TWIN GRAND GORGES ADVENTURE

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Two Epic Trails - One Grand Adventure

The Twin Grand Gorges Adventure

Experience two of Central Otago's most spectacular rides on one unforgettable journey. Twin Grand Gorges combines the dramatic new Kawarau Gorge Trail with the world-famous Lake Dunstan Trail, creating a two-day cycling adventure packed with breathtaking scenery, remarkable trail engineering, and unforgettable trail moments.

Beginning in Gibbston Valley, follow the Kawarau River through rugged backcountry landscapes, crossing suspension bridges and traversing spectacular gorge terrain as you make your way to the heart of Bannockburn wine country. Spend the night surrounded by vineyards in Bannockburn or Cromwell before setting off on day two along the Lake Dunstan Trail.  

 From Bannockburn, ride beside the turquoise waters of Lake Dunstan and into the dramatic Cromwell Gorge. Marvel at the trail's iconic cantilevered boardwalks, cliffside pathways, and engineering achievements as you journey towards Clyde, one of Central Otago's most charming historic towns. 

Along the way, discover gold rush history, world-class wine country, towering rock formations, and some of New Zealand's most celebrated cycling experiences. Combining two Great Rides, two spectacular gorges, and countless unforgettable views, Twin Grand Gorges is the perfect escape for adventurous riders wanting to experience Central Otago at its most dramatic. 

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Highlights

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    Ride deep into the Kawarau Gorge, following the river through rugged rock formations and towering canyon walls 

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    Experience the power of the Kawarau River, including the dramatic Nevis Rapids. 

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    Stop at Panners Bar & Kitchen, a unique café set within the historic Goldfields Mining Centre 

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    Pop into one of the many vineyards in Bannockburn to sample the local wines.

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    Spend time in the town of Cromwell and sample the local produce from its renowned orchards. A fruit lover's paradise!

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    Step back in time at the Cromwell Heritage Precinct, with boutique galleries, retail stores, restaurants and cafes.

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    See the stonework faces of the Cairnmuir slide, a man-made terrace on the slopes above the lake.

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    Ride by New Zealand's third-largest hydro-dam, the Clyde Dam. 

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    Spend 1 or 2 nights at accommodation in Bannockburn or Cromwell.

Sights along the way

6 MB Kawarau Gorge Trail - Autumn 2025 - Credit Geoff Marks (18)-image
6 MB Kawarau Gorge Trail - Autumn 2025 - Credit Will Nelson (74)-image
6 MB Kawarau Gorge Trail - Autumn 2025 - Credit Will Nelson (24)-image
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Kawarau Gorge Trail - Autumn 2025 - Credit Geoff Marks (8)-image
Kawarau Gorge Trail - Autumn 2025 - Credit Will Nelson (26)-1-image
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THERE’S MORE TO EXPLORE

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.

Erin M, April 2026

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.

Anon February 2026

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.

ANON January 2026

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.

John H, FEBRUARY 2025

Thanks for everything. We really can’t say enough good things about Central Cycle Trail and the people we have met who work there.

Ray D, March 2025

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!

ANNA W, FEBRUARY 2020

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.

Nutmeg, January 2020

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.

Anna B, October 2020

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!

Nooons, October 2019

The Most-Awarded Cycling Tour Company in Central Otago

Savour the ride. We'll handle the rest.

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