We have loved being part of the Kiwi Art Trail 2026. Our “Eye of the Kiwi” sculpture here at the Clyde depot has been a real hit, and it’s been brilliant watching so many local families dust off the bikes and head out to spot kiwi sculptures along the Otago Rail Trail and River Track. If you haven’t done it yet, you need to move fast, the trail wraps up on 26 April.
For anyone planning one last Kiwi Journeys adventure before the event closes, the sculptures are spread along the Alexandra to Clyde River Track and the Otago Central Rail Trail, and a downloadable map is available at kiwiarttrail.nz so you can plan your route and tick them off as you go. It’s free, it’s family-friendly, and the Clyde to Alexandra loop is one of those rides that suits just about everyone.
Now, here’s something that might surprise you.
The oldest fossilised kiwi remains ever found were discovered right on our doorstep
Near St Bathans, just a short drive from Clyde, palaeontologists discovered fossilised kiwi remains dating back around 16 million years. Sixteen million. That means kiwi were living and thriving in this exact part of New Zealand long before the Central Otago landscape looked anything like it does today.
It’s a staggering thought. And it tells you something important about this region. Central Otago has been a haven for birdlife for an extraordinarily long time.
We’ve written before about the moa and the Haast’s eagle, two other species that once called this area home. If you haven’t read that article yet, it’s well worth a look, the connections between the ancient birdlife of Central Otago and the landscape we ride through today are genuinely fascinating. Read about the Moa: New Zealand’s Lost Giant Bird here.
The moa is gone. The Haast’s eagle is gone. The kiwi is still here, just, but its numbers have dropped from an estimated 12 million before humans arrived to around 70,000 today. We lose roughly 20 kiwi a week on the mainland from predation. Those are numbers worth sitting with.
That’s exactly why events like the Kiwi Art Trail matter. Standing in front of a sculpture, whether it’s ours in Clyde or one of the others along the trail, is a good moment to talk about the real birds. About why they matter. About what we can do to make sure they don’t follow the moa and Haasts eagle into the history books.
Come and find our kiwi before it’s too late
The event finishes 26 April. If you haven’t done the ride yet, this weekend is your last chance. We can sort bikes, suggest a route that takes in as many sculptures as possible, and send you off with everything you need for a great day out.
Pop in, give us a call, or get in touch here. We’d love to help you make the most of it.
