Hot on the heels of the launch of the first New Zealand Cycle Trail Guide, the AA is gearing up for a second – this time bigger and better.

In January, AA Traveller launched the 2015 edition of its first New Zealand Cycle Trail Guide. It’s packed full of information including maps, advice on trail sections, section grades, time to allow, elevation and trail quality on all 23 routes on Nga Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail national project.

The New Zealand Cycle Trail Guide 2015 was a collaborative effort between the teams at AA Traveller and the New Zealand Cycle Trail organisation and due to its popularity work has already started on planning the 2016 edition.

AA Traveller General Manager Moira Penman says the guide was more popular than anticipated with orders for extra copies flowing in soon after it was originally distributed to 38 AA Centres, iSites, tourism operators, accommodation providers, Avanti stores and Avanti partners throughout the country.

“We’ve even had requests for copies to send overseas, both to Australia and also the United Kingdom where there is interest in the cycle trail network,” Ms Penman says.

Along with careful consideration of print runs for the next edition, Ms Penman says the 2016 edition will include some additional “connector” trails providing more options for keen cyclists.

“The 2015 edition has been hugely successful, which is a boon for regions that are home to each of the trails and all the advertisers that took part in the book. Given the demand we’ve had for this guide, it’s likely the next updated version will be even more popular.”

Ms Penman says cycle trails are becoming more of a destination for active tourists, both domestic and inbound, which means they will spend more time in regions they might not have visited in the past.

Some trails are already seeing 100,000 riders a year which is proof of the growth in popularity of cycling at the same time as New Zealand’s 23 Great Rides becoming available.

Information on all 23 rides in Nga Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail national project can also be found here.