New Zealand's tenth Great Walk, the Paparoa Track, was officially opened in Blackball on Saturday.
The new 55km track crosses the Paparoa Range and will eventually link to a Pike 29 Memorial Track which is still under construction. It's the first Great Walk to open in 30 years.
Hundreds of Coasters gathered to celebrate the milestone.
Construction of the track has been slow, tedious work.
"Just days and days of torrential rain, slips, mud, thigh-deep mud," said WestReef project manager Jim McIlraith
The three-day-long, dual mountain-biking and walking track joins 14kms of an existing track from the West Coast's Blackball to Punakaiki. A 10km loop will be added when the Pike River Agency completes the recovery of the mine's drift.
"We've got something concrete that's going to be forever and ever, amen, and long before and after we're gone," said Bernie Monk.
The $15 million development includes two 20 bunk huts and four suspension bridges.
Eight and a half thousand people are expected to walk or bike it each year.
"It's a great economic development for Blackball," said Grey District Mayor Tania Gibson.
"It's such a tiny town and they have had their ups and downs and they are embracing this opportunity and we're already seeing new businesses and opportunities arising.
The track is only partially open to the public due to a slip covering 20m of the middle section of the track. The area is so remote and rugged, special equipment is being helicoptered in to clear the way.
Almost 950 people's booking have been affected, but the slip should be cleared before Christmas.
"Everybody that was booked on for that first three weeks were refunded but they have been given the opportunity to still go to the huts," said project director Tom Hopkins.
The first mountain bikers and trampers will hit the track on Sunday.
