Dunedin Tracks and Trails

25/09/2026

Dunedin and Waitaki have just been named one of Lonely Planet's top 50 destinations to visit in 2027 🌟

Those of us who spend our weekends out on the Coastal Connection already know what makes this place special: the hills, the coastline, the birdsong at Orokonui.

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. Waitati to Orokonui is a small taste of what makes Dunedin worth the trip.

We're proud of this city. Glad everyone else is starting to see why.

P.S. If you want to help make sure our trails and pathways keep getting better, the Ōtepoti Pathways Strategy submissions are open. Have your say. Don't miss your chance to shape it: https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/roads-and-footpaths/otepoti-pathways-strategy

04/09/2026

A big thank you to Jizo Japanese Restaurant for their generous donation to Dunedin Tracks & Trails for the Coastal Connection! 🎉

Local support like this helps us keep building connected, safe trails for the whole community and makes a real difference in getting projects like this off the ground. If you're after a Japanese meal in Ōtepoti Dunedin, go say hi to the team at Jizo and thank them for backing the local trails. 🚴🚶

Want to help us get there too? You can donate to the Coastal Connection here: https://www.dunedintracksandtrails.nz/donate

23/08/2026

Show your support for the Coastal Connection trail with our new t-shirts. Every dollar raised goes directly towards building the Coastal Connection. 🚲✨

The Coastal Connection will link Waikouaiti through to Port Chalmers, tying in with the harbour cycleway and connecting the coastal communities along the way. Looking further ahead, it's part of a bigger picture that could one day take you all the way to Ōamaru.

Head to our online store: https://www.dunedintracksandtrails.nz/store-1

02/08/2026

12/07/2026

Do you like bikes and numbers? We are looking for you! 🫵

We are looking for someone who has experience in accounting, bookkeeping or financial governance, is comfortable using Xero accounting software and can prepare monthly financial reports and annual accounts.

Our vision is ambitious; to create an off-road trail network connecting Oamaru, Dunedin and Waihola, linking communities, supporting local businesses, encouraging active transport, and creating a lasting legacy for future generations.

If this is you and you have around 5-10 hours available per month? Come join this ambitious team of volunteers. Send an email for questions or apply here: [email protected]

04/07/2026

How great to see this article in the ODT this morning on the state of biking in Ōtepoti Dunedin. A new pathways strategy by the DCC will be put up for consultation, and we're thrilled that it will also create connections to our trails.👏

A great quote by Louise Efford who commutes by bike "People are finding it harder to afford vehicles. That's primarily why I use my bike. It's free, I don't have to pay for parking and I can guarantee my journey time. The weather is not always guaranteed, but you get compulsory exercise".

And a few familiar faces in the photo's too. 😄

13/06/2026

Every trail tells a different story. 🌲 This one’s from the Netherlands, and it’s absolutely beautiful. So much incredible riding in the world, including right here on our doorstep. Happy weekend riding! 😍🚵

I spent several days cycling across the Netherlands to find out whe...

24/05/2026

Since the Coastal Connection trail opened in February, Orokonui Ecosanctuary's café has seen a remarkable surge in visitors, despite roadworks on Blueskin Road, demonstrating the tangible economic benefits and proof that great trail infrastructure is good for local businesses.

The numbers speak for themselves: The first month, the trail has seen an average of over 80 walkers and cyclists per day. Compare that to the 500 daily users on the harbour cycleway bridge, and it's clear; demand for pedestrian infrastructure is very real.
This is what trail investment does for a community.

Planning a visit to Orokonui Ecosanctuary? The Coastal Connection trail is unaffected by the closure, and visitors are welcome to park at Waitati and cycle in, avoiding the detour entirely. If travelling by car, access is via SH88 through Port Chalmers. The sanctuary is open Thursday to Monday. For questions during the road closure, contact [email protected].

Read the full story posted in the comments below.

09/05/2026

A fantastic day at Waitati as the work continues on the recently opened section of the Coastal Connection track. 500 trees planted by a great turn out of volunteers on top of the more than 2,000 trees that are already there! Thanks to Chris Baillie for organising the funding 💥

Trees help us reduce erosion to keep the track surface in great condition, and give local wildlife the habitat they need to thrive. Every tree planted is a long-term investment in the trail and the community around it. 🌿🚴

📷 Andy Parsons