A Dunedin man is set to show off the city he loves on a $130,000 five-seater trike.
The 350cu in V8 Chevrolet-powered trike will cruise along the roads of Otago Peninsula, Brighton and the inner city on a series of tours in which visitors are guaranteed to feel the wind in their hair.
Trike owner-operator Andrew Sim said there were four other five-seater trikes in New Zealand but it would be the first such vehicle to operate in Dunedin.
The vehicle is registered as a car, which means occupants do not have to wear a safety helmet. It was built by Christchurch trike maker James D.
Mr Sim said the idea for the machine came about after he finished a business degree at the University of Otago.
The venture fuses the Speight’s tour guide’s two passions - Dunedin and showing it off to tourists.
"I really enjoy taking tours and showing people what Dunedin has to offer."
While he had only had the trike for a week, it had already attracted plenty of attention when it was parked in the Octagon.
The trike was "very easy to drive" and came complete with heated bucket seats and USB ports for technology-minded passengers.
The trike would offer fun but safe tours.
"It gets to the speed limit very quickly, but it only goes the speed limit," he said, laughing.
Trike passenger Ava (19) said travelling on the vehicle was like being on a "scenic rollercoaster".
Mr Sim would offer tours doing anything "within the law" and he expected clients ranging from the young at heart to children and their parents.
Tours would begin once signwriting was completed this week, he said.
