New Bluff Hill Motupōhue Active Recreational Park

Article by Eva Davies in Stuff NZ 28 Dec 2022

A mountain bike and walking track is set to attract tourists from throughout the country to the new adventure park in Bluff during the next two years.

Work is under way on the Bluff Hill Motupōhue Active Recreational Precinct with the Invercargill City Council working closely with the Southland Mountain Bike Club to create the outdoor hub.

Photo credit: ROBYN EDIE/STUFF

Council parks and recreation manager Caroline Rain said after a lot of planning work was finally under way.

“The Bluff Hill Motupōhue Active Recreational Precinct is a key component for Great South’s Bluff Tourism Master Plan, which aims to make Bluff a significant tourist destination.

“Our aim is to make Bluff Hill Motupōhue a national mountain biking destination – a place that appeals to the needs of both recreational and elite riders.”

Rain said the park was intended to be a multi-use facility and hoped it would encourage further mountain bike championships as well as the potential to include events such as the Burt Munro Challenge.

As well as funds from the Long Term Plan, the project was given a funding boost of $981,380 from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to upgrade and develop the mountain bike and walking paths, and design and build toilets and an expansion of car parks.

An archaeological assessment had taken place in this area, which found nothing of significance with further archaeological evaluations taking place next year.

Southland Mountain Biking Club President Donald Heslip said the biking tracks and paths would not be groomed and manicured like a lot of other mountain biking trails.

“Cyclists don’t necessarily want all manicured tracks. The precinct will have something for every rider, including some rough and raw trails.”

Each of the mountain bike tracks would range from Grade 1, easiest, to Grade 4, advanced, and new walking tracks would be developed for the hill.

Existing mountain biking and 2.5km of walking tracks would be upgraded.

The Bluff Hill Motupōhue Environment Trust was enlisted to help with restoration of the hill and planting native trees, similar to other parts of Bluff Hill, to restore the forest and ensure plants and animals would thrive.

A concept design of the recreational precinct was expected in April, and the project was expected to be completed in March 2024.