AusLeisure

The hottest new destination in offseason biking, offering spectacular scenery and the only gondola-accessed downhill mountain tracks in the southern hemisphere, has opened for business in Queenstown.

Just as the northern season winds down, pro-bikers and bike enthusiasts can gear up for some gnarly year-round action, thanks to this month's official opening of the world-class Queenstownz Bike Park - which is already being dubbed the 'Whistler of the Southern Hemisphere' as well as being on par with Morzine in France.

The Bike Park, set high above the resort town of Queenstown, New Zealand, features over 30 kilometres of purpose built tracks from fast bermed and groomed trails to off-camber goat tracks, rock gardens, and natural single track, with runs graded green, blue and black for beginners, intermediates and advanced, just like ski runs.

Kiwi Scarlet Hagen, former junior world downhill champion and guest of honour at the Bike Park opening, says Queenstownz Bike Park is "right up there with the best in the world."

Hagen, who also has a raft of international and national titles to her name, adds "these trails are as good if not better than those in Whistler or Morzine. There are trails for all abilities and the environment and scenery is just stunning. The beginner track is super easy while the black runs are seriously challenging."

The Bike Park, which initially opened for a four-month trial season earlier this year, already has a number of famous fans including the royal family of biking top pro riders Dan, Gee and Rachel Atherton - who also filmed for their reality TV show the Atherton Project while visiting the area.

Queenstownz Bike Park is part of the Ben Lomond Recreational Reserve, managed by the Queenstown Lakes District Council, and is built on a steep pine-covered hill. It is 790 vertical metres above sea level with 500 vertical metres of uplift from the bottom to the top of the Skyline-operated gondola.

As well as the jewel-in-the-crown Bike Park, Queenstown boasts a range of awesome biking, from dirt jumps and cross-country trails through to a whole network of scenic rides. It is also one of New Zealand's best-known outdoor playgrounds, with magic skiing and all the attractions of a top resort town.

Queenstownz Bike Park is the result of collaboration between the Queenstown District Council, the Queenstown Mountain Bike Club, Skyline Queenstown and South Island entrepreneur and founded of Cookie Time Limited Michael Mayell.

Mayell, a bike enthusiast himself, fell in love with the park during its trial season earlier this year. He has since been helping with park launch plans, branding and a new website. He is also the proud owner of the high tech New Zealand designed and made Zerode frame, the top of the line for downhill handling.

Mayell's company is also supporting the park with a unique sponsorship agreement which provides a One Square Meal 'bite' bar with every bike park lift ticket sold. The official fuel of the park, One Square Meal is a breakthrough product that delivers one third of daily nutritional requirements.

Skyline Chief Engineer Ross Davidson has also been instrumental in the park's development, a project he has been pushing for 15 years. He believes that given the support of the town, which is building nicely, Queenstown has what it takes to become a major mountain biking destination.

Davidson explains that the new park adds "a new and exciting activity to the visitor mix as our figures already show that more than 40% of riders who used the park during the trial were international visitors. It's expected up to 100,000 rides will be completed in the bike park's first full season.

"I went to Whistler last year to see how our trails rated and am happy to honestly say we compared very highly. As people get behind mountain biking as a visitor activity, we're going to start seeing bike racks everywhere."

Cycling is a huge growth industry in New Zealand, with 1.2 million New Zealanders riding bikes and more than 200,000 bikes imported each year. Cycling tourism is also on the rise, both domestically and internationally. All those connected with the bike park see a strong future for Queenstown as a biking destination.

The Queenstown Bike Park is open for an eight month season that finishes in April 2012. Lift tickets cost $60 for a full day or $45 for a half day.

For more information go to www.queenstownbikepark.co.nz

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.