The number of participants for the 2010 event, which begins today, has increased dramatically from last year's figure.
Co-ordinator Roberta Laraman said 580 had registered for the nine trails which make up the "Winding Road to Wanaka" cavalcade, 140 more people than last year.
Mrs Laraman has been involved with the past 16 cavalcades and never ceased to be amazed how much the trek meant to participants.
"It's humbling to see how special it is to them and how they move heaven and earth, and often travel great lengths, to be part of it."
"You talk to people at the end of it and some have tears in their eyes and say they want the cavalcade to last forever.
"It has a special place in their hearts and I don't think an event like this could happen anywhere else in the world, without being hugely commercialised and losing its special flavour."
Wanaka is the host town this year and all trails lead there, with a parade and entertainment planned next Saturday to mark the final day.
Walking, riding and wagon trails begin at different points throughout Otago and South Canterbury.
Mrs Laraman said the "stupendous scenery" was just one ingredient in the cavalcade's success.
"For some it's the fact that everything's taken care of for you.
"You just have to enjoy the experience.
"It's the ambience, the chance for people to live their dream, the camaraderie, the fantastic food, the countryside they travel through.
"How else would you get a chance to get into some of these places? All those things combined make it so special."
Walkers and riders are travelling from all over New Zealand to take part this year and the event has attracted participants from Australia, the United States and Wales.
After three previous attempts to step down as co-ordinator, Mrs Laraman is definitely "retiring" after this year's event and her successor, Terry Davis, of Lowburn, has been learning the role since the 2009 event debriefing.
"I'm well satisfied that Terry will take the cavalcade into a new era," she said.
Cavalcade trails
• Gold Hunters Walking Trail - begins at Hawea on Tuesday.
• Back Country Cuisine Prospectors walking trail - begins Crown Range on Monday.
• Minaret Marauders walking trail - begins Wanaka on Tuesday.
• The NRM Boundary Riders riding trail - begins Cardrona today.
• Ben Ohau Big Sky and Lakes riding trail - begins at Twizel today.
• Swanndri Makarora riding trail - begins at Mt Burke Station, between Wanaka and Hawea, today.
• Fraser River Riders riding trail - begins at Earnscleugh on Monday.
• Speight's Heavy Wagon Trail - begins near Tarras today.
• Tussock Creek Light Wagon Trail - begins near Omarama today.
