
The Kepler Track is a circular tramping track which travels through some of the spectacular scenery on the South Island of New Zealand. The track passes through many landscapes of the Fiordland National Park ranging from rocky mountain ridges to tall mossy forests, from lake shores to deep gorges....
exit at Rainbow Reach to the Centre of the Manapouri Township, Via two Famous Lord of the Rings Movie locations on the Anduin Reach
Anduin Reach
The Anduin Reach, an unofficial name for a section of the Upper Waiau River, Southland, is in the South Island of New Zealand. It is part of a river system that feeds from Lake Te Anau and discharges into Shallow Bay eighteen kilometres downstream from where it leaves Lake Te Anau. Water at the...
, crossing the Supply Bay Road and following the Manapouri lake shore to Post Office Rock and Fraser’s Beach.
However, the Department of Conservation
Department of Conservation
Department of Conservation may refer to:* Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong* Department of Environment and Conservation * Department of Conservation * In the United States:...
is not involved in the maintenance or administration of this trail.