Kia ora koutou,

Welcome to another edition of the Dunedin Tracks and Trails newsletter!

This month we're looking at how Dunedin is moving. The draft Ōtepoti Pathways Strategy is open for submissions, and it's a real chance to tell Council that the connections between our streets and trails matter just as much as the trails themselves. Also, a new shared pathway between Outram and the Taieri Historical Park is nearly ready to explore, the result of years of community effort.

Read on for all the details.

The Dunedin Tracks and Trails team

Good news! The draft Ōtepoti Pathways Strategy backs the trails you already love, with council support for expanding connections to the Tunnels Trail, the Coastal Connection and the wider regional network including the Alps 2 Ocean and Clutha Gold trail. That's worth submitting in support of and your voice can make the difference!

But trails don't exist in isolation. Most rides start and end on city streets, and right now those connections are patchy.

Once Dunedin is properly linked into the regional trail network, it becomes a genuine stopover for touring cyclists, not just a place they pass through. That means more visitors staying longer, spending on accommodation, cafes and bike hire, and a stronger case for local tourism businesses to invest here.This strategy is our chance to tell Council that urban connections matter just as much as the trails themselves, and that both need funding.

Submissions don't need to be long. A few sentences on what matters to you and why is enough to make a difference. The more people Council hears from, the stronger the case for a network that works for locals and visitors alike.

A New Trail Takes Shape in Outram

A joint vision from Taieri Rotary and Taieri Lions is becoming reality, with a new shared pathway connecting Outram township and the Taieri Historical Park.

Stage 1 is now almost complete, winding uphill towards the reservoir, through the Historic Park and native bush to George King Memorial Drive. Work is also underway on Stage 2, which will complete a loop back to Outram.

This has been a true community effort, with funding from local clubs and trusts, support from landowners, businesses and volunteers, and around 300 native plants already planted.

The trail will provide a fantastic recreational asset for locals and visitors alike, linking the community with the Historic Park and surrounding landscape.

Keen to support this trail? Every small donation helps.

Another successful planting day

Thanks to the wonderful community. More than 25 volunteers showed up to get 2000 plants in the ground along the Coastal Connection trail. For the last year, an amazing team of locals have been propagating and growing plants for this project.

Thanks to Mark and Clare Brown at Blueskin Nurseries for providing space and expertise and to Chris Baillie for rallying the troops.

Interesting reads

// Otago Trails Forum
Our team was there to hear the latest developments. It was amazing to hear some of the stats of the local economy thriving because of bike tourism. Read more here.

// Dunedin and Ōamaru have made Lonely Planet's list of the best places to travel in 2027, the only region in Aotearoa New Zealand to make the list.
This isn't just good news for tourism. It's good for our cafés, our accommodation, our small businesses, and it's another reason to keep investing in the trails that let people actually experience this place on foot or by bike. Read more.

// Kawerau Gorge Trail opening confirmed
A public opening is planned for Sunday 25th October 2026, Labour Weekend, with a community ride along the new trail. The mass start will be from Kinross in Gibbston, with the ride finishing at the Cromwell Heritage Precinct, where a street party and fireworks will take place. Read more.

Below: This year's steady increase in bike and pedestrian counts across Dunedin suggests more residents are embracing active transport to get around, as petrol prices have an effect on the cost of living.

Data compiled by David Hood, data researcher.