Overview
Discover tasty local cuisine and meet interesting local people on the legendary Otago Central Rail Trail in this 3 Day/2 Night Bikers Delight Independent Cycle Adventure. Enjoy some easy cycling on a vehicle-free trail for 40-60 kms. a day, passing by the distinctive Otago landscape while riding over viaducts and through tunnels, and staying at old historic hotels offering twin/double share accommodation on the 3 Day Executive Otago Rail Trail Experience.
Details
Difficulty: 3
Daily departures from September to May
* subject to accommodation availability
Start: Queenstown (7:45am)
Finish: Dunedin or Queenstown
Includes:
- Cycle equipment which includes bicycle, helmet, repair kit, panniers, odometer and trail documentation
- Luggage transfers (weight limit 15kgs per bag)
- All en suite or private bathroom accommodation based on twin/double share with breakfast included
- Transport: Queenstown to Clyde (departing Queenstown at 9.00am) - includes hotel pick up.
- Transport: Middlemarch to Pukerangi
- Bus transport from Middlemarch back to Queenstown if required instead of the train.(Hotel drop off can be included)
- Rental car at Ranfurly for 24hrs and Curling in Naseby for 1.5 hours (fuel is clients responsibility)
- Taieri Gorge Train from Pukerangi to Dunedin (arriving at Dunedin Railway Station at 6.30pm) **Clients are required to make their own way from the train station to their accommodation**
Accommodation
All accommodation is en suite based on twin/double share based on availability)
- Day 1 – Lauder School B&B
- Day 2 – Hawkdun Lodge
**If we are not able to secure the above accommodation we will endeavour to book accommodation of a similar standard**
Optional Add On’s:
- 2 hour St Bathans and Blue Lake Tour. Pick up and drop off from Lauder accommodation. (extra charge applies)
- 4WD trip into the Hawkun Ranges (extra charge)
- Straight through bags to Middlemarch to be collected at end of tour. ($15.00 per bag)
Pricing:
Cost per person Twin Share
September 2020 - May 2021
- Adult: NZ$770
- Single supplement: NZ$100
September 2021 - May 2022
- Adult: NZ$800
- Single supplement: NZ$120
Upgrade to Electric e-Bike: Price on request
* These package prices are subject to the suggested accommodation being available at the time of booking. Alternative accommodation may change the price.
Currency ConverterOverview
Discover tasty local cuisine and meet interesting local people on the legendary Otago Central Rail Trail in this 3 Day/2 Night Bikers Delight Independent Cycle Adventure. Enjoy some easy cycling on a vehicle-free trail for 40-60 kms. a day, passing by the distinctive Otago landscape while riding over viaducts and through tunnels, and staying at old historic hotels offering twin/double share accommodation on the 3 Day Executive Otago Rail Trail Experience.
Itinerary
Open AllTravel from Queenstown to our Clyde depot where you will be fitted with your bikes and given briefing on your tour. Pick up by bus from your hotel is at 7:45AM. After pairing up with your bikes, start riding to Lauder from Clyde past vineyards and over the weathered wooden trestle bridge of Alexandra.
If you are looking for more adventure, you can ride the Clutha River Centennial Track to Alexandra. This will add another 8 kms. to your ride but you will get a chance to cast your fishing line into Clutha River’s emerald green waters to see if the odd trout bites.
Lunch options are available at either Alexandra, Chatto Creek or Omakau.
Lauder marks the start of one of the most dramatic sections of the trail at Poolburn Gorge. Get a chance to spy on the rare New Zealand falcon, and ride over and through the engineering marvel of the 120 ft. tall Poolburn Viaduct and tunnels before you meet the wide open Ida Valley on your way to Oturehua where you can stop for lunch.
Pedal on to the little town of Wedderburn at the top of the rail trail before spending the night at your accommodation in Ranfurly.
Collect your rental car and travel to Naseby where you can try your hand at the ancient team sport of curling and learn more about the town’s important role in the 19th century Gold Rush.
Ride from Ranfurly to Waipiata and enjoy morning tea at the local tavern. From Daisybank, take in the views at one of the most beautiful sections of the trail as it follows the Taieri River winding around the Rock and Pillar Range, crossing the original stone bridge over Cap Burn, the 100 ft.-tall Price’s Creek Viaduct, and the 500 ft. long tunnel, to Hyde.
Sit down for lunch at Hyde Hotel, and take some food with you for your ride to Middlemarch. There are no opportunities to buy food from Hyde to the end of the trail.
Savour the freedom of the wide open space as you cycle through the Strath Taieri Plain where the Hyde Rail disaster of 1943 claimed 21 lives. Finally, get back on the saddle for the journey to Middlemarch where the trail ends.
Drop off your bicycles at our depot in Middlemarch, after which you can get showered and changed (charges apply) for the trip to follow. We then make our way to Pukerangi to link you with the Taieri Gorge Tourist Train for a 2-hour journey through the spectacular Taieri Gorge and into Dunedin.
Alternatively, you can arrange to travel by bus to Queenstown.
Cost per person Twin Share
September 2020 - May 2021
- Adult: NZ$770
- Single supplement: NZ$100
September 2021 - May 2022
- Adult: NZ$800
- Single supplement: NZ$120
Upgrade to Electric e-Bike: Price on request
* These package prices are subject to the suggested accommodation being available at the time of booking. Alternative accommodation may change the price.
Itinerary
Open AllTravel from Queenstown to our Clyde depot where you will be fitted with your bikes and given briefing on your tour. Pick up by bus from your hotel is at 7:45AM. After pairing up with your bikes, start riding to Lauder from Clyde past vineyards and over the weathered wooden trestle bridge of Alexandra.
If you are looking for more adventure, you can ride the Clutha River Centennial Track to Alexandra. This will add another 8 kms. to your ride but you will get a chance to cast your fishing line into Clutha River’s emerald green waters to see if the odd trout bites.
Lunch options are available at either Alexandra, Chatto Creek or Omakau.
Lauder marks the start of one of the most dramatic sections of the trail at Poolburn Gorge. Get a chance to spy on the rare New Zealand falcon, and ride over and through the engineering marvel of the 120 ft. tall Poolburn Viaduct and tunnels before you meet the wide open Ida Valley on your way to Oturehua where you can stop for lunch.
Pedal on to the little town of Wedderburn at the top of the rail trail before spending the night at your accommodation in Ranfurly.
Collect your rental car and travel to Naseby where you can try your hand at the ancient team sport of curling and learn more about the town’s important role in the 19th century Gold Rush.
Ride from Ranfurly to Waipiata and enjoy morning tea at the local tavern. From Daisybank, take in the views at one of the most beautiful sections of the trail as it follows the Taieri River winding around the Rock and Pillar Range, crossing the original stone bridge over Cap Burn, the 100 ft.-tall Price’s Creek Viaduct, and the 500 ft. long tunnel, to Hyde.
Sit down for lunch at Hyde Hotel, and take some food with you for your ride to Middlemarch. There are no opportunities to buy food from Hyde to the end of the trail.
Savour the freedom of the wide open space as you cycle through the Strath Taieri Plain where the Hyde Rail disaster of 1943 claimed 21 lives. Finally, get back on the saddle for the journey to Middlemarch where the trail ends.
Drop off your bicycles at our depot in Middlemarch, after which you can get showered and changed (charges apply) for the trip to follow. We then make our way to Pukerangi to link you with the Taieri Gorge Tourist Train for a 2-hour journey through the spectacular Taieri Gorge and into Dunedin.
Alternatively, you can arrange to travel by bus to Queenstown.
