At a Glance
Pedal the full 152km of New Zealand’s great Otago Central Rail Trail at a leisurely pace on this 4 day cycle self-guided adventure of the South Island from Clyde to Middlemarch. Venture on a scenic and historic journey into the Central Otago heartland following an old railway on a vehicle free trail with an easy gradient, offering a blend of scenic splendour, fascinating history, friendly towns and delicious local cuisine and wines.
Your adventure begins in Clyde where you will soon understand why Otago Central Rail Trail is favoured by so many cyclists. You can get a Rail Trail Passport, which can be stamped at every historic station you pass through. During the 4 days, you'll cycle through the iconic tunnels and viaducts of the Poolburn Gorge and Ida Valley, admire ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- Standard bike hire for 4 days including helmet, repair kit and odometer (e-bike upgrade available at an additional cost)
- 3 nights comfort accommodation on a twin share basis (upgrade to Superior Accommodation is available on request at an additional cost)
- Transport from Middlemarch to Clyde or Dunedin at the end of your trip (Transport to/from Queenstown can be added at an additional cost)
- 3 x breakfasts
- Daily Luggage transfers (weight limit of 15kg per bag, 1 bag per person)
- Detailed trip itinerary and map
- Otago Central Rail Trail Passport
- Haehaeata National Heritage Trust Donation
Itinerary
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Approx. 37-45km biking Your adventure begins with a pick up from Queenstown and shuttle transfer to Clyde depot. Enjoy a morning brief and bike fitting at Clyde depot to have you going for your first day of your incredible cycling journey. Your first stop is Alexandra, 8km away. Between Clyde and Alexandra, the trail takes you past vineyards and over an old wooden trestle bridge. Spend time relaxing for a break for coffee where cafés and restaurants showcase the region’s fantastic food. The town is built along the spectacular Clutha River, which powers the Clyde hydro dam. Your journey continues to Chatto Creek Tavern, an historic stone building, and a perfect spot for lunch. It is then up the easy gradient of Tiger Hill and downhill to your overnight accommodation. There is an option for a side trip which is highly recommended, a 5km loop to the historic gold mining town of Ophir. Marvel at the historic wooden and stone buildings from the gold-mining era and the iconic Daniel O'Connell suspension bridge (circa 1880). You’ll stay at the charming The Station in Omakau, conveniently located right alongside the Otago Central Trail. Relax and unwind in your own private room complete with a spacious ensuite bathroom. Upgrade to Superior Category Accommodation - Blacks Hotel, Ophir Thyme or Matakanui Retreat is available on request at an additional cost. Please advise you wish to book accommodation upgrade. |
The Station Omakau or similar (Upgrade is available)
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Approx. 24-31 km biking Enjoy a delightful breakfast before continuing your journey on the great Otago Central Rail Trail. The highlight of this day is the beautiful Poolburn Gorge, featuring tunnels and viaducts in a secluded rocky setting. The gorge then opens out to the vast expanse of the Ida Valley, made famous by the paintings of Graham Sydney. Between Omakau and Lauder the Rail Trail passes through the Matakanui Valley where pivot irrigators have turned this into productive deer, sheep and cattle country. Along the way, visit the Hayes Engineering Works and spend time exploring this homestead. Take a glimpse of what life was like for those working in the engineering trade and way of life in rural New Zealand. This is a great spot for lunch or a short ride to the Oturehua Tavern. The Golden Progress Mine is just north of Oturehua, and then onto the highest point of the trail before stopping for the night at Wedderburn. You’ll stay at the cosy and charming Wedderburn Cottages surrounded by stunning landscape of farmland and tussock country. Relax and immerse into the heritage and the rural farming lifestyle of Central Otago with a farmstay style stay. |
Wedderburn Cottages or similar (Upgrade is available)Breakfast |
Approx. 21-46 km biking This morning is an ideal opportunity to experience curling at the famous Naseby Indoor Curling Rink to add to your day’s adventure before cycling through Ranfurly. From Wedderburn, the trail is mostly a downhill cruise across the vast Maniototo Plain surrounded by the Mt Ida, Rough Ridge, Hawkdun and Rock and Pillar Ranges, as well as the Kakanui Mountains. The Art Deco Capital of Otago, is a great break for morning tea, before crossing the Maniototo Plains to Waipiata Tavern for lunch. Two gangers’ sheds along this section of the trail provide shelter and interesting reading about the local area and what lies ahead on the Rail Trail. You can choose to continue cycling to Kokonga or Hyde. A highlight is the section between Daisy bank and Hyde where the trail runs alongside the Taieri River, over the Capburn and Prices Creek Bridges and through the last tunnel before arriving at Hyde. You’ll stay at a boutique bed and breakfast at Kokonga Lodge with wonderful views over the Maniototo plains in Central Otago. Absorb the tranquility and fresh air at the expansive outdoor areas or simply laze in your spacious ensuite room. |
Hyde School, Hyde or similar (Upgrade is available)Breakfast |
Approx. 52-27 km biking On the way back to Hyde from Waipiata, you can visit the Macraes Gold Mine. The trail from Hyde passes the site of the 1943 Hyde Rail disaster and on through the wide-open spaces of the Strath Taieri and the majestic Rock and Pillar Range. Past the Hyde Station is ‘Straw Cutting’, site of the Hyde railway derailment that on June 4th, 1943 claimed 21 lives and injured 46. Around 200 metres along the trail from here is a memorial area with a commemorative stone cairn. As you approach the flatter farmland of the Strath Taieri Plain you’ll ride over Five Mile Creek, the rail’s last substantial bridge. Your ride is downhill to the trail's end at Middlemarch depot. If you have the time, Middlemarch is a great place to reward your efforts with a cheer of fine food and wine as well as country hospitality before returning your bike and equipment at the Middlemarch depot. Here, you’ll shuttle back to Queenstown (departing 2:30 pm) or on to Dunedin (departing 2:00 pm). NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation. |
NoneBreakfastDates & Prices
Daily departure on request. Please contact us for group bookings. Single Supplement is available at an additional charge.
More Info
- The departure point is Clyde
- The finish point is Clyde or Dunedin
- The nearest major airport to Clyde is Queenstown International Airport. Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Queenstown
- Airport transfers are not included. Joining location starts at Clyde depot making your own arrangement there. Alternatively, transfers can be arranged from Queenstown at an additional cost, please contact us
Central Otago has the most distinctive climate in New Zealand, hot summers, cold winters and low rainfall. You can experience four seasons in one day on the Otago Central Rail Trail, so carry clothing sufficient to cope with a range of temperatures. Be sure to apply sunscreen no matter what the season as the sun can burn in even in colder months.
Standard Trail Bike: Ideal for the Otago Central Rail Trail and other similar gravel trails. They feature an upright riding position, front suspension and a gel seat for maximum comfort. With Australasian- designed Avanti frames and proven Shimano and Tektro componentry, these bikes ensure the best possible riding experience.
Electric Bike: E-bikes have made cycle touring possible and pleasurable for a wide range of people. They are simple to operate and eliminate much of the cycling strain from legs and knees. You will use European-designed e-bikes built with comfort and ease of operation in mind, and feature unisex frames, 29” wheels, front suspension and proven Bosch electronics.
The four-day Otago Central Rail Trail is graded introductory, with an average cycling distance of 38km per day. The trail is wide with a compacted gravel surface and a gentle 1 to 50 gradient. You will need a reasonable fitness level, and we recommend training on compacted gravel trails, and completing a multi-day ride prior to your trip to get used to being in the saddle for long periods. The more training you have done on compacted gravel, the more enjoyable your trip will be. E-bikes are also suitable.
Compacted Gravel: Most of the Otago Central Rail Trail is compacted gravel with wide trails, making it suitable for introductory riders or higher and wide enought to ride alongside others. Cyclists need to be comfortable riding on compacted gravel and there are some narrow cattle-stop grates and ‘chicanes’ (s-shaped safety gateways).
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 60 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 60 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 60 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 60 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.
