Otago Cycle Hire News Feed

New Booking Facilitator for Otago Cycle Hire

2010-04-06 00:00:00

Otago Cycle Hire has recently made arrangements for the Dunedin I-Site team to be the booking agents for all its Rail Trail related packages.

This change was required to avoid customers becoming frustrated in our communications with them as the demand on the Rail Trail has increased beyond what our small operation could realistically handle.

Not wanting to lose our valuable Rail Trail clientelle this was the best solution all around for our customers. We hope you approve!

What this now means is that everyone wanting to make reservations through Otago Cycle Hire for transport and accommodation, on, along or around, the Rail Trail, will deal directly with the team at Dunedin I-Site.

The Dunedin I-Site team provides the best and most unbiased information for the Rail Trail as they work with all the operators along the trail, and not just a select few.

This new relationship has been forged to ensure that Otago Cycle Hire provides not only the best value for money bike hire along the Rail Trail but also the most effective and efficient booking service as well.

The I-Site Dunedin team also can arrange fantastic packages for those wanting to experience what else Dunedin and Otago (and for that matter New Zealand) has to offer.

Welcome aboard Louise and her I-Site Dunedin team, we are sure you will do us all proud from here on in.

Best Service, Best Advice - Guaranteed!

Otago Cycle Hire Shifts Location

2010-03-18 00:00:00

Come in and check us out!

Yes it has finally happened, Otago Cycle Hire (OCH) has finally shifted into it's new hire location at SHOOSH CYCLES.

Sarge and the SHOOSH team have OCH bikes to hire.

Easy to find on the One-way System heading South opposite the overbridge heading out to the Peninsula, just South of Queens Gardens it can be accessed from either the One-way System or from 57 Vogel St - your choice.

SHOOSH Cycles landline phone number is 03-477-8808 for any OCH bookings needed on the day.

Any other bookings then use the 0800-2-PEDAL number.

The SHOOSH team also welcomes anyone who wants their bike running like a Swiss Watch.

Let the SHOOSH CYCLES team loose on your pride and joy and they will have it purring like a Pussycat and performing like a Lion in no time at all.

Sarge stands behind their workmanship 100% so you have no worries about ever being disappointed - that's his guarantee to you!

www.shooshcycles.co.nz

Otago Peninsula Top Cycling Destination In The World - Lonely Planet

2009-11-08 00:00:00

"Glowing recommendations from Lonely Planet single out the city as one of the best places in the world to cycle, watch birds and walk your dog.

Dunedin is the only New Zealand city to make the travel company's annual top 10 travel lists- and does so three times.

Otago Peninsula has been named as the top cycling destination in Lonely Planet' s Best in Travel 2010.

"Get ready for steep climbs, fast descents and the odd albatross to keep you company" the book notes.

Taking a breather on the route yesterday, Peter Hurring and Greg Lapwood, both of Dunedin, said they were not suprised by the recommendation.

"It is a bit of a hidden gem," Mr Hurring said.

Tourism Dunedin chief executive Hamish Saxton said the publicity was a "real feather in the cap for Dunedin" and the city could expect increased visitor numbers as a result."

What Was Said:

Top 10 Cycling Routes

Otago Peninsula ranks No 1, beating routes in Canada, Italy, Australia, France and the United States.
"The serpentine route twists pleasantly along the shore, providing tremendous ocean views, and the terrain is made for cycling."

Excerpt from the Otago Daily Times (published 2 November 2009) and written by Hamish McNeilly

Plenty On Their Bikes As Rail Trail Use Rises

2009-01-12 00:00:00

By Diane Brown on Sat, 10 Jan 2009

The Regions: Central Otago
Source: Otago Daily Times

International visitors and excellent accommodation have combined to make this season a great one so far for Otago Central Rail Trail operators.
While no-one has exact figures for the trail use, the latest available official figures from the Department of Conservation show 10,200 people tripped the counter for the whole trail to the end of December 2008.

Counters are placed on three remote parts of the trail used mainly by people who do the whole trail.

They show whole trail use has increased by a third from 6310 in 2003, when they were first installed.

The Poolburn Gorge, which has the highest use, as people enjoy riding a short part of the trail through two tunnels and over two viaducts, had 16,153 people in 2007 (2008 figures are not yet available).

That has more than doubled from the 7661 people in 2003.

While operators would not divulge their figures, they all agreed forward bookings for the summer months were higher than last year.

"Forward bookings at the beginning of December were just on a par with last year, and by the end of December they were well ahead of the previous year," Trail Journeys manager Shayne O'Connor, of Clyde, said.

The average age of clients booking was 45-plus.

High winds on the trail caused a few problems earlier in the season but there had been few issues since then and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

More accommodation was appearing on the trail, most offering ensuites and kitchens and riders were snapping it up, Mr O'Connor said.

However, while extra accommodation was great for the busy time of the year, it meant leaner times for the shoulder season for some providers, he said.

Altitude Adventures owner Phil Oliver said his company had a great Christmas season, with many casual tourists adding to the forward bookings on the trail.

Australian tourists were a big market for him and he had a booking yesterday from seven people who had flown in to ride the trail.

"With the Australian market, it is just as easy to fly here as it is to travel internally.Australia will continue to be one of our biggest markets," he said.

His clientele included mostly families with teenage children over the holidays.

February, March and April were looking "pretty good as well", he said.

Janet and Richard Parker set up their Ranfurly bike hire four years ago and they are now in their second year of operating Otago Rail Trail Bookings, from Ranfurly.

Mrs Parker had seen a continual climb in business and forward bookings were looking great, she said.

"The rail trail has saved all these small places [Oturehua, Wedderburn, Lauder, Waipiata, and Middlemarch].

"Who would have thought we would have three new eating places here in Ranfurly opening in the past year?"

Motels had also been built, one in Ranfurly and one in Naseby.

At the eastern end of the 150km trail at Middlemarch, Cycle Surgery and Rail Trail Services owner Dave Thompson is "pretty happy with everything".

"We have had a lot of Otago-ites riding the trail this year . . . so that's a good thing."

The new restaurant Quench at Middlemarch was doing very well as a result of the trail.

"We are getting a lot more international travellers as well and it's nice to see the international scene making a difference on the trail.

"They are saying they are very happy with the accommodation along the way, so that's a good sign as well."

His company had upgraded motels at Middlemarch and built new motels at Waipiata.

Merry Christmas 2008 and a Happy New Year 2009

2008-12-24 00:00:00

All the best from the team at Otago Cycle Hire and we wish you a very merry Christmas for 2008 and hope you all have a wonderful New Year and fantastic 2009.

A big ups to Sarge and his grommy team at "Shoosh Cycles" who keep our bikes fluffed up and performing 100% - thanks a million Noel ! (Just keeping in the spirit of Christmas buddy. 888 it's just a number - Yeah Right !)

Remember - "Don't Drink & Drive" over the holiday period and help keep our roads safe for everyone.

Otago Cycle Hire - Keeping NZ Roads Safe Since 2001.

Otago Rail Trail Set To Explode

2008-12-01 00:00:00

Numbers on the Otago Rail Trail are expected to increase as long haul holidays for New Zealanders and Australians become less affordable due to the global credit crunch and higher taxes on fuel emissions.

Figures mooted suggest that the popularity of the Otago Rail Trail could rise by up to 30% on previous years with some operators expecting a mini boom along the trail.

Sectors set to benefit from this increase are mainly from the hospitality industry but is it widely acknowledged that any extra monies bought into the region do go a long way to helping all other sectors in the community and this news is being enthusiastically welcomed by locals.