Overview
This 5 Day Otago Rail Trail and Clutha Gold Cycle tour from Queenstown in New Zealand is a combination of one of South Island’s most-loved cycling trail – the Otago Central Rail Trail – and a stunning ride along the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail. This journey will also tackle a section of the Roxburgh Gorge Trail to complete your exploration of the breathtaking Otago region.
You start by cycling the 150km vehicle-free Central Rail Trail from Clyde to Middlemarch, discovering charming small towns and abandoned gold diggings along the way. Don’t forget to stop by and interact with the locals!
Next, you will climb on board the spectacular Taieri Gorge Railway into Dunedin before continuing on the Clutha Gold and Roxburgh Gorge Cycle Trails. Ride through farmlands and fruit orchards, while admiring the beautiful turquoise Clutha River. Then, you will hop on a scenic boat ride along a section of the Roxburgh Gorge, before completing your journey celebratory wine tasting in an award-winning vineyard.
Trip Highlights
- Cycle all 150km of the iconic Otago Central Rail Trail
- Take a journey on the stunning Taieri Gorge Railway from Middlemarch to Dunedin
- Cycle alongside the idyllic Clutha River on purpose built cycle trails
- Experience a scenic jet boat transfer down the Roxburgh Gorge
- Visit the historic gold mining town of St Bathan's
- Enjoy a local wine tasting at a Central Otago Winery
- Try your hand at curling in Naseby (optional)
Details
Difficulty: 3
DEPARTURES DATES
| Month | Year | Day |
| March | 2020 | 2 |
| November | 2020 | 22 |
| December | 2020 | 6 |
| January | 2021 | 3 |
| February | 2021 | 2 |
| March | 2021 | 1 |
*NZ$100 Public Holiday Surcharge Applies
(C) Tour Closed
(L) Limited Availability
Start: Queenstown
Finish: Queenstown
Includes:
- 4 breakfasts, 4 dinners
- 4 nights hotel/motel accommodation on twin share basis, mostly ensuite bathroom facilities
- Professional driver/guide
- 2 professional guides/drivers on trips with 8 or more people
- Private vehicle transport (except for Taieri Gorge train)
- Taieri Gorge Train trip to Dunedin
- Otago Central Rail Trail passport
- Scenic Jet boat ride on the Clutha River
- Water and snacks while cycling
- Access and concession fees paid to the Department of Conservation
What's not included
- International or domestic flights and taxes
- Arrival and departure transfers
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- All beverages, other than breakfast
- Bike hire (including helmet)
- Water bottle (help us save the environment and bring your own bike drink bottle)
- Optional activities (eg. Curling, Wine Tasting)
- Personal expenses (eg. phone calls, internet, laundry, shopping etc)
- Travel insurance
- Visa (if required)
- Tips
Pricing:
COST PER PERSON
March 2020 - March 2021
- Twin: NZ$2,245
Single supplement: NZ$495
Bike Rental: NZ$170
E - Bike Rental: NZD$400
High Season Supplement: NZ$100
Overview
This 5 Day Otago Rail Trail and Clutha Gold Cycle tour from Queenstown in New Zealand is a combination of one of South Island’s most-loved cycling trail – the Otago Central Rail Trail – and a stunning ride along the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail. This journey will also tackle a section of the Roxburgh Gorge Trail to complete your exploration of the breathtaking Otago region.
You start by cycling the 150km vehicle-free Central Rail Trail from Clyde to Middlemarch, discovering charming small towns and abandoned gold diggings along the way. Don’t forget to stop by and interact with the locals!
Next, you will climb on board the spectacular Taieri Gorge Railway into Dunedin before continuing on the Clutha Gold and Roxburgh Gorge Cycle Trails. Ride through farmlands and fruit orchards, while admiring the beautiful turquoise Clutha River. Then, you will hop on a scenic boat ride along a section of the Roxburgh Gorge, before completing your journey celebratory wine tasting in an award-winning vineyard.
Trip Highlights
- Cycle all 150km of the iconic Otago Central Rail Trail
- Take a journey on the stunning Taieri Gorge Railway from Middlemarch to Dunedin
- Cycle alongside the idyllic Clutha River on purpose built cycle trails
- Experience a scenic jet boat transfer down the Roxburgh Gorge
- Visit the historic gold mining town of St Bathan's
- Enjoy a local wine tasting at a Central Otago Winery
- Try your hand at curling in Naseby (optional)
Itinerary
Open AllYour guide will collect the group from a central city location around 8:00am and we will have a tour briefing. We will then set off with a scenic drive through to Clyde alongside the scenic river gorge. After we fit you to your bike it’s time to head out on our first ride on the Otago Central Rail Trail. You’ll cycle through flat rural countryside, passing through Alexandra and Chatto Creek before arriving in Omakau for lunch. After a drive around the quaint township of Ophir we continue to the top of the Raggedy Range to get a bird’s eye view of the trail and to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding countryside. The remaining 9kms will simply flow under the wheels as we make our way to Lauder. In the late afternoon we’ll transfer by our mini-bus to the historic gold mining village, St. Bathans, for a walk around the beautiful Blue Lake. In the evening there is time for a relaxing drink and a game of pool at the local pub before dinner.
Meals: D
Our second day of riding on the Otago Central Rail Trail will take you through historic tunnels and over rail bridges, built to connect Dunedin with Central Otago during the gold rush. With the willow tree-edged gorge below the trail and welcoming pools beckoning you will finally emerge into the scenic Idaburn valley, where we re-fuel with a hearty lunch at the cafe before our afternoon ride. The trail continues after lunch to its highest point and the beginning of the downhill descent that take us to the art deco township of Ranfurly. You’ll have some free time in the afternoon to relax and explore Ranfurly.
Around 4:30pm we drive out to Naseby, a small foresting township, just off the trail, where you have the option to test your skills at curling: bowls on ice (own expense). This is a lot of fun and the Naseby facility is the only dedicated curling rink in the Southern Hemisphere. If curling doesn't appeal, a relaxing pint at the iconic Royal Hotel, or a walk around the village or in the forest plantation are alternatives. It’s then back to Ranfurly for dinner and overnight.
Meals: B,D
Today will serve up our longest ride on the Otago Central Rail Trail, but it is also some of the best riding on the trip. From Waipiata, the trail follows the edge of the old lake before entering the Taieri Gorge. The trail crosses through further tunnels and bridges before a fast downhill to the old hotel at Hyde. From here a final 27kms takes us past the scene of the Hyde rail disaster of 1943 and then out onto the rolling plains slowly descending into Middlemarch. This is the end of the trail and time for a well deserved celebratory drink at a local cafe. The day is not finished just yet though. One of the highlights of our trip is a trip on board the famous Taieri Express for a spectacular train ride through the gorge to Dunedin, the ‘Edinburgh of New Zealand’. Tonight, we toast the group for completing the 150kms ride on the Otago Central Rail Trail.
Meals: B,D
The sensational cycling through the Otago region continues today with our first ride on the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail. We begin with a transfer to Lawrence, where we have the chance to explore this small historical and charming village, then hit the bikes for a gentle incline up to Big Tunnel Hill and its namesake, the 434m tunnel. After being rewarded with a gentle downhill into the small township of Beaumont, we’ll reach the swift turquoise waters of the Clutha Mata-au River, NZ's second longest river. After another 20kms of beautiful riverside cycling we arrive at the small farming town of Millers Flat. Here we load up the bikes and drive through to Lake Roxburgh Village and our lodge accommodation for the night.
Meals: B,D
From the lodge we drive the short distance back to Millers Flat where we start our final days riding on the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail. Today’s ride sees us squeezing past Dumbarton Rock, which once stretched all the way across the river, before riding past the network of orchards and rural farmland alongside the Clutha River back to Lake Roxburgh Village. We continue our journey onto Roxburgh Dam, the oldest Hydro Dam in the South Island, from where we connect with the final section of our ride, known as the Roxburgh Gorge Trail. The Roxburgh Gorge is a stunning landscape of steep hillsides strewn with giant boulders leading down to a willow-lined river and lake. Our final ride is split up with a scenic jet boat ride on the Clutha River before arriving in the town of Alexandra, where you can enjoy an afternoon wine tasting to celebrate the conclusion of your ride before travelling back to Queenstown. Trip concludes on arrival in Queenstown around 5.30-6:00pm when we will drop you off at a central city location.
Meals: B
COST PER PERSON
March 2020 - March 2021
- Twin: NZ$2,245
Single supplement: NZ$495
Bike Rental: NZ$170
E - Bike Rental: NZD$400
High Season Supplement: NZ$100
Itinerary
Open AllYour guide will collect the group from a central city location around 8:00am and we will have a tour briefing. We will then set off with a scenic drive through to Clyde alongside the scenic river gorge. After we fit you to your bike it’s time to head out on our first ride on the Otago Central Rail Trail. You’ll cycle through flat rural countryside, passing through Alexandra and Chatto Creek before arriving in Omakau for lunch. After a drive around the quaint township of Ophir we continue to the top of the Raggedy Range to get a bird’s eye view of the trail and to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding countryside. The remaining 9kms will simply flow under the wheels as we make our way to Lauder. In the late afternoon we’ll transfer by our mini-bus to the historic gold mining village, St. Bathans, for a walk around the beautiful Blue Lake. In the evening there is time for a relaxing drink and a game of pool at the local pub before dinner.
Meals: D
Our second day of riding on the Otago Central Rail Trail will take you through historic tunnels and over rail bridges, built to connect Dunedin with Central Otago during the gold rush. With the willow tree-edged gorge below the trail and welcoming pools beckoning you will finally emerge into the scenic Idaburn valley, where we re-fuel with a hearty lunch at the cafe before our afternoon ride. The trail continues after lunch to its highest point and the beginning of the downhill descent that take us to the art deco township of Ranfurly. You’ll have some free time in the afternoon to relax and explore Ranfurly.
Around 4:30pm we drive out to Naseby, a small foresting township, just off the trail, where you have the option to test your skills at curling: bowls on ice (own expense). This is a lot of fun and the Naseby facility is the only dedicated curling rink in the Southern Hemisphere. If curling doesn't appeal, a relaxing pint at the iconic Royal Hotel, or a walk around the village or in the forest plantation are alternatives. It’s then back to Ranfurly for dinner and overnight.
Meals: B,D
Today will serve up our longest ride on the Otago Central Rail Trail, but it is also some of the best riding on the trip. From Waipiata, the trail follows the edge of the old lake before entering the Taieri Gorge. The trail crosses through further tunnels and bridges before a fast downhill to the old hotel at Hyde. From here a final 27kms takes us past the scene of the Hyde rail disaster of 1943 and then out onto the rolling plains slowly descending into Middlemarch. This is the end of the trail and time for a well deserved celebratory drink at a local cafe. The day is not finished just yet though. One of the highlights of our trip is a trip on board the famous Taieri Express for a spectacular train ride through the gorge to Dunedin, the ‘Edinburgh of New Zealand’. Tonight, we toast the group for completing the 150kms ride on the Otago Central Rail Trail.
Meals: B,D
The sensational cycling through the Otago region continues today with our first ride on the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail. We begin with a transfer to Lawrence, where we have the chance to explore this small historical and charming village, then hit the bikes for a gentle incline up to Big Tunnel Hill and its namesake, the 434m tunnel. After being rewarded with a gentle downhill into the small township of Beaumont, we’ll reach the swift turquoise waters of the Clutha Mata-au River, NZ's second longest river. After another 20kms of beautiful riverside cycling we arrive at the small farming town of Millers Flat. Here we load up the bikes and drive through to Lake Roxburgh Village and our lodge accommodation for the night.
Meals: B,D
From the lodge we drive the short distance back to Millers Flat where we start our final days riding on the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail. Today’s ride sees us squeezing past Dumbarton Rock, which once stretched all the way across the river, before riding past the network of orchards and rural farmland alongside the Clutha River back to Lake Roxburgh Village. We continue our journey onto Roxburgh Dam, the oldest Hydro Dam in the South Island, from where we connect with the final section of our ride, known as the Roxburgh Gorge Trail. The Roxburgh Gorge is a stunning landscape of steep hillsides strewn with giant boulders leading down to a willow-lined river and lake. Our final ride is split up with a scenic jet boat ride on the Clutha River before arriving in the town of Alexandra, where you can enjoy an afternoon wine tasting to celebrate the conclusion of your ride before travelling back to Queenstown. Trip concludes on arrival in Queenstown around 5.30-6:00pm when we will drop you off at a central city location.
Meals: B
