SHEBIKESHEBIKES
Clutha Gold Trail
107 km Clyde to Lawrence or
169 km Clyde to Waihola
Grade 1-2
3 to 5 days
Length
169 km
Duration
3-5 days
NZ trail grade
Grade 1- 2,
easy
Gradient
Gentle
Best direction
Clyde to Waihola
Season
Year round
THE TRAIL
What to expect on the Clutha Gold Trail
Great for you if...
- You want a multi-day ride with mostly gentle grades, but don’t mind one section with a bit more character. The Roxburgh Gorge leg climbs to a high point and narrows in places, everything from there to Waihola settles back into easy, old-rail gradients.
- You want river, not just rail. Clutha Gold follows the Cluata River (Mata-Au) the whole way, gorge cliffs giving way to orchards, farmland, and riverside towns.
- You’re chasing history alongside the ride. Gold-era relics, the Lonely Graves, century-old bridges and long tunnels.
- You’re looking for the natural next step after the Rail Trail: same easy pace for most of it, one section that asks a little more of you and a trail that never settles into a straight line for long.
Worth knowing before you go
- Start in Clyde and finish in Lawrence or Waihola for the full trail experience.
- Like any outdoor activity in New Zealand, the weather and wind can turn quickly, so pack layers even in summer.
- It’s mostly about the river, the history and the small towns, not adrenaline, though the Roxburgh Gorge section at the start does ask a bit more of you than the rest of the ride.
- Summer days can be hot, and spring and autumn mornings can be frosty. Both are good riding, you just need to be prepared.
- Carry water and snacks, especially on the Waitahuna to Milton leg, at 31km it’s the longest stretch between towns on the whole trail.
PLANNING YOUR RIDE
How long does the Clutha Gold Trail take?
Most riders typically do Clyde to Lawrence in 3 Days and Clyde to Waihola in 5 days. That’s not a solid rule, just how most people ride it. Need something different? We can help.
3 Days
A shorter Clutha Gold experience with plenty of highlights.
- Day 1: Clyde to Lake Roxburgh
- Day 2: Lake Roxburgh to Millers Flat or Beaumont
- Day 3: Finish in Lawrence
5 Days
The full Clutha Gold Experience from Central Otago to coastal Otago.
- Day 1: Clyde to Lake Roxburgh / Roxburgh
- Day 2: To Millers Flat or Beaumont
- Day 3: To Lawrence
- Day 4: To Milton
- Day 5: Finish in Waihola
MAP & DISTANCES
Clutha Gold Trail map and distances
Interactive GPS Map
| Stage | Leg | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Clyde to Alexandra (via the 150th Anniversary River Track) | 12 km | 12 km |
| Alexandra to Doctors Point | 10 km | 22 km |
| Doctors Point to Shingle Creek (jet boat transfer) | 13 km | 22 km* |
| Shingle Creek to Lake Roxburgh Dam | 11 km | 33 km |
| Lake Roxburgh Dam to Roxburgh | 11 km | 44 km |
| Roxburgh to Millers Flat | 19 km | 63 km |
| Millers Flat to Beaumont | 24 km | 87 km |
| Beaumont to Lawrence | 20 km | 107 km Original trail end |
| Lawrence to Waitahuna | 14 km | 121 km |
| Waitahuna to Milton | 31 km | 152 km |
| Milton to Waihola | 17 km | 169 km Full trail |
* Doctors Point to Shingle Creek is a jet boat transfer, not a cycling leg. Cumulative cycling distance is unaffected by this stage.
HISTORY
A brief history of the Clutha Golds region
The Clutha Gold Trail follows the route of the old Lawrence Branch railway for much of its length, a line built to serve Otago’s first gold rush town. What took the railway over 50 years to build was completed as a cycle trail in two stages, first to Lawrence in 2013, then all the way to the coast a decade later.
- 1861
- Gabriel Read discovers gold at Gabriel’s Gully, sparking Otago’s first gold rush. Lawrence booms to a population of over 11,500.
- 1877
- The railway opens as far as Waitahuna and Lawrence, built to connect the goldfields with Dunedin.
- 1913
- Horseshoe Bend Bridge is built across the Clutha, replacing a wire cage crossing used by local mining families.
- 1914
- The line reaches Beaumont after completion of the 434 metre Big Hill Tunnel. World War I delays further construction.
- 1925
- The railway is extended to Millers Flat.
- 1928
- The final section to Roxburgh opens, completing a line that took over 50 years to build end to end.
- 1968
- The last train runs on 31 May. The line closes after 40 years of service.
- October 2013
- The Clutha Gold Trail opens along the old railway corridor, 73 km from Roxburgh to Lawrence.
- 25 August 2023
- A 62 km extension from Lawrence to Waihola opens, taking the full trail to 135 km and connecting Central Otago to the coast.
Māori pathways: the original trails
Long before European settlement, Kāi Tahu travelled the length of the Mata-au (Clutha River), using it as both a mahika kai trail and a route inland for pounamu. The river marked a tribal boundary and carried deep significance, with place names along its length, including Kā Moana Haehae at Roxburgh Gorge, still recalling that history today.
Where the river ran too swift and deep to ford, Kāi Tahu crossed by mōkihi, rafts woven from raupō and flax. Further downstream, Waihora ki Taiari (Lake Waihola) was prized as a mahika kai for eeling, whitebait and waterfowl. Much of today’s trail follows this same country, a continuation of a much older path through Central Otago.
BOOK YOUR TRIP
Clutha Gold Trail packages
Multi day
LOGISTICS AND HIRE
Bikes and transport - we can help
Need a bike? Hire an e-bike or MTB from our Clyde depot and ride the length of the trail.
If you’re going as far as Lawrence then we can bring you back to Clyde and then onwards to Queenstown.
Going the whole way to Waihola? We can bring you back to Clyde or take you onwards to Dunedin Airport, Dunedin City or onwards to Middlemarch if you’re doing a loop of Central Otago by bicycle.
WHERE TO STAY
Accommodation along the trail
The little towns along the trail have a range of accommodation to suit most requirements.
Budget
Comfort
Well equipped, extra touches
YOUR TRUSTED GUIDE FOR 16+ YEARS
Why ride with SheBikesHeBikes
Local knowledge
On-trail support
Great value
Great bikes
WE 'VE GOT THE ANSWERS
FAQ's
How long does it take to ride the Clutha Gold Trail?
Most people ride the trail from Clyde to Lawrence in 3 days. This combines, the Roxburgh Gorge Trail and Clutha Gold Trail.
When riding from Clyde to Waihola, it’s generally ridden in 5 days.
Where is the Clutha Gold Trail?
It runs through Central Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, and follows the Clutha Mata-au River from Roxburgh, through Millers Flat, Beaumont and Lawrence, then on to Waitahuna, Milton and Waihola, about 15 minutes from Dunedin Airport.
Can I find the "lonely graves" site on the Clutha Gold Trail?
Yes. The Lonely Graves are a short, signposted detour off the trail between Millers Flat and Beaumont, close to the restored 1913 Horseshoe Bend suspension bridge. According to local legend, gold miner William Rigney found and buried an unidentified young man’s body here in 1865, marking the grave “Somebody’s Darling Lies Buried Here.” When Rigney died in 1912 he was buried alongside him. It’s a genuinely moving stop and well worth the short side trip.
What's the best time of year to ride?
The trail is rideable all year round. If you’re wanting to start from Clyde then it can be ridden in Spring through Autumn due to the current reliance on the jet boat transfer on the Roxburgh Gorge trail section.
What gear should I bring?
Layers of clothing that you can add or take off are best, with enough for the forecast conditions. Gloves or some form are also recommended.
Always carry a water proof shell layer.
We provide you with a comprehensive gear list tuned for each season.
We’ve been helping people ride the Clutha Gold trail since it opened in 2013. We can answer pretty much any question, though we do get surprised from time to time.
That’s where experience kicks in and we can bring our knowledge to answer anything novel.