| Whale Trail | |
|---|---|
 Wairau River Bridge – clip-on for walking and cycling | |
| Length | 200 km (120 mi)[1] |
| Location | Kaikōura,Marlborough districts, New Zealand |
| Trailheads | Picton,Kaikōura |
| Use | Walking Cycling Horse riding |
| Season | Year round |
| Sights | coastal scenery, rural scenery, railway viaducts |
| Website | thewhaletrail |
| Trail map | |
 Interactive map of the Whale Trail | |
TheWhale Trail is a shared-uselong-distance trail under construction fromPicton toKaikōura in theSouth Island of New Zealand. When completed, the trail will provide a route between Picton,Blenheim,Seddon,Ward,Kekerengu,Clarence and Kaikōura. Construction of the trail has included modifications to bridges, and environmental enhancement of places along the route with native plantings.[2] A 33-kilometre-long (21 mi) section of the trail between Blenheim and Seddon was opened in 2023. The trail is expected to become one of theNew Zealand Cycle Trail Great Rides on completion.
The Marlborough Kaikōura Trail Trust was formed in 2017 to develop plans for a trail betweenPicton andKaikōura.[3][4]
In 2019, the project receivedNZ $322,000 from the New Zealand Government's Provincial Growth Fund for investigation of route options.[1][5] A further $18m of funding was provided in 2020 by the Government's Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit. It was forecast that on completion, 43,000 people would use the trail each year, with around 7,000 international tourists.[6][7]
In 2021, there was public controversy about the choice of route through the small settlement ofTuamarina, between Picton andBlenheim. Local residents were concerned about safety, and possible unruly behaviour by cyclists.[8]
In 2022, a clip-on structure was added to theState Highway 1 bridge over theWairau River, to provide a safer crossing for cyclists and walkers on the section between Picton and Blenheim.[9]
A 33-kilometre-long (21 mi) section of the trail between Blenheim andSeddon was opened in 2023. This section of trail passes across the historicAwatere road/rail bridge, originally opened in 1902 and decommissioned for road traffic in 2008. The former single-lane vehicle deck below the rail deck was restored and re-opened for cyclists and walkers in December 2023.[10][11]
In 2024, work began on the construction of a 13 km (8.1 mi) section from Kaikōura northwards to Hāpuku. As at June 2024, 74 km (46 mi) of the full length of trail from Picton to Kaikōura had been completed.[12] At the other end of the trail, in August 2024, organisers expressed frustration that funding was not available for theNew Zealand Transport Agency to complete a 1.7 km (1.1 mi) section from Picton up to The Elevation.[13]
The 39 km (24 mi) Flaxbourne section of the trail between Seddon andWard was completed in April 2025.[14]
When completed, the trail will provide a route between Picton, Blenheim, Seddon,Ward,Kekerengu,Clarence and Kaikōura.[1] Most of the length of the trail lies close to the path of the main road between the two trailheads, State Highway 1, with a major deviation between the townships ofSeddon andWard. Between these two settlements the trail runs coastwards before turning south to skirtLake Grassmere, from there following theSouth Island Main Trunk railway line into Ward.[15] The trail is expected to become one of theNew Zealand Cycle Trail Great Rides on completion.[7]
