Cycle over the grand Poolburn Viaduct | Lachlan Gardiner
Central Otago has so much to offer when it comes to cycle trails, we just couldn't fit it all into one trip! Whether you start your trip from Queentown or Christchurch, or add in the the river side trails of the Clutha Gold and Roxburgh Gorge, here's a guide to our Otago Central Rail Trail itineraries so you can pick the one best suited for you.
Cycling across viaducts on our Otago Rail Trail adventure is a real highlight | Colin Monteath
Start: Christchurch | Finish: Christchurch | Duration: 5 Days
As our original and longest running NZ Cycle Trails trip, we like to say we've tailored our Otago Rail Trail Classic to perfection.
Starting and finishing in Christchurch, you'll cycle all 152km of the Otago Central Rail Trail from start to finish.
Our support vehicle is not only there for resting your legs, but will get you to all of the hidden gems along the trail including St Bathan's Blue Lake, and the gold mining townships of Ophir and Naseby that are hard to get to by bike alone. You'll also experience a spectacular train ride through the Taieri Gorge to Dunedin and the option to compete in curling.
To warm up the legs we enjoy stunning rides on the Tekapo Canal system on the way down from Christchurch and then along the rugged Kakanui Coast on the return drive to Christchurch. These additional rides set this trip apart from the rest. With an average daily cycling distance of 40km over 5 days, this introductory level trip has all the makings of an an unforgettable cycling holiday.
View the full itinerary as well as dates and prices here.
Start: Queenstown | Finish: Christchurch | Duration: 5 Days
The 5-day Lake Dunstan and Otago Rail Trail is a fantastic alternative to the 'classic', combining two of the South Island's most popular cycle trails; the Lake Dunstan Trail, and the entire Otago Central Rail Trail.
One of the biggest draw-cards to this trip is the Queenstown start, meaning you have the chance to extend your holiday and explore the adventure capital of NZ before your ride (see our 24 hour guide to Queenstown here).
A wine tasting at one of our favourite boutique wineries tops this trip off along with an added road ride on the quiet rural roads of the Kakanui Coast - a highlight of the trip for many! With an average cycling distance of 40km per day, this trip is achievable for introductory cyclists.
View the full trip itinerary as well as dates and pricing here.
Start: Queenstown | Finish: Christchurch | Duration 5 Days
Our E-Bike Lake Dunstan and Otago Rail Trail is the same itinerary as our Lake Dunstan and Otago Rail Trail, but with more e-bikes. We designed this to bring together like-minded e-bikers but don't worry e-bikes are still allowed on our other itineraries and vice versa!
View the full trip itinerary as well as dates and pricing here.
All of our Otago Central Rail Trail itineraries are fully supported and include accommodation, a support vehicle, experienced guides, most meals, and side trips to St Bathans, Naseby and Ophir. E-bikes are available for hire on all three itineraries.