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Kawarau Gorge Trail Opening Date

New trail confirmed to open on 25th October 2026

Kawarau Gorge Trail

Kawarau Gorge Trail
Geoff Marks

News & Events Kawarau Gorge Trail Opening Date

A public opening is planned for Sunday 25th October 2026, Labour Weekend, with a community ride along the new trail. The mass start will be from Kinross in Gibbston, with the ride finishing at the Cromwell Heritage Precinct, where a street party and fireworks will take place.

Upon completion, the Kawarau Gorge Trail will connect Queenstown’s trails with the other Otago cycle trails, to form a connected network of over 550km of purpose-built, off-road cycling and walking trails.

The Kawarau Gorge is a dramatic canyon carved by the Kawarau River and the construction of the 34km long trail has required complex and ambitious engineering. The trail includes numerous styles of bridges, including 4 dramatic bluff bridges. The trail itself is playful but also challenging, with lengthy grade 3 sections and the middle 13km of the trail is through a remote backcountry environment with no alternate exit routes. Southern Lakes Trails Trust recommends that all users familiarise themselves with the trail safety information as the Kawarau Gorge Trail is a challenging ride and not recommended for beginners or young children.

Please note that there is strictly no public access to the trail until the official opening as the trail is currently a construction site with significant risks and hazards.

Kawarau Gorge Trail

Map of the Kawarau Gorge Trail, due to open 25th October 2026

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