These trails will give you a bit of everything. Ride over historic railway viaducts, through grand tunnels and explore what remains of the famous gold rush.
From one-day excursions to the five-day Otago Central Rail Trail ride, you can explore as much or as little of this world-renowned region as you like. One thing's for sure though; these trails are here to be explored. So, what are you waiting for?
152kmDISTANCE |
CRUISYDIFFICULTY |
AdventureBest for |
The Otago Central Rail Trail encompasses everything that's stunning about Central Otago – amazing landscapes, history, the finest local wine and cuisine, and legendary Southern hospitality.
34-42kmDISTANCE |
ADVANCEDDIFFICULTY |
SKILLED RIDERSBEST FOR |
The Kawarau Gorge Trail connects Cromwell to Gibbston Valley on a spectacular 34 to 42km journey alongside the Kawarau River. Starting in Central Otago wine country, the trail enters into a dramatic and remote gorge, a place few have experienced until now.
24kmDISTANCE |
CruisyDIFFICULTY |
DAY TRIPBEST FOR |
This relaxing ride through Central Otago's vineyards . From Smith's Way, ride the lake edge to Cromwell, through the Heritage Precinct, and onward to the Bannockburn Inlet. Finishing your day at Carrick Winery with a glass of Pinot and a bite to eat.
32kmDISTANCE |
Cruisy AsDIFFICULTY |
Day tripBest FOR |
Start at Waikaka Church at the base of Coronet Peak and finish at The Church Cellar Door in Gibbston Valley. Follow the Queenstown Trail through Arrow River bridges, historic gold mining routes, and stunning wine country.
54kmDISTANCE |
EPICDIFFICULTY |
VarietyBEST FOR |
The Lake Dunstan Trail might be New Zealand's newest cycle trail but that doesn't mean you won't get the same historic views. Ride along the shores of Lake Dunstan to Old Cromwell Town, then through Bannockburn and on to Clyde.
48kmDISTANCE |
CruisyDIFFICULTY |
DAY TRIPBEST FOR |
Explore the breathtaking Poolburn Gorge, one of the most iconic sections of the Otago Central Rail Trail, surrounded by dramatic schist landscapes and sweeping Central Otago vistas. Finish your adventure at Monte Christo Winery, where vineyard views, local hospitality, and award-winning wines provide the perfect end to the day.
40kmDISTANCE |
EpicDIFFICULTY |
Day tripBest for |
Want to get a taste of both the trails and the river all in one day? Then this is the trip for you. The Roxburgh Gorge Trail will take you from Clyde to Roxburgh, with a jet boat ride in the middle.
73kmDISTANCE |
CRUISYDIFFICULTY |
EVERYONEBest for |
Enjoy the lush landscape alongside the picturesque Mata-Au Clutha River, the rugged paths carved out by old explorers, and the dramatic backdrop of mountain ranges.
151kmDISTANCE |
MIXEDDIFFICULTY |
AdventureBEST FOR |
Over four days, you’ll clock up almost 150km and see everything from historic railway viaducts to grand views over the lakes, to historic buildings and, of course, a few charming towns along the way.
101+kmDISTANCE |
AdvancedDIFFICULTY |
AdventureBest FOR |
The Gold Rush Gorges combines the dramatic new Kawarau Gorge Trail, the world-famous Lake Dunstan Trail, and the remote beauty of the Roxburgh Gorge Trail.
22kmDISTANCE |
CRUISYDIFFICULTY |
DAY TRIPBest for |
Begin in Clyde and follow the mighty Clutha River to Alexandra, taking in riverside views and stopping for a cafe break or pub lunch. Then return via the Otago Central Rail Trail back to Clyde.
40kmDISTANCE |
Easy PeasyDIFFICULTY |
Big Day tripBest For |
Experience a wild and wonderful ride along the remote Daisybank to Middlemarch section, rich with tunnels, river flats, and golden high country.
We had an absolute blast! Loved every minute of it. The accomodations were all outstanding, every place had its own charm and uniqueness. Breakfasts were all fab! The meal and Woolshed at Kokonga, curling, a spa under the stars at Inverlair, and complementary espresso coffee at Pitches among the many, many highlights. It was an extremely memorable experience with many laughs along the way, making memories with a fabulous bunch of friends. Thank you so much.
We had the most wonderful time doing the "Rail Trail in a Day"! The Central Cycle Co team were all super friendly, informative and efficient. We even got to ride a little extra at the end of the day, as we chose the rail trail to return to Clyde instead of the river loop and the friendly lady at the shop said, “Well if you are up to some more riding, why not go for just another 3 or 4 kms so that you can see the beauty of the river loop section”. We were so grateful for her generosity as the river truly is spectacular. The whole rail trial offers some spectacular views and ever-changing landscapes. It was also super cool to have the opportunity to go through 2 historic tunnels as well as over many historic bridges. My partner is an engineer, and he was like a kid in a candy store looking at all the old construction and marveling at the historic engineering methods. I on the other hand, I was particularly fond of interacting with the friendly donkeys at Chatto Creek and both of us just repeated the phrase “wow, it’s just so beautiful” multiple times throughout the day. If you are comfortable on a bike and up to a 56-60km bike ride, we cannot recommend this ride highly enough. Even though the trail is long, all of the riding is super easy, as it is relatively flat with no steep climbs. It is an amazing way to take in the scenery while you just cruise along on your awesome e-bike. It was by far one of our favourite activities on our summer trip to the South Island.
What a great experience in Central Otago! Had an awesome day cycling the Dunstan Trail. The company we went with were great. Staff were super friendly and knowledgeable as well professional. Highly recommend not only doing this trail as part of the Central Otago cycling options but this company. We were lucky to have a great sunny day, not too hot.
The trip was excellent and all your arrangements worked seamlessly. You sent us to great accommodation and tasty meals. A highlight for me was the Peters Farm homestay. Enjoyed it so much I am going to bring my wife and stay there for a week. I had a mountain bike which far exceeded my expectations in quality and condition. Gears worked perfectly, it was just the right weight and was a joy to ride. Congratulations on offering such a good experience.
Thanks for everything. We really can’t say enough good things about Central Cycle Trail and the people we have met who work there.
Couldn’t rate these guys highly enough. Within a couple of hours they had organised 3 day itinerary which included bike hire, accommodation, bookings for meals, transportation of our bags each day and transport to where we were starting. It was awesome. The trail is wonderful, beautiful scenery, great places to stay on the way - totally recommend the crows nest in Oturehua!
Just returned from a great holiday cycling the Otago Central Rail Trail. Superbly organised by Central Cycle Trail Co. Can highly recommend the company if you are thinking of doing the trail. We were a party of 6. Grandparents, parents, a 13 and 9 year old. We paced ourselves over 5 days. The scenery was spectacular and the peace and quiet of the trail took you away from the hustle and bustle of life.
We completed the Otago Rail Trail with a group of ten. I couldn’t fault a single thing 😀. The scenery was stunning. The bikes were brilliant. The accommodation served our needs perfectly. The transfers to and from the trail and the daily bag transfers ran like clockwork. Nothing was too much trouble for Central Cycle Trail Co. - they clearly wanted us to love it as much as they do! And we did. Even our kids aged 10 to 15 rated it a 10/10 holiday!! Highly recommend.
We travelled to South Island is October, I’ve always wanted to do some of the rail trail but with a 9 month and 4 year old - I wasn’t sure it was realistic. These guys were great, they gave us an itinerary suitable to us (mostly flat, scenic and lots of spots to stop), the gear was all in good condition (we hired a chariot, bike seat and panniers as well as the bikes), there was no stress and it turned out to be a great day. Thanks guys!