Cycle New Zealand: Otago Rail Trail

Kia-ora! Welcome to Queenstown, New Zealand. If you have time before or after the tour in the country's adventure capital, there's simply no end to the line-up of optional activities including bungee-jumping, mountain biking, kayaking, rafting, helicopter rides, jet boating and paragliding. There are also plenty of cafes, restaurants and bars to keep you entertained. This cycling trip kicks off with a pick-up at 8 am. After the meeting, you’ll jump in a private vehicle and follow the Kawarau River to nearby Clyde (85kms, approximately 1.5 hour), where you’ll be fitted with your bike to start your cycling adventure along the Otago Rail Trail, which has been voted NZ's ‘Favourite Ride’ for the past two years. The trail runs for 152 kilometres/95 miles in total and was originally used to transport supplies to and from the Gold Fields, then later to transport goods and livestock. It fell into disrepair but was refurbished into a rail trail at the start of the new millennium and is now arguably the best way to explore the area and contribute to the local economy. You'll begin by cycling out of Clyde and onto the Rail Trail. In a few kilometres you’ll will stop at the Orchard Garden Cafe for a quick coffee and break before continuing across your first old wooden rail bridge across the Manuherikia River. From here the graded gravel trail takes you through railway cuttings and rocky scenery and on to Chatto Creek for lunch. After lunch it is a steady climb up Tiger Hill, then downhill to Omakau and eventually to our overnight stop at the 'art-deco' designed Black's Hotel in Ophir. Join the locals in the hotel restaurant for dinner and a few cold refreshments, or sample the local wines. Ophir is a gold-rush town that is home to 54 residents, New Zealand's oldest working post office, and 1880's built 'Dan O'Connell' bridge. A beautiful, historical town and a peaceful, quiet place to stay and rest our legs after today's bike ride.

The highlight of today's cycle is the beautiful Poolburn Gorge section of the trail, which features two tunnels and two viaducts. You'll then ride through the Ida Valley farmlands, pedalling past Idaburn Dam, one of New Zealand's few outdoor curling sites, and visiting the Hayes Historic Engineering Works before stopping at Oturehua Tavern for lunch. After lunch, you'll continue north to the Golden Progress Mine and up to the highest point of the trail before stopping for the night at Wedderburn. In the evening, enjoy a traditional, farm-style meal at the Wedderburn Tavern (not included) and rest those legs.

A short but good day today – just 23 kilometres in total – though it's mostly downhill from Wedderburn to Ranfurly, Otago's Art Deco capital. Enjoy morning tea and have a look around this small yet eclectic town, then cross the Maniototo Plains. Here you are further from the sea than elsewhere in New Zealand and it shows in the scenery and the near-empty roads - this is Lord of the Rings territory, and the flat plains give way to snow-capped mountains on the horizon.

Today you'll cycle approximately 55 kilometres with stunning views of the Rock and Pillar Ranges. Starting your day riding alongside the Taieri River, the fourth-longest in New Zealand and one of today's highlights. Cross the historic Capburn Bridge and Price's Creek Viaduct and continue your way downhill, passing through more tunnels (including the famous Daisybank tunnel) then pausing at the Hyde Railway Disaster Memorial, which commemorates the fatal 1943 derailment of a passenger train. Enjoy a morning snack en route before arriving in Middlemarch and the end of the cycling part of your adventure. Take a while to grab lunch at one of the local eateries before transferring by vehicle (approx. 3 hrs) back to Queenstown, where your trip finishes on arrival.