The Otago Central Rail Trail leads on the route of a former railway line from Clyde above Alexandra and Ranfurly to Middlemarch.
Route profile
- Length: 150 km
- Signposting:
- Slopes:
- Path condition:
- Traffic load:
- Suitable bike:
- Family suitability:
- Inline suitability:
background
The route of the Otago Central Railway was slated to the room Dunedin to connect with the west coast of New Zealand. The railway line was built from 1879 and reached the line in 1907 Clyde. With the construction of the dam for the Lake Dunstan had to cover the distance from Cromwell after Clyde to be shut down, from 1990 the operation was completely stopped. The section from Dunedin to Middlemarch has been operating as a museum railway since 1991 under the name 'Taieri Gorge Railway operated.
The rest of the route has been used as a cycle path since 2000 and is also open to pedestrians and riders. She counts AA Travel to the 101-must-do-Activities.
preparation
The route can actually be used at any time of the year, with the temperatures being the most pleasant in spring and autumn. Bicycles can be rented for NZ $ 35 per day. The question of the duration and the associated accommodation must be clarified. The total distance of 150 km should be divided into 3 - 4 daily stages, mostly starting the tour in Clyde is recommended, in the following this is assumed here. A reversal of the direction is possible individually.
In principle, the trail can be ridden free of charge and at your own risk, but participation in an organized group is possible and makes sense. In this case, the organizer will take care of transport to and from the event as well as accommodation, and additional activities will be offered.
Arrival and departure
Public transportation
- With a bus if you come e.g. from Dunedin in about 3 hours for 38 NZ $ to Clyde.
- Middlemarch is from Catch-A-Bus approached, bicycles can also be transported for NZ $ 10.
In the street
Clyde lies between Cromwell and Alexandra at SH 8 and is therefore easily accessible from both Dunedin as well as from Queenstown. Since the track is usually only driven in one direction, you have to go back by bus if necessary. This also applies analogously to Middlemarch.
Route description with sights
A four-day tour is assumed, with enough time to explore the landscape next to the route.
Clyde - Omakau: 35 km
The tour starts in Clyde, (170 m). There is a small museum at the old station, in keeping with the earlier railway operations. It goes 7 km Clyde River downstream to after Alexandra. Then the trail goes into the valley of the Manuherikia River, the area is characterized by the efforts of the gold diggers from around 1860. At Chatto Creek (224 m) the railway had to climb the heights of the Tiger Hill reach, here is the steepest ascent of the entire route. Then you reach Omakau.
There are overnight accommodations in Omakau Commercial Hotel or in Omakau Bed Post.
Omakau - Wedderburn: 30 miles
From Omakau we continue the valley of the Manuherikia River upstream to Lauder (333 m), further up at the Poolburn Gorge the train had to go through a tunnel Raggety Range traverse. in the Ida Valley one arrives first after Auripo, the ride goes past Idaburn Dam, finally you reach Oturehua (501 m). Now it goes to the highest point of the trail at 618 m. There are then only a few kilometers to Wedderburn.
The Wedderburn Cottages and the Wedderburn Tavern.
Wedderburn - Hyde: 46 km
From Wedderburn it goes through the Maniototo Plains downward after Ranfurly (423 m), here you can take a walk through the town with its Art Deco buildings. It goes on after Waipiata and the small towns Kokonga and Tiroiti, then it's about that Cap Burn Bridge, the Prices Creek Viaduct and the 152 m long Prices Creek Tunnel further towards Hyde. There was once a serious railway accident here, at Hyde disaster in 1943, 21 people lost their lives.
Overnight accommodation: Otago Central Hotel Hyde
Hyde - Middlemarch: 27 km
The last stage leads from Hyde above Rock and Pillar through the valley of the river Taieri to Middlemarch.
You can stay overnight in the Strath Taieri Hotel and in Blind Billy's Holiday Camp & Motel
Other places to stay
security
trips
References to literature and maps
Web links
- Homepage of the route
- Trail journeys rents out bicycles and organizes group tours
- Off the rails, another provider of guided tours
- Route on Bikemap.Net
- Department of Conservation, the route is described as a track at Otago
