Tourist accommodation opens on the Timber Trail cycle way

PRESS RELEASE 8 March 2017

Sought-after tourist accommodation opens on the Timber Trail cycle way

Five years ago, a group of King Country locals decided it would be a good idea to have accommodation halfway along a new cycleway being built in the Pureora Forest Park.

That cycleway is the popular Timber Trail, which opened in 2013 and is now widely regarded as being the best two- day mountain bike ride in New Zealand.

The group of locals went on to form a project team which has planned and overseen the development of the Timber Trail Lodge at Piropiro.

The lodge will be officially opened by Barbara Kuriger, MP for Taranaki-King Country, on April 7th.

Bookings are being taken now for the first wing of the lodge which provides for 25 guests from April 12th, with a second wing and further 25 beds due to open in October.

A selection of room choices, group facilities, and all- inclusive packages are available.

An estimated 6000 people cycled the trail in 2016 and, with no on-trail accommodation available at that time, cyclists’ only options were to camp or leave the trail to travel to accommodation providers in the surrounding areas.

Jonathan Kennett, cycling advocate and co-author of Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides is an enthusiastic supporter, “This lodge is just what the Timber Trail needs to take it from good to great amongst New Zealand’s best cycle ways."

The $3.2m lodge project received a huge vote of confidence in early-2016 with a grant of $1.2m from the Tourism Growth Partnership, aimed at increasing international visitor business.

Other funding has come from private investors, including the original core group, and around 20 other Kiwis, both locals and from further afield.

Bruce Maunsell, director and operations manager, said, “Securing the TGP grant was a significant achievement and one which signalled confidence in our vision and plans for the business.

It underlines the Government’s commitment to cycling tourism and its determination to enable the Timber Trail to reach its potential."

The much sought-after visitor accommodation is situated at the halfway point of the 84km trail, at Piropiro.

The area is rich in history and runs mostly through remote and scenic Department of Conservation managed native forests.

With a strong commitment to sustainability and environmental integrity, the lodge has been built to an environmentally sensitive design, including an off-grid power system which is planned to be running from 95% solar within the first three years.

Guests will be able to experience sustainability in practice, with systems such as a biodynamic waste water treatments providing cleansed water to fertilise plants or process through toilet cisterns.

Lodge staff, and willing visitors, will be involved in local initiatives to replant areas of forestry, control weeds and pests, and protect the native podocarp forest.

Maunsell said the lodge will provide an authentic, kiwi, welcome at the end of the day to visitors out enjoying the trail and other local activities, “We’re adding comfort to their adventure."

“The lodge is a very special place and our multi-skilled staff will ensure visitors receive a high level of customer service and leave feeling connected to the area, its values, and others that they shared the experience with."

The lodge is open year-round and is already attracting interest and bookings from NZ and international recreationalists, and groups looking for corporate retreats, outdoor education locations, and venues for special interest weekends.

For more information about the Timber Trail Lodge please visit www.timbertraillodge.co.nz, call 0800 885 6343 or email stay@timbertraillodge.co.nz

BACKGROUND INFORMATION THE TRAIL

The Timber Trail is part of Te Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail.

It is one of the 22 Great Rides that make up the network through New Zealand, which in 2015 had 1.2 million users and contributed over $35 million to regional economies.

Popular with people of all ages; families, couples, and groups of friends keen to share an adventure, the trail features several specially built pedestrian and cycle swing bridges spanning spectacular gorges, including New Zealand’s longest at 141m.

Excellent interpretive signage enables users to learn about the natural and human history of the area while they travel along the 84km long trail.

THE FOREST

Pureora Forest Park is a 78,000 hectare area of protected forest that includes some of the largest, most outstanding tracts of New Zealand podocarp forest.

It was the location of anti-logging protests in the 1970s that resulted in the end of native forest logging, and the permanent preservation of the remaining forest.

The area is home to several endangered bird species including kokako, whio (Blue Duck), kaka, kakariki and North Island robin.

THE LODGE

Located at Piropiro, in the heart of the Pureora Forest Park, the lodge has been designed with an atmosphere of informality and relaxation, and to make visitors’ Timber Trail experiences even more memorable.

Overnight visitors enjoy dinner, bed and breakfast at the lodge with other facilities including a bike storage and servicing area, a drying room for wet gear, a small provisioning store, and a selection of informal relaxation areas to mingle with other guests.

There are even charging points for ebikes.

A mix of double/twin and dorm rooms are available with shared ablutions, and from October there will be a further ten rooms each offering ensuite bathrooms.

For more information please visit: www.timbertraillodge.co.nz

TIMBER TRAIL OPEN DAY To be held at Timber Trail Lodge, Piropiro, Pureora Forest Park at 11am on Friday 7th April 2017.

The Open Day will be a celebration of the Timber Trail, and the official opening of the Timber Trail Lodge; a bespoke, on-trail, tourist accommodation development that has generated much interest and taken five years of planning to become a sought-after reality.

The Open Day will be an opportunity for those interested in the lodge and the Timber Trail, to come together, discover services available to trail go-ers, tour the new lodge premises, enjoy lunch, and even take a short, scenic bike ride.

There will be plenty of opportunity for locals, commercial operators, and other stakeholders to meet, mingle and talk all things Timber Trail related.

Schedule of events:

11am – Arrive, at Timber Trail Lodge (Click here for directions)
11.30 - Powhiri, official welcome and opening of the lodge by Barbara Kuriger, MP for Taranaki-King Country
12.00 - Lodge open for walk-through tours and light lunch
1.30pm - Optional bike ride to the spectacular Maramataha Bridge

* Open Day visitors should park at Piropiro campground for a short walk (10 min) to the lodge via the bike access path, there will be signs to direct you.

*Epic Cycle Adventures will be onsite and providing hire bikes, free of charge, for a hosted ride to the Maramataha Bridge.

This is an easy ride through lovely native forest to one of the iconic swing bridges on the Timber Trail.

Numbers will be limited - it’s on a first come, first served basis Please RSVP by March 31st to: stay@timbertraillodge.co.nz Artist's impression of the completed Timber Trail Lodge, Pureora Forest Park.

Stage One will be officially opened on 7th April 2017.

The Timber Trail Lodge opens in April 2017 bringing long-awaited on-trail accommodation for users of New Zealand’s best two-day wilderness bike ride; the Timber Trail

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