Otago Rail Trail Luxury - 4 Days - 4 Nights

Otago Rail Trail luxury 4 day Itinerary

Day One – Clyde

Make your way to Clyde in your own vehicle or with one of our transfers from Queenstown Airport. If you’re arriving early afternoon then we’ll set you up with your bikes so you are ready to depart at your leisure in the morning.

Clyde is simply gorgeous, with oodles of history round every corner, boutique stores, galleries, a fabulous intimate cinema and some excellent dining options.

Explore, rest and look forward to what tomorrow brings.

Day Two – Clyde to Omakau (37 km)

You start with two options for riding to Alexandra, either the  River Track (12 km) or the Rail Trail (8 km). Both are great, but take the Rail Trail if you don’t ride often or need a flat, wide trail. Stop for morning tea in Alexandra then ride through to Galloway (don’t miss the historic Ladies Waiting Room), then Chatto Creek for lunch at the most amazing Tavern. Ride up Tiger Hill – don’t worry as it’s not too long and the gradient is only 3% at maximum.

You’re out out to the historic town of Ophir for the night to stay at Pitches Store, gorgeous and history filled accommodation. Lie back in the spa and soak up the feel before you fuel up with some dinner and a laugh about those funny moments from Day 1.

Day Three – Omakau to Oturehua  (40 km)

Monday to Friday you can head inside New Zealand’s oldest working Post Office and send a postcard, a nice physical gesture in the electronic age. Ride across the Daniel O’Connell suspension bridge as you cycle out of town, you’ll get some great photo’s here. Pick up a coffee and gather supplies for a picnic lunch, or plan on having lunch at one of the cafes in Oturehua.

Onward through Lauder Station, then across the trail’s longest bridge and into the stunning Poolburn Gorge, with its tunnels and viaduct. Ride through the quiet beauty of the Ida Valley, then stop at Hayes Engineering Works and Gilchrist’s Store in Oturehua to explore and have lunch.

Roll into your Inverlair Lodge and meet your attentive hosts, always ready with good conversation. The spa pool here has the most magnificent outlook onto the majestic Hawkdun Range. You’ll wonder why you’d never visited Oturehua before and realise why it’s such a draw card for artists and poets. Interestingly, you’re very close to the 45th parallel south, aka the Bordeaux of the south. At 500m above sea level, just a touch to high here to grow grapes unfortunately, but you can still appreciate the world class Central Otago Regional wine.

Fuel up with dinner and if you can keep your eyes open after another fulfilling day then you have to check out that night sky.

Day four – Oturehua to Kokonga  (45 km)

Take in that Hawkdun Range and the big skys of Oturehua over breakfast before you pedal off towards Wedderburn with a visit to the Golden Progress Mine along the way.  The trail gradually climbs before you will want to stop and take that magic photo at the high point sign on the trail just before Wedderburn.

Watch the super informative video about the trails conception at the Wedderburn Red Shed. You can’t miss taking a photo at the Green Goods Shed (made famous by artist Grahame Sydney), as you pedal on towards Ranfurly, with another photo stop at the cute Wedderburn Station.

Roll down through Ranfurly, known for its Art Deco architecture and railway display at the old station. Lunch today is either here in Ranfurly at one of it’s many cafe’s, grabbing some food for a picnic or pushing on and devouring one of the famous Waipiata Pies at the Waipiata Country Hotel. Grab a photo with the quirky Waipiata Man, he’s very accommodating.

This evening you’re staying at Kokonga Lodge and dinner is included in your tariff. Slide into the pool and look out on yet another mountain range, there is a theme that’s running through this journey. Savour a delicious meal prepared by your hosts before settling in for the night. Last day tomorrow before you have to emerge into reality.

Day Five – Kokonga to Middlemarch (42 km)

Your final stretch! Reflect on your journey as you pass through the gorgeous Daisy Bank section and farewell your last tunnel at Prices Creek.  Pay your respects at the Hyde Rail Disaster Memorial, ride beneath the Rock and Pillar Range, and roll past Ngapuna Station toward your final stop at Middlemarch Station.

Check in with the friendly staff at the Shebikeshebikes depot, grab some lunch, and enjoy a celebratory drink before your onward transport. You did it, a Luxury Clyde to Middlemarch – 4 day journey, and hopefully you took some amazing photos along the way. It’s hard not to in Central Otago!