Whakatipu Active Travel Network

This route starts at McChesney Bridge and follows Gorge Road towards Queenstown.  The route travels through rural and urban areas. For this reason it will have a mix of surfaces to reflect the immediate environment (i.e. chipseal or compacted gravel in rural area, asphalt in urban area). 

What’s the latest?

This route has been through detailed design and is now consented. Just over $10m in funding has recently been approved from the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Travel Choice programme. We’ll now work with Waka Kotahi to further refine the project scope and get ready for construction. We’ll keep you updated on construction timings. 

While the route does not include the Arthurs Point Crossing, we can update you on a separate piece of work which is underway to confirm the feasibility of the proposed crossing locations. This work is scheduled for December/January and will involve a drilling investigation to better understand the ‘lay of the land’ and geotechnical considerations. 

If you live in or travel through Arthurs Point, you can expect some occasional disruption over this time, including lane closures. You might also spot the odd person hanging off ropes taking measurements – don’t worry, they’re supposed to be there! 

Route C5: Arthurs Point to Queenstown improvements detailed design (PDF, 44,7MB)

This route will begin at the intersection of Fernhill and Watts Road. It follows Fernhill Road, onto Cameron Place then passes through wooded One Mile Creek reserve land to Thompson Street. The route then follows Thomson Street and Brunswick Street before ending at the intersection with Lake Esplanade. The improvements include widening the footpath along Fernhill Road, new signage, line markings and potential bollard lighting through the One Mile Creek portion of the trail. 

What’s the latest?

Detailed design is complete. There is currently no funding available to construct the improvements. Pavement rehabilitation is scheduled for this area in 2024/25 so there is an opportunity to complete the improvements at the same time, subject to funding.

B2: Fernhill to Queenstown detailed design (PDF, 47.77MB)

The route starts at the intersection of Jones Avenue and Howards Drive between Lake Hayes Estate and Shotover Country, following the existing trail along the power transmission corridor down to the lower terraces. It then follows the existing trail to Old School Road and ends at the Old Shotover Shotover River / Kimi kau Bridge.

What’s the latest?

Detailed design is complete. There is currently no funding available to construct the improvements. 

C7: Lake Hayes Estate to Shotover River/Kimiākau Bridge detailed design (PDF, 15.7MB)

This route starts at the Old Shotover River / Kimiākau Bridge, goes via Jim’s Way and a new pedestrian / cycling bridge over State Highway 6 and connects to Hardware Lane and on to Frankton. This new section will connect to an existing Active Travel route linking to Shotover Country and Lake Hayes Estate. 

What’s the latest?

A scope change to allow for the new bridge has been approved by Waka Kotahi and funding is in place for design through to construction.  Geotech, including boreholes to test foundation options for the bridge, will be undertaken in the first half of next year.  Design plans will also progress, and consenting applications will be prepared.  This will be followed by community and Mana Whenua engagement.

The route will start at Joe O’Connell Drive and provide a safe connection to the Frankton lakefront.

What’s the latest?

A temporary path has been installed between Joe O’Connell Drive and SH6 to provide a pedestrian and cycle connection alongside the state highway until the future SH6 / 6A intersection improvements are constructed. The pathway continues to the existing signalised crossing where it crosses to the Frankton bus hub.  A further path will be added, via Stewart Street, connecting Frankton Village to Frankton Beach. Detailed design is complete and we are aiming to construct the final section next year.

This route is intended to be a shared path connecting Jacks Point to Frankton. This would be via new developments, through private land off the highway, under State Highway 6 via an underpass, through additional private property and on to a new walking and cycling bridge over the Kawarau River and connecting to the existing Queenstown Trail at Frankton. 

What’s the latest?

The route is still in the planning stage including a number of different elements; geotech investigations, design, landowner engagement and land acquisition. Geotech work has been completed where the proposed bridge would be located.  This investigation has highlighted that the cost of a bridge in this location would be significantly more expensive than originally anticipated due to the ground conditions. Additional funding may be required.

This scenic route is proposed to start on the true left bank of the Kawarau River near Widgeon Place, Lake Hayes Estate. A bridge crossing takes the trail to the true right bank, where it follows the river to Boyd Road, eventually connecting to the Jacks Point to Frankton Trail mentioned above. The surface is proposed to be compacted fine gravel and provide a connection for people commuting from Lake Hayes Estate into Frankton for work or school. 

What’s the latest?

Detailed design has been completed for the trail, excluding in the river crossing.  Further work is underway to determine whether the crossing will be exclusively used for walking and cycling, or alternatively designed to a standard to cater for services. This work is expected to be complete by March 2023.

We’re also working on new signage to make it easier for people find their way around the trail network. Some new signage has already been installed as part of the Queenstown Town Centre Street Upgrade programme and we’re in the process of finalising the designs and placements for the active travel network.