The Nevis Valley Heartland Ride links the Lake Dunstan Trail at Bannockburn to the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail at Garston.
The Southland and Central Otago district councils’ joint project is mainly a gravel ride with many fords to cross and is suitable for fit and experienced riders.
The Nevis Valley Trail will follow the existing road, just north of Garston — which, at 1275m above sea level, is New Zealand’s highest public road with a 460m climb to Duffers Saddle — and ends at Bannockburn.
There are six great rides of New Zealand in Otago and Southland and the new Nevis Valley trial links two of these trails.
Tourism Central Otago head of destination Anthony Longman told the Otago Daily Times this month he expected experienced riders would take about a day to complete the challenging 77km ride, which is classed as grade four.
‘‘It’s been a cool project.
‘‘It will provide just another little accolade to that quality cycling experience we’ve got across Otago and Southland,’’ he said.
The ride is a back country route, with no cellphone coverage, has changeable weather and will have seasonal closures during winter.
‘‘In a few years’ time, someone could potentially be in Queenstown, jump on the Earnslaw with their bike and do the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail, get to Garston, bike over the Nevis Valley route, connect in, then bike back up the Kawarau Gorge Trail back to Queenstown,’’ Mr Longman said.
‘‘So we’re just kind of finding different ways that we’re going to close loops, extend loops for riders to spend longer throughout the districts and spread their economic impact into more of our communities.’’
The Nevis Valley, which is in the Remarkables Conservation Area, is listed as an outstanding natural landscape.
It is surrounded by mountain ranges including the Old Woman Range, the Garvie Range and the Hector Mountain and is one of the most remote and scenic roads in New Zealand.
