Key facts
- Fact 01
The open section is 17km each way, a 34km return ride from Cromwell.
- Fact 02
It runs from the Butcher Drive car park at Cromwell Heritage Precinct to Pioneer Bridge, where a locked gate marks the end of the open trail.
- Fact 03
The full trail will have at least two weeks' notice before its first public ride.
A 17km section of the Kawarau Gorge Trail opens to the public on Sunday 25 October 2026, but the full trail is not open yet. Southern Lakes Trails and Otago Trail Hub both published the announcement on 22 October, and we read both pages on 24 October.
The open section runs from the Butcher Drive car park at the Cromwell Heritage Precinct to Pioneer Bridge, just upstream of Goldfields Mining Centre. It is 17km each way, so a return ride from Cromwell is 34km. Riders must stop at the locked gate at Pioneer Bridge. Past that gate the trail is still a construction area, with an unfinished bridge, unfinished barriers and other hazards, and the remaining section has not been signed off for public use.
The organisers say an announcement confirming the full opening date is expected soon, with at least two weeks' notice before the first public ride on the completed trail. If you are planning to ride the whole trail, do not book around a guessed date.
Plan the ride before you set off. It is a two-way trail, there are narrow sections and tight switchback corners, and the organisers suggest walking your bike where you feel unsure. They recommend parking at the large Butcher Drive car park, where public toilets are available, and they warn there is no public toilet between Cromwell and the Highlands Gorge-ous Pit Stop toilet, about 15km along the trail. Take food, water, a basic toolkit with spares and layers for the weather.
If you are basing yourself in Queenstown, our car-free stay guide covers getting around without a rental, and our adventure planner helps you fit a ride in with other days out.
Questions visitors are asking
Is the whole Kawarau Gorge Trail open?
No. Only a 17km section from Cromwell to Pioneer Bridge opens on Sunday 25 October 2026, and riders must stop at the locked gate at Pioneer Bridge.
Where do I start the open section of the Kawarau Gorge Trail?
Start at the Butcher Drive car park at the Cromwell Heritage Precinct in Cromwell, where public toilets are available.
How long is the open part of the Kawarau Gorge Trail?
The open section is 17km each way, so the return ride from Cromwell is 34km.
Are there toilets on the open section of the Kawarau Gorge Trail?
Public toilets are at the Butcher Drive car park in Cromwell, and the organisers say there is none on the trail until the Highlands Gorge-ous Pit Stop toilet about 15km further along.