[1] The overall New Zealand Cycle Trail project is a joint initiate between the National Government and the Green Party, based on their memorandum of understanding.

The joint sponsors are John Key in his function as Minister of Tourism, and Kevin Hague representing the Greens.

[8] A clip on is under construction by civil contractor Fulton Hogan, due to open later in 2015, and as an interim measure, rubber safety mats have been installed that seal the groove between the rail tracks.

It goes past water races built during the time of the West Coast gold rush, today used for electricity generation.

From here, much of the trail has yet to be built, and in some sections, cyclists have to use narrow shoulders on State Highway 6, which results in the current grade 4 rating (advanced).

South of here, the route will follow the old railway line to Ross, including the picturesque 200 metres (660 ft) rail bridge over the Totara River.

An exception is the Kumara's Theatre Royal Hotel from 1876, which changed owners in 2010 and has been fully restored in anticipation of trade from the cycle trail.

Initially built for corporate functions and adventure events like pistol shooting, their market is changing quickly towards cycle tourism.

First, Eleanor Catton's book The Luminaries, which is set on the West Coast during the time of the gold rush, won the 2013 Man Booker Prize.

Then, Lonely Planet included the West Coast as one of the world's top 10 regions for tourists to visit in the following year.