Otago Rail Trail Facts & Info
First Sod Turned 1879 - Dunedin
Completed 1906 - Clyde
Central Otago Rail Trail Officially Opened: February 2000
Total Distance: Clyde - Middlemarch 151km
Clyde – Alexandra 8km
Alexandra - Chatto Creek 17km
Chatto Creek – Omakau 10km
Omakau – Lauder 9km
Lauder – Oturehua 23km
Oturehua – Wedderburn 11km
Wedderburn – Ranfurly 14km
Ranfurly – Waipiata 6km
Waipiata – Hyde 26km
Hyde – Middlemarch 27km - End of Rail Trail
Middlemarch – Pukerangi 19km
Maximum Gradient: 1:50m or 2% - generally gentle up and down slopes - Rated Easy
Temperature Range:
Summer 15C to 40C+
Winter -21C to 10C
Average Time Taken: Most people take 3 Nights 4 Days while many opt for 4 Nights 5 Days to enjoy the unique environment and hospitality that is Central Otago
Train goes to Middlemarch ex Dunedin 2 Days a week (Sun/Fri 9.30am/Returns ex Middlemarch 1.00pm) over Summer months: Otherwise twice daily to Pukerangi 9.30am/2.30pm departures Returns ex Pukerangi 11.30am/4.30pm (excepting Christmas Day)
Train goes Daily to Pukerangi only Winter months: 12.30pm departure
Accommodation To Suit All Budgets:
Camping Grounds/Backpackers/Hotel/Motel/B&B/Boutique Lodges - the range is varied and the hospitality exceptional
Rail Trail Highlights and Points of Interest:
- Tunnels and Viaducts
- Hayes Engineering (off main route)
- Golden Progress mine
- Ranfurly’s Art Deco Buildings
- Wineries
- St Bathans and Blue Lake
- Vulcan Haunted Hotel
- Wedderburn Goods Shed
- Naseby – Mountain Biking Mecca & Curling
- Clutha/Manuherikia Rivers -Trout Fishing
- Ophir Post Office and Bridge
Secret Tip:
Start or finish your Otago Rail Trail experience with the Taieri Gorge Railway Excursion Train ("one of the world's great train trips"). It incurs NO extra cost for taking a bike with you - it is FREE with your ticket.
One benefit of this is that you can say that you really have completed the full Otago Rail Trail, start to finish - all the way from the Clyde hinterland, through the awe inspiring Maniototo plains, down to the Dunedin coastline - just magnificent!
Don't forget to let us book your Taieri Gorge Railway train trip for you, when you book your bike with us!