Overview
A five day, self-guided cycling holiday following the South Island’s Otago Central Rail Trail, a journey along the former railway line that served the mining and industry during the region’s gold rush of the 1860s. Starting and ending in Clyde, this relatively easy cycling holiday takes you through historic railway and mining heritage towns, over viaducts and through tunnels. With tranquil backdrops of the Rock and Pillar Range, Ida Valley and rolling sheep and cattle pastures, there’s hardly a building in sight for miles on end. The trail ends in Middlemarch, with a transfer back to Clyde. Accommodation is in a mix of modern and historic boutique hotels, with luggage transfers along the way. E-bike and traditional bike hire is included in the price of this tour.
- Otago Central Rail Trail
- Poolburn Gorge and Viaduct
- Ida Valley
- Ophir
- Prices Creek Tunnel and Viaduct
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Clyde
Arrive in Clyde, a historic town in Central Otago that was once a thriving centre of the 1860s Gold Rush. Its stone buildings, tree‑lined streets and surrounding vineyards reflect its heritage, and its location makes it the gateway to the Otago Central Rail Trail, the former railway route that carried miners and supplies into the region. At the heart of the main street stands Dunstan House, built in 1898 and opened in 1900, a Heritage New Zealand–listed landmark that illustrates the character and ambition of Clyde’s early days.
- Accommodation: Dunstan House in Clyde or similar
Day 2: Clyde to Lauder | 44km
Begin by following the River Track, a 12km alternative to the Rail Trail’s shorter 9km inland section, tracing the Clutha Mata-au River with boardwalks, bridges and shady stretches. Arrive in Alexandra before continuing on the Otago Central Rail Trail through Galloway, a small rural settlement once centred on sheep farming and railway life. Continue to Chatto Creek and up to Tiger Hill, with the option diversion to Ophir Bridge, a 19th-century suspension bridge, and home to New Zealand’s oldest Post Office. The day concludes at Lauder, where the dry, open plains contrast with the shaded river sections earlier in the day.
- Cycling for the day: 3h, 44km, ↑260m, ↓95m
- Accommodation: Lauder School B&B in Lauder or similar
Day 3: Lauder to Waipiata | 55.5km
Cross the trail’s longest bridge and then through Poolburn Gorge, one of the most dramatic sections of the Otago Central Rail Trail with viaducts and tunnels, after which the landscape opens up into Ida Valley. Along the way, you encounter Hayes Engineering’s historic workshop, Gilchrist’s Store, the oldest in New Zealand and Golden Progress Mine. The trail climbs to its high point near Wedderburn at 618m. Continuing on, Ranfurly’s Art Deco railway town provides a cultural highlight before the day concludes at Waipiata, which is famous for being home to the Waipiata Man sculpture. The name Waipiata comes from Māori, meaning clear or glistening water, a reference to the nearby Taieri River.
- Cycling for the day: 3.5h, 55.5km, ↑350m, ↓325m
- Accommodation: Waipiata Country Hotel in Waipiata or similar
Day 4: Waipiata to Middlemarch | 52.5km
Leaving Waipiata, cycle past Taieri Lake and Daisybank, a popular rest and picnic spot with access to the river and views of Taieri River Gorge, before riding through Prices Creek Tunnel and Viaduct, with dramatic views of the Taieri River Gorge. The route continues through Hyde township, with stops at the old railway station and the Hyde Train disaster site. Sweeping views of the Rock and Pillar Range accompany the ride past Ngapuna Station, before reaching Middlemarch Station, the official end of the Otago Central Rail Trail. From here, you are transferred back to Clyde and your final night’s accommodation (2h).
- Cycling for the day: 4h, 52.5km, ↑100m, ↓255m
- Accommodation: Dunstan House in Clyde or similar
Day 5: Depart
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes both modern and historic boutique hotels. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- Dunstan House (Clyde)
- Lauder School B&B (Lauder)
- Waipiata Country Hotel (Waipiata)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from some hotels the night before. Dinner is available from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This trip is graded easy to moderate (read more about difficulty grades). Cycling distances are between 44km and 55.5km, with some mild elevation gain and gentle climbs. The trail is mostly flat, on compacted gravel, wide enough for riders to pass in both directions.
We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
This trip is available all year round, from January to December.
The best months to visit are March to May (autumn) and September to November (spring) when the weather is the most comfortable.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date during the season. For more information, see our blog, Best time to go to New Zealand.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this holiday is Queenstown Airport (ZQN) for both domestic flights and some international flights from Australia.
By train or bus
- Buses to Queenstown centre leave Queenstown Airport approximately every 15mins with Orbus.
- From Queenstown centre, there are nine buses a week to Clyde with Intercity bus. For information and tickets, visit Intercity or use the Omio planner above.
- Transfers to Clyde from the airport or Queenstown can be arranged on request.
- It is also possible to hire a car from Queenstown Airport, with free parking available at the hotel in Clyde and around the town itself. For more information, please visit the Queenstown Airport website.
Inclusions
Included
- 4 nights accommodation
- 4 breakfasts
- Welcome meeting on day one
- E-bike hire, two panniers, helmet, cycle computer and water bottle
- Daily luggage transfers (one piece per person, max 15kg)
- Otago Central Rail Trail Official Passport
- Transfer from Middlemarch to Clyde on day four
- Detailed printed holiday information pack including route notes and maps
- 24/7 phone support by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers
- Arrival transfer from Queenstown to Clyde on day one
- Extra nights on request
E-bikes
On this tour, we offer Merida eBig Tour, CC500 e-bikes with aluminium frame and 29″ wheels. All bikes come with two panniers, helmet, cycle computer and water bottle and will be fitted in person at our supplier’s shop in Clyde.
Sample pictures attached below, please note that the exact models may differ depending on availability, but the standard will be the same.
