Otago Central Rail Trail for School Groups
A classroom without walls providing lessons that “stick”
The Otago Central Rail Trail is one of New Zealand’s great outdoor classrooms – rich in history, geography, science, and te ao Māori. We’ve been running school trips on the trail for 16 years, working with pre-school, primary, secondary, and international school groups to create day trips and multi-day adventures that are safe, curriculum-connected, and genuinely memorable.
16+
years on the trail
3
depots on the trail – Clyde, Omakau, Middlemarch
1000’s
AS SEEN IN
“You can teach New Zealand history, social studies, conservation and astronomy from a textbook, or you can ride through a working farmland, across rivers, through a hand-drilled tunnel, past a station that once connected a whole community, along a pathway walked by our tangata whenua 100’s of years ago – and let the landscape do the teaching. There’s no comparison.”
How we help
Safe, supported, and curriculum-connected.
Organising a school trip on the Rail Trail involves a lot of moving parts. We’ve been doing this for 16 years alongside pre-school, primary, secondary, and international school groups – so we know a bit about what teachers need, what parents expect, and what makes students come home buzzing.
Rail Tales - free curriculum resources
We encourage all school groups to make use of Rail Tales, a free integrated education resource built specifically around the Otago Central Rail Trail. Created by qualified New Zealand educators and aligned to the NZ Curriculum, Rail Tales brings the trail to life before, during, and after the trip – covering the history of the rail line, Māori in the Maniototo, conservation, and the communities that built and depended on the railway.
Whether you’re preparing students in the classroom before they arrive, giving them something to look for on the trail, or following up with activities back at school, Rail Tales makes the experience richer and more meaningful. A genuine classroom without walls.
Professional trip planning
We work with you to design the right trip for your students, whether it’s a single day on the trail or a multi-day adventure. Day trips, overnighters, end-to-end journeys, we’ve done them all, and we’ll help you find the format that fits your timetable, budget, and learning outcomes.
Bike hire
A full fleet of quality bikes sized for all ages, from primary-school students through to adults. Helmets included, bikes safety-checked, and everything ready to go at our depots in Clyde, Omakau, or Middlemarch or somewhere in between. We’re experienced at fitting out large school groups quickly and efficiently.
Trail guide app
Our purpose-built trip notes app gives students and teachers section by section navigation and rich points of interest along the trail. Works without cell coverage – perfect for the remote sections of the OCRT where the most interesting history often lives.
Luggage transfers
On multi-day trips, we can move your group’s bags to the next stop so students aren’t carrying loaded packs on the trail. Lighter bikes, happier students, and teachers who aren’t playing bag monitor all day.
Passenger transport
Safe, experienced shuttles for your whole group between Clyde, Omakau, and Middlemarch. Our drivers know the trail and the unique requirements for school groups – relaxed, reliable, and on time. We also know that budget often means you bring your own transport and we can help you figure out those logistics as well.
On the ground support
Pedal with the peace of mind we’re a phone call away, ready to assist if you need us.
Ready to bring your students to one of New Zealand’s great outdoor classrooms?
Get in touch and we’ll help you plan a Rail Trail trip that ticks every box – safe logistics, great bikes, curriculum connections, and an experience your students will still be wanting to do again next year.
Exploring your options? Our Otago Rail Trail Packages guide covers every group type, all durations and current pricing in one place.