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A new Cycle Journeys depot has officially opened in Twizel, marking a milestone for New Zealand’s cycle tourism sector, now valued at about $1.2 billion a year.
Tourism and hospitality minister Louise Upston opened the purpose-built depot on Benmore Place on Friday, January 23, 2026.
The new facility strengthens tourism infrastructure in the Mackenzie Basin, supporting employment, higher visitor volumes and more consistent regional spend.
The depot positions Twizel at the centre of the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail, a 316-kilometre route from Aoraki Mt Cook to Oamaru and the longest of the Ngā Haerenga Great Rides network.
Louise says cycle trails continue to grow in popularity and deliver tangible benefits for regional communities.
“Cycle tourism is delivering real economic value across the country,” she says. “The Government is committing $7.5 million over three years from the New Zealand Cycle Trail Fund to ensure our Great Rides remain well maintained and continue to attract domestic and international visitors.”
She says new depots such as Cycle Journeys’ Twizel facility support the goal of growing international visitation to New Zealand’s cycle trails.
Cycle Journeys founder and owner Geoff Gabites says the opening reflects the growth of cycle tourism since the Great Rides network was launched in 2012.
“From a standing start just over a decade ago, cycle tourism has become one of New Zealand’s strongest-performing visitor sectors,” Geoff says.
“The Alps to Ocean remains the jewel in the crown of the Great Rides, and Twizel sits right at its heart. This depot exists because demand is sustained and worth investing in for the long term.”
According to Trail Evaluation Report #2, released late last year, usage across the Great Rides network has increased 18 per cent since 2021, while revenue has grown 34 per cent to $1.28 billion, exceeding the value of cruise tourism and Māori tourism.
As the longest trail in the network, the Alps to Ocean now attracts more than 100,000 riders and walkers each year, with international visitors making up about 40 per cent of users.
Cycle Journeys chief executive Marcus Waters says the new depot reflects the role cycling now plays in regional economies.
“This type of infrastructure supports skilled jobs, lifts service standards and helps regional towns capture more value from tourism,” Marcus says.
The official opening included a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the minister on Friday, January 23, 2026.
