No, it’s not hilly. The trail is a Grade 1 cycling trail, making it one of the easiest to ride in New Zealand. However, it’s not flat.
The trail climbs slowly from either end to the high point near Wedderburn. The maximum gradient on the trail is 1:50, which means that on the steepest section you might ascend (or descend) 1 metre over 50 metres. The reason the gradient is so gentle is that trains can’t go up steep inclines. When you’re looking at the profile, remember that the trail is 152 km long and you’re looking at a version on your screen that might be scaled to 7 to 15cm. What looks like a mountain really isn’t.
This “lack of hills” is just one of the reasons the Otago Central Rail Trail is so popular. Other reasons are the rather natural way that services like food and accommodation can be found within 30 km or so of each stop.
Planning your Otago Central Rail Trail ride? We handle the bikes, transfers, bookings, logistics and support – so you can focus on the scenery. Explore our Otago Central Rail Trail page or get in touch if you have questions before booking.
