Rated in the top 10 of the AA’s 101 things to do in New Zealand, the Otago Central Rail is certainly a “must do” activity for Kiwi’s and international tourists alike.
Our job is to help you plan your trip so that you get the most out of it and we offer a free itinerary service to facilitate this. This really takes the stress and hassle out of things as we apply our knowledge to put it all together for you, and you’ll find that in most instances, our price will be the same or better than if you’d done it yourself. To take advantage of this, simply fill out our enquiry form or send us an email.
If you read on you’ll find information about the things for you to consider when planning your Rail Trail adventure, some that we take care of for you, and other decisions that you will need to make.
Is the objective the end of the trail or the journey
There are a couple of different ways to look at the Rail Trail. For some of us, it’s a milestone to achieve and the focus is on getting to the end. There is an immense sense of personal achievement and for some of us it’s life changing, solidifying an exercise habit, setting off an interest in more outdoor activity etc. For others, the trail is a conduit or byway to some of the magical elements and opportunities that Central Otago holds, some as simple as experiencing the intense sunset in the Ida Valley, or waking up and looking outside at the magnificent Hawkdun ranges. If your focus is on getting to the end, good on you, but take some time to consider elements of the journey and keeping it fun and feature filled.
When to ride the trail
The trail can and is ridden in all four seasons and there are considerations for each season.
Spring
September – November
Temperature Range: -3 to 20°C
Average Monthly Rainfall: 28mm
Frost Days / Month: 10
Sunrise: 7:29 am through to 6:01 pm at the end of November
Sunset: 6:20 pm through to 9:20 pm at the end of November
New life abounds in the surrounding farm land and it makes a great time for kids. You’ll find the mornings crisp and clear and the days rapidly warm. You’ll find the evenings really stretching out near the end of November. When riding the trail in this season you need to consider:
- Having some warm gear to see you through the frosty morning eg long fingered gloves
- Hydration becomes more important as the temperatures start to climb near the end of the season
- Sunscreen is important
Summer
December – February
Temperature Range: 10°C to +30°C
Average Monthly Rainfall: 38mm
Frost Days / Month : none
Sunrise: 6:01 am through to 6:45 am at the end of February
Sunset: 9:20 pm through to 8:58 pm at the end of February
Note: at the height of Summer in January, the sun will set around 10:15 pm
Certainly our own favourite time in Central Otago, characterised by cool mornings followed by hot days and then warm summer evenings that stretch on forever along with the stories you’re telling to your friends over a glass of wine. This is a particularly good season to experience if you’re from Australia because the temperatures are more like home with the novelty of the long evenings thanks to daylight saving.
A lot of people carry the misconception that it’s too hot to cycle the trail in the Summer, so let’s detail how you can do it comfortably. The trick is to treat it as if you were from the Mediterranean. The heat of the day is in the mid-afternoon, so you want to start early around 8 am so that you arrive at your destination by 2:00 pm. Then, take a shower and have a siesta. You’ll find yourself refreshed and ready to enjoy the long summer evening with friends and family – Ole’!
February is historically very quiet on the trail because it’s the end of the holiday period and schools and universities are starting up again. So, if you’re looking for a quieter summer period then definitely consider February.
When riding the trail in this season you need to consider:
- Having a shell layer in case the weather turns
- You’ll need loose clothing with good ventilation. If you’re wearing a cycle top then use a mountain biking one rather than the tighter fitting road cycling tops.
- Hydration is very important in this season and you should be consuming around litre / hour when riding if it’s hot.
- Sunscreen is critical
- Any snack food you carry needs to be of the “non-melting” type
Autumn
March – May
Temperature Range: -3°C to 24°C
Average Monthly Rainfall: 30mm
Frost Days / Month: 11
Sunrise: 6:45 am through to 8:22 am at the end of May
Sunset: 8:58 pm through to 5:17 pm at the end of May
March and April are the high season on the trail. Very early on when the Rail Trail was first marketed the message conveyed was to come and experience the autumn colours in Central Otago while cycling the Rail Trail. Since then, word of mouth has resulted in March and April becoming the high season on the trail. Couple this with the Easter holiday season and you’ll find this puts a lot of pressure on accommodation, food and transport facilities along the trail and booking six months in advance is necessary if you’re wanting to come in a large group. Booking of evening meals is also critical so that you can ensure that you can get a meal. Be patient and prepare for longer waits for food and coffee than you’d be used to in a city establishment. The providers will be working at and beyond maximum capacity to cater for you all.
When riding the trail in this season you need to consider:
- Having warm gear on hand for the mornings and if the weather turns during the day or a Southerly wind picks up. If the wind is coming from the South then be aware of the wind chill as the risk of Hypothermia for the unprepared becomes a very real risk.
- Long fingered gloves are a must have
- The days start to shorten and the temperature drops quickly as the sun starts to set, so make sure you’re at or in sight of your destination by 4pm.
Winter
June – August
Temperature Range: -6°C to 15°C
Average Monthly Rainfall: 15mm
Frost Days / Month: 25
Sunrise: 8:22 am through to 7:29 am at the end of August
Sunset: 5:17 pm through to 6:20 pm at the end of August
Winter is spectacular with crisp clear sky days, snow on the surrounding mountains and sometimes on the trail. Being prepared in the winter is critical as is being flexible if the weather takes a bad turn. Many operators close for the winter season but you’ll still find accommodation and food options across the trail.
When riding the trail in this season you need to consider:
- You’ll need plenty of good quality winter weather cycling gear.
- The selection of accommodation and dining will not be as broad as you’ll find in the other seasons.
- There may be some restriction on locations that you can stay based on bag transport requirements, however we can work with you to come up with a solution.
- You may need to extend your journey due to weather conditions
- In some cases, you may need to leave the trail and take to the road for some sections due to deep snow or ice on the trail.
- The risk of Hypothermia and what signs to look for (we’ll provide you with these if you look to cycle through this period)
Direction – Clyde to Middlemarch or Middlemarch to Clyde
The Rail Trail can be ridden in either direction and a number of ways in between like riding downhill from Wedderburn to Clyde and then Wedderburn to Middlemarch). The general quoted statistic is that about 75% of people cycle from Clyde to Middlemarch with the possible reasons being:
- There is more accommodation in Omakau and Lauder for your first night compared to Hyde.
- The prevailing wind in Central Otago is from the North West wind, so cycling from Clyde to Middlemarch helps to lessen its effect (though it can’t remove it depending on which leg of the journey you are on)
- You can end your journey with a ride of the fabulous Taieri Gorge Train back to Dunedin.
We’re able to provide you with an itinerary no matter which direction you choose to travel, but our recommendation would be to cycle from Clyde.
Getting to and from the Rail Trail
Flying
Central Otago and the Rail Trail are rather blessed as it’s situated in the middle of two international Airports, Dunedin and Queenstown, providing plenty of flight options and an opportunity to fly into one airport and out from another. When considering air travel, it pays to contact us first so that we can reserve accommodation for you. That way you can grab one of those non-refundable deals, confident that your accommodation is all sorted out because at times accommodation reaches capacity on the trail and getting bookings across the trail may be impossible.
Bus
There are a number of bus and shuttle services that serve the trail. Prices can vary depending on the service and the size of the bus with intercity offering some very sharp non-refundable options that might suit. We’ll provide you with the options when we know what your arrival dates and times are likely to be.
Train
The Taieri Gorge railway operates a spectacular train journey between Dunedin and Pukerangi or Middlemarch. Most of the time the train travels only as far as Pukerangi (20 km South of Middlemarch) and you’ll need to make use of a shuttle service to get you to or from Middlemarch. On a Friday and Sunday, the train travels all the way to Middlemarch. Many customers find that a trip on the train is a fabulous way to end their journey.
Rental Car
You’ll find all of the usual rental car companies in Dunedin and Queenstown providing you with options for onward travel or a rental car for a member of your party who wants to come along for the ride without the riding part. We work closely with Driven Rental Group in Dunedin who provide a great mix of value and service.
Self Drive
There is car parking available at both ends of the trail and there are options for secure storage for a fee which is generally $10 / day.
Accommodation
Across the trail you’ll find a range of accommodation to meet most budgets. Most is priced on a per person basis and the majority provide a continental breakfast as part of the package. There are roughly three brackets of accommodation:
Budget
- Priced between $15 and $55 per person. Options available for with or without own bedding
- Generally does not include breakfast but may do at the $55 mark
- Shared bathroom facilities
- Note that you may need split your journey up into some long and short legs to take advantage of the lower priced accommodation.
Standard
- Priced between $55 and $90 per person.
- Includes continental breakfast in almost all cases
- A mix of shared bathroom facilities or en-suite depending on where you stay or your requirements
Luxury
- Priced between $95 and $190 per person
- Includes a continental or cooked breakfast
- All rooms with en-suite
- Many of the luxury locations are lovingly restored heritage sites.
Baggage
During the Summer and Autumn, bag transporters are actively working up and down the trail relocating baggage. Rates are $10 per bag and bag weights are restricted to 15kg. The reason for the restriction is that the handlers aren’t built the same as your typical Air New Zealand baggage handler and you really don’t need to pack the kitchen sink. If you have a lot of gear because of prior or onwards travel requirements then a good option is to have a second bag transported directly to the end of the trail for you to pick up when you get to the end. At other times, we can arrange transport with one of the bus companies at a cost of $15 per bag. Talk to us about your baggage requirements and we’d be happy to sort out a solution for you. We’d recommend that you plan to travel light on your bike rather than trying to carry it all with you.
Food
There are a range of options for food and snacks during the day and each evening you’ll be able to eat at one of the local hotels, restaurants or with your hosts. We have a food and snacks guide that we provide you with when you start the trail and this details all of options available to you. In recent years there has been strong feedback urging the provision of more vegetables and fresh food rather than deep fried and many of the providers have responded to this. We do get comments about the price of meals compared to what you might find in a city. However keep in mind that
- You need to compare apples with apples. You may be used to eating lower priced Asian or ethnic cuisine while most of the cuisine on the trail is European in style and the prices really are similar to what you’d find in the city.
- Primary food costs in Central Otago are higher coupled with many of the operators being in remote locations which increases the cost of producing meals.
- We can help you select accommodation with cooking facilities if you wish to self-cater or mix eating out with eating in.