In building the long-awaited trail between Arthurs Point and Arrowtown, the trust spent months constructing a section of trail alongside Mill Creek that was going to connect with Malaghans Rd.
It subsequently had to abandon the trail, as it did not have permission from neighbouring landowner Tim Roberts to extend it past his property.
The trust will now extend the trail further alongside Malaghans Rd, then utilise a paper road going down to Mill Creek to continue its track towards Arrowtown.
Graham McDonald, formerly of Arrowtown, said he was appalled the trust had spent money on what he called "a dead-end track" and said it should have used the paper road from the start.
"It just seems ridiculous you can have all this money that’s been donated to you and you build a trail without actually having all your i’s dotted and t’s crossed.
"I just cannot believe you would go ahead on a project without having permission, that’s just like arrogance."
"We’re not talking a small amount of money — many, many months were spent there, forming the track and then to go, ‘well, actually, we can’t even finish it now’.
"The money could have been used elsewhere on other tracks."
Months would also have been saved if they had taken the paper road option originally, Mr McDonald said.
Mr Roberts’ neighbour, Allister Saville, was also critical of the trails trust.
"They didn’t do their paperwork, basically.
"I would have thought the trust would have this all in place well back, like years ago, instead of just coming along, spending all that money, getting that far and then stopping and now backtracking.
"For a trust that’s crying out for money to keep building trails, you would have thought they would have had that all in place, because that’s a lot of money wasted.
"Where they were going to come out on the road, we told them years ago it’s the most dangerous corner of Malaghans Rd to come out on to."
Mr Roberts could not be contacted this week — it is thought he initially considered allowing an easement by his property before withholding his formal approval.
Trails trust chief executive Mark (Willy) Williams is currently overseas.
Contacted in his absence, chairman Michael Walker denied the "trail to nowhere" has been abandoned.
"It will allow access for the public to enjoy the Queenstown Lakes District Council reserves and provide further opportunities to expand the trail beside Mill Creek."
It could also connect with further trails, for example on the former Coronet Forest.
Mr Walker said Mr Williams would elaborate further when he returned to Queenstown.
In response, Mr McDonald said: "Why the hell would you ride up there and turn around to ride back?
"It just doesn’t make sense.
"You ride to a destination, you ride from A to B."
Mr Saville also said he would not be happy if the trust still wanted to use the trail to nowhere.
He said having all those people would be travelling up and back again and using their driveway to get out to the road.
"It’s not right."
