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Lake Dunstan and Otago Rail Trail Bike Tour

Itinerary
Lake Dunstan and Otago Rail Trail Bike Tour
Guide(s)
Adventure South NZ
Trip options

Add-ons

Your guides offer custom Avanti Discovery bikes that come with a helmet and a 15L saddle bag.

Your guides offer high-quality e-bikes that come with a helmet and a 15L saddle bag.

The price of the trip is based on double occupancy. If you’d like to have a room to yourself, add the single supplement to your booking now. Keep in mind that single rooms are limited to 2 per departure on a first come, first served basis.

All meals indicated in the itinerary are included in the price of this trip. Special dietary requirements can be accommodated, please let us know down below if you have any.

Lake Dunstan and Otago Rail Trail Bike Tour
Itinerary
Lake Dunstan and Otago Rail Trail Bike Tour
People
1 Person
Date(s)
--
Duration
5 day
Guide(s)
Adventure South NZ
Reserve deposit ($245.00) $245
Second Payment Amount: $0

  • Experience the ultimate bike trip on New Zealand's Lake Dunstan and Otago Central Rail Trail. We’ll start with a ride along Lake Dunstan’s shimmering waters, then tackle the twists and turns of the dramatic Cromwell Gorge. Our journey continues on the iconic Otago Rail Trail, winding through stunning landscapes, historic towns, and sweeping open spaces. With expert guides leading the way, we'll uncover hidden gems like local vineyards, heritage sites, and cozy B&Bs. Enjoy delicious regional food and wine, warm Southern hospitality, and accommodation with character. This 5-day biking trip offers the perfect mix of thrilling trails, history, and relaxation—an unforgettable way to explore New Zealand’s beautiful southern region.

    • We’ll meet in downtown Queenstown at 8am and drive through the picturesque Kawarau Gorge to Cromwell. We unload the bikes at Smith’s Way and start our journey with an easy ride following the glistening shores of Lake Dunstan. We pass through Cromwell’s Old Town, a small historic precinct dating back to the gold rush days of the 1800s, where galleries, coffee shops and boutiques give us a short break from the bike. The trail continues along the Kawarau arm of Lake Dunstan to the Bannockburn Bridge offering stunning views across the lake while passing by wineries and olive groves, making the perfect stop for lunch (Smith’s Way to Cornish Point: 30 km / 18 miles).

      From Cornish Point, some riders will continue on along the new Lake Dunstan Trail into the dramatic Cromwell Gorge, where the track winds around sheer rockfaces and over lake inlets on impressively engineered platforms and bridges rising above the lake to Clyde (Cornish Point to Clyde: 25 km / 15 miles). For those riders who wish to avoid the more demanding section through the gorge, there will be an option to drive to Clyde and ride all or part of the easier river trail to Alexandra (12 km / 7 miles each way), or explore the small historic town. We will all meet again in Clyde, settle into our comfortable accommodation, and enjoy a winery visit and our first group dinner in the early evening.

      Meals: Lunch, dinner
      Cycling Distances: up to 55 km / 34 miles + optional ride at the end
      Accommodation: Dunstan House, Clyde

      Cromwell Gorge in Otago

    • Leaving Clyde via the historic railway line, we’ll track across rural plains encircled by dramatic mountain ranges. Beyond the tiny settlement of Chatto Creek, the trail climbs gently before leveling off to reach our lunch stop, Omakau. We’ll then hop on the bus for the short detour to must-see Ophir township and the Raggedy Range lookout for a bird’s eye view of the region.

      Back on the bikes, it’s another 9 km of easy riding to reach Lauder. Late afternoon we’ll drive to St Bathans for a walk around the surreal Blue Lake formed during the 1800s gold days. Enjoy a game of pool or banter at the Lauder pub before we tuck into a well-earned dinner.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
      Cycling distance: 44 km / 27 miles
      Accommodation: Lauder School B&B

      Chatto Creek settlement in Otago

    • Today’s ride features the trip’s first tunnels and bridges as we trace the pretty Poolburn Gorge and head into the Idaburn Valley. We’ll stop at Hayes Engineering Works, a delightfully rustic heritage site, and Oturehua’s old-fashioned grocery store. After lunch, it’s a gentle climb to the rail trail’s highpoint, then a downhill roll to Ranfurly with its striking art deco architecture. Late afternoon, we’ll take the short drive to Naseby, a cute forestry town famous for its indoor curling rink. Here’s your chance to try ‘bowls on ice’ – it’s very addictive! Naseby is also terrific for a stroll or a sup at the old pub, both nice ways to wind down before we return to Ranfurly for dinner.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
      Cycling distance: 47 km / 29 miles
      Accommodation: Hawkdun Lodge, Ranfurly

      Curling rink in Naseby

    • Today combines the trip’s biggest daily distance with some of its most fun riding. The trail tracks towards Waipiata, then follows the edge of an old lake before entering the Taieri Gorge with yet more bridges and tunnels. It’s a flowing downhill run to the historic Hotel Hyde, a picturesque spot for a breather. From here, the final 27 km takes in the poignant 1943 Hyde rail disaster memorial, then winds across rolling plains towards the trail’s end at Middlemarch. After lunch, we’ll board the support vehicle for the drive to Dunedin where we‘ll celebrate our trip with a final group dinner.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
      Cycling distance: 59 km / 37 miles
      Accommodation: Dunedin Palms Motel

      Cycling over Taieri Gorge in Otago

    • After breakfast, we head off to ride alongside the Otago Harbour to Portobello. This ride takes us down the harbor, surrounded by volcanic hills on both sides, and home to nesting albatross, penguins, and seals, as well as the site of historic shipwrecks. We’ll get a closer look as we board the vessel ‘Sootychaser’ for a mini wildlife tour across to Port Chalmers. The Sootychaser is named after the Sooty shearwater, New Zealand’s muttonbird, and on our tour we’ll hear about the history of the area, see the boats, make a detour to see harbor birds and Larnach Castle from a distance.

      From Port Chalmers we’ll drive north stopping for a wander around the Victorian Precinct and portside park in Oamaru. After lunch we continue driving northwards across the Canterbury Plains, and on to Christchurch for a central city drop-off around 6pm.

      Meals: Breakfast
      Cycling distance: 15-20 km / 10-15 miles

      Dunedin town and bay view

    • What you get on this adventure:

        • An experienced, local biking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
        • 5-day Otago Rail Trail & Lake Dunstan bike tour
        • Tasty cafe breakfasts (x4), gourmet picnic and cafe lunches (x4), two course restaurant dinners (x4) catered to all dietary requirements
        • Nutritious snacks, drinks, and treats plus our famous morning and afternoon teas
        • 4 nights in boutique hotels, B&Bs, and motels on a twin share basis
        • Full vehicle support along the trail including trailer for luggage
        • Transport from Queenstown to Christchurch
        • Curling at Naseby
        • Visit to St Bathans to see the incredible Blue Lake
        • Marine wildlife cruise in the Otago Harbour on the Sootychaser
        • Wine Tasting at a boutique Central Otago vineyard
        • Otago Rail Trail passport to collect stickers as you ride the trail
        • Pre-departure information kit to help you plan and prepare
        • Rider fees paid to the Department of Conservation and Trail Trusts for ongoing maintenance and improvements

      What’s not included:

        • International or domestic flights and taxes
        • Arrival and departure transfers
        • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
        • All beverages, other than breakfast
        • Bike hire (including helmet)
        • Water bottle (help us save the environment and bring your own bike drink bottle)
        • Personal expenses (eg. phone calls, internet, laundry, shopping etc)
        • Visa (if required)
        • Guide gratuities — optional
        • Travel and medical insurance — optional

    • In order to fully enjoy this Otago Rail Trail bike tour, good fitness and previous multi-day riding experience is recommended. Over 5 consecutive days, you’ll cover around 230 km (140 miles) on two wheels. Check out day-by-day distances in the itinerary.

      The Otago Central Rail Trail is graded introductory and is a good, hard packed wide trail with just one significant hill which is a gradual gradient as it follows the course of the old railway. Overall you will need a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy the trip and it is suggested that you cycle 2 hours per week for the three months leading up to your trip. It’s recommended that you train on compacted gravel trails, and complete a multi-day ride prior to your trip to get used to being in the saddle for long periods of time. The more training you have done on hills and on compacted gravel, the more enjoyable your trip will be. For those keen to ride through the Gorge, experience of rougher terrain and riding tight corners is recommended.

      Just keep in mind that the section of the Lake Dunstan Trail through the Cromwell Gorge on day 1 is moderately technical and is optional as it is more challenging with some short hills, narrow track, tight corners and exposure in places. There is an alternate ride for less confident riders.

      For more biking adventures in New Zealand, click here!

    • The tour is fully supported so you won’t have to carry anything. If hiring one of our bikes, it will have a rear saddle bag with enough space to put an extra layer, your camera, wallet, phone etc. We recommend you pack your luggage in a soft sports bag for easy stowing in the trailer/ vehicle. We urge you to keep your luggage to a minimum. If you have extra luggage you do not require for your holiday, we can arrange to store it until the end of the trip.

      Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

        • Comfortable biking clothes
        • Spare clothes for layering
        • Sneakers or sport shoes
        • Breathable outside layer or jacket
        • Waterproof rain jacket
        • Fleece
        • Quality thermal wear
        • Casual clothes and sneakers for when you’re not cycling
        • Sunhat
        • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
        • Headlamp or flashlight
        • Sunglasses
        • Biking gloves
        • Camera — optional (but recommended)

      Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

    • You can rent hybrid mountain bikes on this bike trip for an additional fee. These custom Avanti Discovery’s have been built to suit the New Zealand trails with the best characteristics of a hybrid bike and a mountain bike. A bicycle helmet will be included with your bike rental, along with a 15L saddle bag for personal items you might need throughout the day.

    • Your guides offer quality Sinch eBikes, providing people who might need a little pedaling assistance the opportunity to enjoy the cycling holidays. eBikes are simple to operate, very comfortable to ride, and are more gentle on the body than a traditional bike. You still need to pedal, however, these e-Bikes provide up to 80 km (49.7 miles) of pedal assistance before requiring a recharge. A bicycle helmet will be included with your bike rental, along with a 15L saddle bag for personal items you might need throughout the day.

    • As a general rule, November to April are the most ideal months for traveling in New Zealand’s stunning outdoors. One of the most important things travelers need to know about the New Zealand climate is that it’s a maritime climate, as opposed to the continental climate typical of larger landmasses.

        • The temperature during the South Island summers range from 10‐30 °C (50-86 °F), with a pleasant 40‐50% humidity.
        • Maximum temperatures we may encounter range up to 30°C (86 °F).
        • Minimum temperatures expected in the Southern Alps in Summer time are around ‐5°C (23 °F).

    • Majority of the Otago Central Rail Trail is compacted gravel, therefore, cyclists need to be confident riding on uneven surfaces. The trail is wide, which means that you can be sociable and ride alongside others. There are some narrow cattle-stop grates, and “chicanes” (s-shaped safety gateways).

    • Group sizes and pricing

        • For this Lake Dunstan and Otago rail trail bike trip, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 7:1.
        • If 8 or more people join the tour, 2 guides will accompany the group.
        • It takes a minimum of 4 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 14 participants.

      Biking in New Zealand can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

      Min. age requirements

        • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
        • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the bike trip on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

      If your group has bikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

    • The starting point of your Lake Dunstan and Otago rail trail bike tour is Queenstown. To get there, most people fly into Queenstown (ZQN) Airport. You will need to fly into Queenstown the day prior to the tour departure. From the airport, you can take a shuttle service, public transport, or rent a car to reach Queenstown.

      Keep in mind that you’ll need to arrive at least a day prior to Day 1 of the tour as you will meet your guide on the first morning of the tour in central Queenstown. More information will be provided by the guides before the tour starts.

      At the end of the trip, if you wish to fly home this evening, please ensure your flight departs Christchurch domestic airport later than 7pm. You can get a taxi, shuttle or public bus to the
      airport from the city center. We don’t recommend catching international flights on the same day as the tour finishes. For those staying in Christchurch on the final evening, your guide will drop you in central Christchurch at the end of the tour.

    • We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

      Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

      Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

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