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Otago Rail, Alps 2 Ocean and Dunstan Trails
Duration
8 days
Site savings
$23
From
$2,232 USD
Experience superb days of magnificent scenery on beautiful cycle trails. Cycle past New Zealand's highest mountains, spectacular lakes, and rivers. Ride trails from Lake Tekapo to Middlemarch with surfaces similar to good unpaved roads. Cycling is easy to intermediate grades and is suitable for all ages.
- CategoryEasy-going & Leisurely
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration8 days
- Culture LevelFamiliar
- Skill Level1 - Beginner
- Activity Level2 - Moderate
- Elevation1 - Easy
- TerrainFlat
- Distance171.5 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance24.2 miles
Quick Stats
- Duration8 days
- Main DestinationSouth Island
- Distance171.5 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance24.2 miles
- Elevation1 - Easy
- TerrainFlat
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Twizel
The tour operator will pick you up from your hotel in Christchurch in the morning. You'll drive via Lake Tekapo through the attractive Mackenzie country with panoramic views to Mt Cook (3,764m/12,349ft) at the head of Lake Pukaki. Start the day riding on section 2 of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail from Braemar Road to Twizel – 42km (26mi). You will enjoy outstanding vistas across Lake Pukaki towards the Southern Alps. A wide range of native plants grow along the lake edge including kowhai and flax, as well as exotic species such as larch and pines.
The off-road trail starts at the bottom of Hayman Road and follows the Lake Pukaki shoreline. With Aoraki/Mt Cook as a backdrop, the trail passes over the Pukaki dam, finishing at Lake Pukaki Visitor Centre
- 26.1 miles
- Pukaki Air Lodge
- Lunch and Dinner
- Day 2Lake Ohau
After breakfast, you'll return to Twizel to start the second section of the Alps 2 Ocean trail. Today, you will ride from Twizel to the Lake Ohau Lodge. Cycle across a canal bridge and then the road descends to the lake foreshore. The Trail skirts around the lake foreshore where it passes the Maori Pou, Lake Ohau Village and then meets up with a 10km (6.2mi) section of the sealed Lake Ohau Road.
- 23.6 - 27.3 miles
- Lake Ohau Lodge
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 3Clyde
Today the bikes will be loaded on the trailer for a drive to Cromwell to start the ride on the newly open Lake Dunstan Trail. Cycle from Cromwell Heritage Precinct to Bannockburn Bridge. There will be a stop for wine tasting and lunch at Mount Difficulty winery. From there to Cornish Point, continue to Clyde to meet the Central Otago Rail Trail. The trail offers cyclists an easy ride through unique and fascinating landscapes so characteristic of Central Otago. Your journey will take you along Lake Dunstan, the Kawarau River and the mighty Clutha River Mata-au.
Tonight you'll be staying at Dunston House, a lovingly restored 1900 heritage hotel.
- 27.3 miles
- Dunston House, Clyde
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 4Lauder
- Day 5Wedderburn
Initially the Trail is flat with the Hawkdun Range at the head of the Manuherikia Valley. You soon enter the spectacular Poolburn Gorge and cycle through two tunnels that cut through schist bluffs, cross the 37m (121ft) high Poolburn Viaduct and then slowly descend Blackstone Hill to Oturehura, passing the Idaburn dam, popular for the winter sport of curling. Gilchrists, New Zealand's oldest continuously operating general store, is located here.
Visit Hayes Engineering Works, a heritage site consisting of a fascinating 1890s engineering factory. Beyond Oturehura you gradually climb the northern tip of the Rough Ridge range. Here you will reach 618m (2,027ft) above sea level, the highest point of the Trail. Shortly after here the Trail crosses the line of 45 degrees South latitude – look for the concrete markers. Enjoy a gentle descent to Wedderburn.
Optional: a visit to the attractive old gold mining town of Naseby by minibus
- 21.7 miles
- Wedderburn Cottages
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 6Hyde
First up today is a ride across the Maniatoto Plains to the art deco town of Ranfurly. Take time for a break to wander around some of the picturesque buildings and museum. Between Waipiata and Kokonga, the trail skirts farmland that was once the Taieri Lake and passes the area where stone was collected to build the Dunedin Railway Station. From outside the Kokonga Station Ganger's Shed are wide views of the Kakanui Mountains and the Ida Range.
The group crosses State Highway 87 at Daisybank and the trail gradually climbs into a spectacular gorge carved by the Taieri River. Features of this section include the historic Cap Burn Railway Bridge, Prices Creek Viaduct and the 152m (498ft) long Prices Creek Tunnel. The original 1894 Hyde Station building is still standing. While just south of Hyde village is the site of one of New Zealand's worst rail disasters, where in June 1943 the Cromwell to Dunedin train derailed and 21 passengers lost their lives.
- 28.6 miles
- Hyde School
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 7Cycle Hyde to Middlemarch
The trail now traverses the foothills of the Rock and Pillar Range as you cycle through farmland to the trail end just north of Middlemarch Station. From here, the group will be driving northwards across the Canterbury Plains, with a stop at Timaru then on to Christchurch for a farewell dinner.
- 16.8 miles
- Chateau on the Park, Christchurch
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 8Christchurch