Paparoa Track: a Great Walk for cyclists, too

The Paparoa Track will be the tenth Great Walk constructed in New Zealand and the first designed to be shared by cyclists and walkers.

The 55-kilometre main traverse will run from the small town of Blackball to the coastal settlement of Punakaiki, famous for its pancake rocks and blowholes.

From this main track, the Pike29 Memorial Track will lead to the site of the former Pike River Mine where 29 men were killed in 2010.

South Island robin beside newly constructed track

Hamish Seaton's notes to construction crew on track details

Kath Monk and grandson Jasper at son Michael's Pike memory stone at Pike memorial

Pike families spokesperson Bernie Monk at Pike memorial, near Atarau

Pike River mine portal

Names of miners killed at Pike River mine attached to rim of memorial wheel

Pike family member Steve Rose at access gate to Pike River mine, with painted crosses and effigies

Track builder Nigel Williams sharpening chainsaw

Project manager Mark Nelson on a section of "corduroy"-timber slabs which will be covered with soil to provide stability

Track being built in the alpine section of Paparoa Great Walk

Hamish Seaton uses inclinometer to decide on final track route

Biking up completed section of Pike Memorial track

Electric mountain bike used by track construction workers to reach work site on Pike Memorial track

Whio flock released into Pike River near the mine portal

Pororari River on Punakaiki side of track

Whio flock in Pike River

Large tree on Punakaiki side of track

View of ridge of Paparoa Range near Croesus Knob

Widespread windthrow on western side of track after Cyclone Gita earlier this year

X-shaped trunk beside newly formed track on western side of track

Helicopter delivers staff and supplies to camp on Punakaiki side of Paparoa Great Walk

Workers memorial wheel at Blackball, dedicated to workers killed at the workplace

Blackball Museum of Working Class History

Former miners' bathhouse on outskirts of Blackball

The famous Formerly Blackball Hilton

The Paparoa Track is being built by three separate crews – one at the Punakaiki end, one at the Pike River end and one in the alpine area on the top of the Paparoa Range.

Kennedy Warne has been spending time with all three crews and getting a sneak peek at the progress of the track’s construction.

One of the requirements for a shared biking and hiking track is that the gradient is suitable for cyclists.

To achieve this, the construction crews follow a "set-out" person, keeping to grade and creating wide-sweeping corners.

The people of Blackball are embracing the idea of a new tourist attraction that starts and finishes on the outskirts of their town.

The historic mining town (now home to not a single coal miner) plans to offer shuttles, speciality food, accommodation, gear hire and other facilities for the expected influx of visitors.

But the town is not reinventing itself – the Blackballer's motto 'Our future is in our past' reflects its central identity as a historic bastion of workers' rights.

The Blackball Residents Association Trust (including playwright and filmmaker Paul Maunder) are considering starting up West Coast working-class heritage tours.

About 18 kilometres of the track has been built so far, which is about one-third of the total distance, Kennedy says.

“The grades and corners are all designed for smooth cycling and having zoomed down it on my e-bike, it is a beautiful experience, you just feel completely enclosed and encompassed by the forest.”

The Paparoa Track and Pike29 Memorial Track will open in 2019.