New Zealand opens first National Park to mountain biking

New Zealand mountain bikers will be celebrating a first when a new mountain bike trail opens in Arthur's Pass National Park. It will be the first for any of the nation's National Parks according to Newstalk ZB. With the opening will come a monitoring program to ensure good relations between trampers and riders.

The New Zealand Department of Conservation, in a partnership with Mountain Bike New Zealand, has permitted mountain biking on 27km of specified tracks within the Poulter Valley during a three-year trial period.

Poma Palmer, a Management Planner for the Canterbury Conservancy Office, said to the The Press, "Back in the '70s, a lot of agencies combined together to build a road up the Poulter to the hut." The hard surface and gentler gradients will make for some friendly mountain biking.

"It is quite easy riding. It's a great trip to do with a young family," said Guy Wynn-Williams, a land access committee chairman for MTB New Zealand to The Press, You could get a 10-year-old up there, in principle."