8 Day - Central Otago Full Monty

A morning briefing and bike fitting at our Middlemarch depot will get you set for your first day of cycling on the Otago Central Rail Trail. Meet us in Middlemarch or you can add on a shuttle from Dunedin. You're first day will take you through the Strath Taieri Valley, below the long flat-topped Rock and Pillar mountain range. After 23km you'll pass the site of the 1943 Hyde railway disaster before reaching Hyde itself. Stay the night in Hyde, or continue on to Kokonga (14.5km) or Waipiata (24.5km) depending on your preference or accommodation availability.

Meals:  Nil

Today you'll head through 'Art Deco' Ranfurly before riding west across the open Maniototo Plains. Here you'll reach Wedderburn, and your accommodation for the night. The iconic green Goods Shed and original Wedderburn station are features of this small township. This afternoon is a great opportunity to visit Naseby to go curling at the famous Naseby Indoor Curling Rink (add to your itinerary).

Meals:  B

After breakfast, you'll gently climb to the highest point on the trail, crossing the 45° south latitude twice, as you head towards Oturehua. Make sure you visit Gilchrist's Store before continuing a short distance along the trail to Hayes Engineering Works for a tour, or an early lunch. From here, you'll enter one of the most iconic sections of the Otago Central Rail Trail, featuring historic tunnels and viaducts through the Ida Valley and Poolburn Gorge. Stay the night in Lauder or Omakau.

Meals:  B

The last section of the trail takes you through to the historic settlement of Clyde, down Tiger Hill, through Chatto Creek and Alexandra. A 5km loop to Ophir from Omakau is highly recommended, with historic wooden and stone buildings from the gold-mining era and the iconic suspension bridge. Stay the night in Clyde.

Meals:  B

Meet at our Clyde depot in the morning for a shuttle through to Cromwell to start the Lake Dunstan Trail. From Cromwell you'll ride past the Cromwell Heritage Precinct before cycling through the Bannockburn wine-country and through the stunning Cromwell Gorge. A stop at the coffee boat along the way is a must (if it's there on the day). Stay the night in Clyde.

Meals:  B

After breakfast you'll set off on the river trail to Alexandra. From here, the trail makes its way down the Roxburgh Gorge to Doctors Point Boat Ramp. Here you will meet with a local boat operator who will transfer you to Shingle Creek. Relax on board the boat while you take in the stunning scenery and history of the area. At Shingle Creek the trail continues to Lake Roxburgh Village. Take a look at the Roxburgh Dam Lookout with its great photo opportunity. Accommodation this night is in the Lake Roxburgh Village.

Meals:  B

Today’s ride starts from Roxburgh township which is famous for fruit orchards that serve up a splash of colour in every season. Roxburgh is also the home of famous Jimmy’s Pie shop. Clutha Gold trail starts here and follows the sparking Clutha River/Mata-Atu to Millers Flat. Towards the end of this section the trail cuts across pastoral farmland to reach Millers Flat. This wee town started life as a stop on the branch railway line to Dunedin which closed in 1968.

Meals:  B

After breakfast, set off on the trail that follows the river through the Beaumont Gorge before leaving the Clutha River/Mata Au and heading inland through rolling farmland. Parts of this route follow an old rail bed through Tunnel Hill and onto your final destination of the historic gold-mining town of Lawrence, where gold was first discovered in New Zealand and an interesting town to explore. There will be time for lunch before your mid-afternoon transport back to Dunedin (or Clyde).

Meals:  B