Gibbston resident and "trail ambassador" Abigail White (5) had the honour of untying the ribbon at the handover of the new 8.5km walking and cycling trail, alongside the Kawarau River, from the Gibbston Community Association to the Department of Conservation (Doc). The trail took six years to complete.
Association chairwoman and driving force behind trail Susan Stevens told the Otago Daily Times yesterday the event made the trail "an early Christmas gift" to Doc and New Zealand from the Gibbston community and the more than 200 businesses, groups, trusts and individuals who made the project happen.
Wakatipu Trails Trust chief executive Kaye Parker, trust patron Sir Eion Edgar and Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden praised Ms Stevens, and Doc Wakatipu area manager Greg Lind added the department's thanks.
An emotional Ms Stevens said she tried to thank as many of the contributors to the project as possible when she was invited to speak.
Once the trail was open, walkers explored the 2.7km Wentworth Bridge loop track, starting and finishing at Peregrine Wines, while mountain bikers cycled 10km from the Kawarau Bungy car park to the finish at Peregrine Wines.
It is expected the trail will attract 20,000 people annually.
"It's been very exciting for our community and it's been fun," Ms Steven said yesterday.
The community association chairwoman was speaking from the association's 15th annual community picnic, held at Peregrine Wines.
"We've seen so many cycling and walking and running all day - it's already being enjoyed by people."
When asked how she was feeling after six years of hard work to make the trail a reality, Ms Stevens said: "I'm pretty tired. It's been a long, hard push to get to the end.
"I haven't had enough time to step back and appreciate it.
"The opening event and the feedback was beyond anything I ever expected. People told me they thought the trail would be beautiful, but it exceeded their expectations."
