A popular Whakatipu walking track and gateway to the southwest Otago backcountry now has full access restored with the opening of the brand-new Sylvan Bridge.
A new 42 m suspension bridge across the Routeburn River is now open, reconnecting the popular Lake Sylvan Track after the previous bridge was damaged in a significant storm in 2020, repaired, and then swept away in another storm in 2023.
Department of Conservation Whakatipu Wai Māori Operations Manager David Butt says resilience in the face of increasing storm events has been a big consideration for the replacement bridge.
"Nature is our biggest asset, and it's important we do the work to ensure we're investing our efforts across our network of tracks and bridges in the right places," he says.
"The old bridge site at the Sylvan Campsite was prone to erosion, an issue that was likely to continue. After thorough investigations with our team of engineers we made the call to build a replacement at a more stable site, around 600 m upriver from the campsite."
The new bridge is also approximately 11 m above the river's median river height, greatly increasing its resilience to erosion and flood events.
A new section of approximately 1.5 km of track has been constructed to connect the bridge to the Sylvan Campsite and other popular walking tracks in the area, such as Lake Sylvan Track.
The Lake Sylvan Track is hugely popular with locals, families and visitors looking for a gentler naturing experience within Mt Aspiring National Park, says David.
"Lake Sylvan Track is a great option for most visitors, offering scenic views, a gentle gradient and the chance to see native species like titipounamu, pīwakaka and toutouwai along the way.
"It's an excellent alternative for those who don't have the time or experience for the three-day Routeburn Track but still want to experience a connection to nature."
The bridge also provides access for experienced trampers to back country tracks like the Beans Burn and Sugarloaf/Rock Burn Track. Pre-Covid, the site received 11,000 – 14,000 walkers per year.
Having the bridge opened ahead of the busy summer season is great news for the local community, says David.
"The Lake Sylvan area is a popular place for locals. We appreciate people's patience as we've worked hard to get this new bridge open in a safer, more resilient spot."
NATURE LOOKS DIFFERENT FROM HERE
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