One of the World's Most Beautiful Trails: A Trail for Generations to Come

One of the World's Most Beautiful Trails: A Trail for Generations to Come There are few places in the world as breathtaking as the journey between Queenstown and Glenorchy. The road hugs the shores of Lake Whakatipu, winding beneath towering mountains, through native bush and alongside crystal-clear water before reaching the head of the lake at Glenorchy. Now imagine experiencing this spectacular journey while walking or biking. Imagine a trail that allows people to truly take in this extraordinary landscape. A trail that connects communities, protects nature and becomes one of the defining outdoor experiences in Aotearoa. That is the vision for the proposed Glenorchy Trail, and it's a vision 45South Foundation is proud to help bring to life in partnership with a group led by Te Araroa. More than simply linking two basin communities, the trail would complete one of the most significant missing links in Te Araroa network, New Zealand's 3,000-kilometre trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff. It would create a world-class experience for walkers and cyclists while leaving a lasting legacy for our region. More Than a Trail Great trails are about much more than getting from one place to another. They bring people together. They encourage healthier lifestyles, support local businesses and help us experience the places we love in a deeper and more meaningful way. The Glenorchy Trail has the potential to do something even more important. From the outset, it is envisioned as a regenerative conservation corridor, where access to nature helps fund its protection. Native planting, habitat restoration, predator control and ongoing environmental stewardship can all become part of the trail's story, ensuring that the landscape people come to enjoy is also being cared for. Walking or cycling through this part of Whakatipu allows people to slow down. To hear the birdsong, to appreciate the changing light on the mountains, to experience this remarkable landscape in a way that simply isn't possible from behind a windscreen. It reflects the philosophy at the heart of Te Araroa: protecting landscapes, connecting people with place, and sustaining the communities and ecosystems around the trail. A Shared Vision, Years in the Making It's important to make this clear: this trail didn't begin with 45South Foundation. The vision belongs to Te Araroa, who identified this stretch of Whakatipu as one of the most significant missing links in Aotearoa's great walk from Cape Reinga to Bluff, and who have championed its completion for years. It belongs to Queenstown Trails, whose extraordinary work building and connecting trails throughout the basin and beyond and laid the groundwork and proved what was possible. And it belongs to the Glenorchy Trails Trust and the wider Glenorchy community, who first imagined a trail linking their village to Queenstown and who have carried that vision forward with patience, local knowledge and genuine love for this landscape. Queenstown Mountain Bike Club and Southern Eco Trails Trust have also joined this effort, bringing further expertise and momentum to a project that is, at its heart, a community-led vision. 45South Foundation's role is not to lead this vision, but to help on the backend funding side, so that the people and organisations who dreamed it up can see it through. A Legacy for Future Generations Some projects improve a community. Others help define it. This is one of those opportunities. At 45South Foundation, we believe philanthropy can help create projects that endure for generations. As the charity partner for the Glenorchy Trail, our role is to connect people with the vision and provide a trusted way for individuals, families, businesses and funders to help make it a reality. We will have an impact fund to support the planning, consenting and construction of the trail. Alongside this, we will establish a permanent endowment fund that will provide ongoing support for maintenance, conservation and long-term stewardship. Building the trail is only the first chapter. Ensuring it remains safe, beautiful and cared for for decades to come is the legacy we hope to create. A Vision Worth Building Projects of this scale take time. They require collaboration, commitment and a willingness to think beyond the immediate future. This work is already underway, and 45South Foundation is walking alongside the project every step of the way. Together, Glenorchy Trails Trust, Queenstown Trails, Queenstown Mountain Bike Club, Southern Eco Trails Trust and Te Araroa are working through planning, technical investigations, landowner relationships, fundraising and the many steps needed to bring this vision to life. Momentum is already building. New sections of trail continue to be developed at both ends of the proposed route, bringing the day when people can walk or cycle the full journey closer. Every generation has the chance to leave something behind. For us, perhaps it could be one of the world's great trails. A place where people come to experience the beauty of Whakatipu. Where local communities are better connected. Where conservation is strengthened because people choose to invest in the future of this remarkable landscape. That would be a legacy worthy of this extraordinary place, and one that 45South Foundation is committed to helping our community achieve.