On Track for summer

Southern Coromandel adventure tourism operator Over The Top Adventures Limited, has announced
its new offshoot – Cycle Escapes.
Company CEO Mr  Stuart Guy has launched the Mountain bike hire and shuttle service to cater for the influx of cycle enthusiasts keen to explore the recently announced Hauraki Rail Trail. “We will pick up riders from their accommodation and shuttle them and their bikes to the area that they wish to explore” he says.
Mr Guy is enthusiastic about the Hauraki Rail Trail's potential. “parts of the trail have been here for 20 years but thanks to a shift in government focus, funding has become available to develop and promote this network of hidden gems. The gold rush history of our Karangahake Gorge in particular is well known – but totally overlooked by our regional tourism organisation 'Central government involvement means that the local RTO has been side stepped and money is going directly to the development of this wonderful asset. In short, having the Rail Trail will focus tourists to our area, bringing investment opportunities and increased employment.'
Mr Guy says that the aim of Cycle Escapes is to offer tourists and families the chance to enjoy a low cost, healthy group activity with low risk. “ The trails are mostly level and well surfaced and suit family groups. Cafes, winery and public toilets are strategically placed. Information boards are situated along the way with photos of how life was for the gold mining pioneers who first trod these tracks and carved a living from the hillsides. In addition to the new Hauraki Rail Trail the company provides access to the network of tracks developed by local gold mining company Newmont and the Waihi Walkways group “ Cycle Escapes works closely with other local tourism businesses linking with the Goldfields Vintage Railway and the Victoria Battery tours.
Cycle Escapes is part of the Adventures Southern Coromandel group of independent operators and offers discounts to customers who have visited other attractions within the group.
Cycle Escapes is based in the gold mining town of Waihi and has bicycles of all sizes for family groups. They offer a shuttle service so that kiddies are not having to ride on the road. They add that they are based only 1 hour from far more boring places like Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton.