Scenery priority on zig-zag bike track

Rotorua, Taupo and Queenstown are among scenic highlights suggested for a multimillion-dollar cycle route taking tourists from Kaitaia to Bluff - via Mt Taranaki and the Clyde Dam.

Cyclists met tourism officials this week to discuss a 3000km national cycleway Prime Minister John Key has proposed as a way of creating jobs.

Those at the meeting said plans for the cycleway were moving quickly, but it was too soon to say which towns would benefit.

Bike NZ chief executive Kieran Turner, whose organisation is advising the Government on the cycleway, said the route would be chosen to create the maximum number of jobs from the estimated $50 million investment.

"We're very much aware that we're tackling this from a job creation perspective rather than a cycling perspective."

The path, which was pitched more at holidaymakers than serious riders, would probably zig-zag past as many small towns as possible, taking tourists pedalling past high-value tourist spots and beautiful scenery, he said.

Mr Turner said it was a chance to link 400-500km of regional cycleways that were in the planning stages.

Mountain biking guide author Jonathan Kennett - who was also at the meeting - said links would unite the "jumble" of cycle paths and inspire travellers to keep their tourism dollars in New Zealand rather than going to cycle routes in Australia and Europe.

A tourism survey last year found the 150km Otago Central Rail Trail cycleway had been a boon to cafes and accommodation premises from Dunedin to Clyde.

Mr Kennett said that was because cyclists might spend three or four days in an area that could be driven through in a day.

"Hardcore" cyclists would cycle 100km a day, but most people would want to stop for the night every 50km and make cafe stops every 15km. Once the route was settled, entrepreneurs would be able to build cafes where there were gaps along the route.

Asked where he thought the cycle route might go, he said Rotorua and Taupo were likely to feature because of their tourism appeal.

There was the potential for a "very nice" trail around Lake Taupo to Rotorua with branches off the main route east around the East Cape and west around Mt Taranaki.

From Taupo, cyclists could go south to Taumarunui through the Pureora Forest Park.

From Taumarunui south, a "brilliant" cycle route went along the secluded "forgotten highway".

North of Kaitaia, cyclists could ride along the sand at Ninety-mile Beach almost to the tip of the North Island.

Mr Kennett said Otago and Southland were leading the country when it came to cycle paths.

It would be "crazy" not to include the popular Otago Central Rail Trail in the national cycleway. From there people could pedal south to Queenstown through the Kawarau gorge.

Regional tourism operators were already considering another path from Queenstown to Invercargill.

Mr Kennett said most people would not cycle the whole route, but visitors could fly between the sections they wanted to complete.

ON THE WAY ...

Where the main cycle route could go:
* North of Kaitaia along Ninety-mile Beach.
* Through Auckland.
* Rotorua to Taupo.
* Taupo to Taumarunui via the Pureora Forest Park.
* Taumarunui to Wellington via the "forgotten highway".
* Dunedin to Clyde on the existing Otago Central Rail Trail.
* Clyde to Queenstown though the Kawarau Gorge.
* Queenstown to Invercargill.

Optional extras
* East from Rotorua around the East Cape.
* West from Taupo and cycle around Mt Taranaki.