121-127 Otago Central Rail Trail 2016.Indd
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OTAGO CENTRAL RAIL TRAIL OTAGO CLYDE MIDDLEMARCH 1-5 DAYS 150km OTAGO Trail Info CENTRAL Rail Trail 1-5 Days Steeped in history, this pioneering cycle trail 150km to do some exploring off the trail. If offers a 150km scenic journey into the Central you’re after a shorter ride, there are Otago heartland. numerous townships located along the trail where you can start or end your TRAIL GRADES: amed after the old railway There are over 20 townships located on ride. As a well-established cycle trail, CLYDE TO ALEXANDRA line, built between 1891 and off the trail. Take the opportunity to there are plenty of places to stop for ALEXANDRA TO CHATTO CREEK and 1907, the Otago meet the locals with their still-present refreshments and accommodation. N CHATTO CREEK TO OMAKAU Central Rail Trail is New Zealand’s pioneering spirit and take detours The Central Otago climate is OMAKAU TO LAUDER original ‘Great Ride’. and side trips to places such as old characterised by hot summers, cold abandoned gold diggings left over from LAUDER TO OTUREHUA It travels through big-sky country where winters and low rainfall. The autumn the gold rush and the country’s only OTUREHUA TO WEDDERBURN cyclists traverse ever-changing dry and landscape is renowned in these parts international curling rink. WEDDERBURN TO RANFURLY rocky landscapes, high-country sheep for the kaleidoscope of browns, golds RANFURLY TO WAIPIATA stations, spectacular river gorges, You should allow at least four full days and reds. You can experience four WAIPIATA TO KOKONGA TO tunnels and viaducts. to bike the trail – more if you want seasons in one day, so be prepared! TIROITI TO HYDE HYDE TO MIDDLEMARCH LOOK OUT FOR... - ALL GRADE 1 (EASIEST) Alexandra Activities Breathtaking Views MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE: Coverage is good in the open plains Alexandra is the heart of the Central well as exploring by bike, you can walk This is a journey of varied and distinctive but limited to non-existent in the Otago region. An area of contrasts, not alongside or cruise the Clutha River, landscapes. Stop and take in the magical gorges and tunnels, and limited least its distinct marvel at the hillside clock, check out the scenery along the way, including views sometimes during bad weather. seasons, this is a historical Shaky Bridge, fi sh for trout on of Alexandra, the Poolburn Gorge, the beautiful place the Clutha and Manuherikia rivers, visit Maniototo Plains and the Ida Valley. DRINKING WATER: Please buy to visit any time the museum or the Earnscleugh Tailings water as many local schemes have of the year and Historic Reserve, take a wine-tasting limited capacity and are funded Main Image: Cycling Otago Central Rail Trail there’s plenty to tour and have fun at the outdoor ice rink © Otago Central Rail Trail Trust locally. see and do. As (during winter) or at the aquatic centre. LEFT: The historic Shaky Bridge, Alexandra 121 Clyde Alexandra Omakau Oturehua Ranfurly Hyde Middlemarch OTAGO CENTRAL RAIL TRAIL OTAGO 8km 29km 28km 26km 32km 28km Manuherikia River Idaburn ge n OTUREHUA a Summit 618m Naseby R n a t Wedderburn s Ida Bu n Lauder rn Ida Valley u rn 85 oolbu Gorge to Cromwell D P OMAKAU e g d Kyeburn Lak 8 i RANFURLY e D R Ophir e u 85 g h n Chatto Creek n stan a g Waipiata u R 85 o CLYDE y Kokonga d R e g h g t Daisybank Lower Manorburn r a o Dam R N Tiroiti ALEXANDRA ge HYDE n MAP LEGEND a R r open section i-SITE Visitor Centre a er 8 ll iv i i R optional route town r P ie d Rock and Pillar Ta heritage train ride café/restaurant n Lake Roxburgh a start / fi nish point toilets k c 87 o Ngapuna point of interest accommodation R r ve bridge 1 state highway to Lawrence Ri ha MIDDLEMARCH t © AA Traveller 2015 lu C RIDING THE TRAIL Wedderburn to Ranfurly, “I spent 5 days biking the Historic Otago Central Hotel, Hyde © davidwallphoto.com 14km rail trail with friends and Easy riding east across the open Maniototo we had an absolute blast. Plain to the second biggest service town on the trail. Consider a diversion to Naseby to try We were sad to be getting indoor curling or mountain bike tracks. off our bikes at the end, Ranfurly to Waipiata, 8km despite not being very fi t to Easy downhill ride to small rural township start with...” with hotel and some accommodation. Great Jeff Miller, fl y fi shing available in the Taieri River. Travel Agent at Mondo Travel Waipiata to Kokonga to Tiroiti to Hyde, 24km Clyde to Alexandra, 8km Chatto Creek, which also has New Zealand’s Lauder to Oturehua, 21km The trail now leaves the Maniototo through Make sure you visit the historic Clyde township smallest operating post offi ce. There is a gentle rise north into the Poolburn the upper Taieri Gorge, following the river. before you start at the railhead for the trail. Gorge with its two tunnels. Then it is a Chatto Creek to Omakau, Kokonga and Tiroiti have accommodation This section is fl at and a good way to get straight ride up the Ida Valley past historic 12km available and some nice picnic sites. Flat, settled in the saddle. The main feature is the Hayes Engineering. Oturehua boasts Gilchrists Ride up Tiger Hill on a sweeping rise crossing easy riding with a viaduct and tunnel makes wooden Muttontown Viaduct. The trail is a general store, that is still set out as it was 100 the state highway twice. Enjoy the views and this section a perfect one-day taste-tester. couple of kilometres from the retail and service years ago, and a hotel. the ganger shed information boards along the Hyde has a café, accommodation and fuel. part of Alexandra so if you need to shop there way. Then you have a straight descent into Oturehua to Wedderburn, Hyde to Middlemarch, do allow time. Alexandra is the largest town Omakau, a town with most services. A side 12km on the trail and is fully serviced. 28km trip to historic Ophir and the 1880 suspension Immediately you are offered a diversion An easy downhill ride south, unless a Alexandra to Chatto Creek, bridge is worth the additional few kilometres. to Golden Progress Mine where there are southerly is blowing, into the Strath Taieri 17km gold-mining remains and a stamper battery. Omakau to Lauder, 7km valley. The Rock and Pillar Range is on your Heading north, this section follows the Then it is a slow climb out of the Ida Valley to Past newly established dairy farms and more right. The end of the trail is also the terminus Manuherikia River which fl ows south to join the highest point of the trail before you start intense irrigation, Lauder has accommodation, for the Taieri Gorge Railway. A walk around the mighty Clutha. The trail traverses the swinging east into the Maniototo. Wedderburn a hotel and a café. It also has a NIWA weather New Zealand’s only inland salt lake to the farming area of Galloway and is completed has pub food and accommodation. A popular base. south of the valley is a nice time-fi ller. at New Zealand’s best small hotel (2013) at diversion is to St Bathans. 122 races, built back in the 1860s to CENTRAL RAIL TRAIL OTAGO bring water to the long-gone gold mines. Steam trains chugged along this railway line for 83 years, but once the roads were improved and the gold rush was long over, the line was offi cially closed in 1990 and the railway tracks removed, leaving a long, relatively fl at path through Central Otago. Nowadays, the Department of Conservation and the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust manage the trail, and there is no charge for using it. As you ride along it you’ll see countless reminders of the railway and associated gold rush, including RIDING THROUGH HISTORY long, dark tunnels, trestle and stone bridges, abandoned gold diggings Immerse yourself in the The Otago Central Railway was in 1907. It truly is a testament to and remains of mining machinery, old once an economic lifeline for the human endeavour – the detailed history and romance of stone and mudbrick dwellings and Central Otago region. Built to connect workmanship of the stone bridges the Otago railway and preserved gold-mining settlements. gold rush. Dunedin with Central Otago, a thriving and tunnel facings along the trail gold-mining area, the track took 16 have stood the test of time and the Cycling the Otago Central Rail Trail years to complete and was fi nished mountains still bear scars of the © Tourism Central Otago Alexandra Clyde after Princess Alexandra of Denmark • 191km NW of Dunedin after a Scottish general • 221km NW of Dunedin • Ideal start/fi nish point for Otago Central Rail Trail & Alexandra Holiday Park Roxburgh Gorge Trail • 7 self-contained Riverside Location 1 & 2-bedroom units • Groups welcome. Ask about the • Short stroll to Clyde’s well-known eateries and bars complex (sleeps 30 - 5 brms) in the historic precinct • 400 power sites • Continental breakfast buffet in • Cabins & tourist flats Schist stable (Oct-Apr) • Heated ablution block in winter • FREE bike & car storage on site 56 Sunderland St, Clyde CENTRAL OTAGO P: 03 449 2709 E: [email protected] Manuherikia Rd (PO Box 7), Alexandra www.alexandraholidaypark.com Ph: 03 448 8297 email: [email protected] FREEPHONE: 0800 99 22 66 • www.antiquelodgemotel.co.nz CALL 0800 BIKE NOW 23 Holloway Street, Clyde Ph: 03 449 2228 Email: [email protected] (245 366) www.bikeitnow.co.nz or BOOK ONLINE 1800 446 356 AUS FREEPHONE OFFERING PACKAGES & BIKE HIRE FOR: Otago Central Rail Trail Roxburgh Gorge Trail Clutha Gold Trail BIKE IT NOW! CLYDE, CENTRAL OTAGO Quotes from Clients: • Top quality bike hire • Half-day to multi-day hires ALSO OFFERING FANTASTIC “PROFESSIONAL/FAULTLESS!!” Guided High Country & Single Track MTB