Experience for yourself New Zealand’s great ride – the Otago Rail Trail. Get a group of friends together or plan an active family holiday. It’s all off-road with no traffic, just beautiful Otago landscape and Southern Hospitality.
Having rode this trail ourselves we can speak from experience and have all the tips and tricks you need to know to plan a fun and active holiday. We booked this trip with two children, aged 10 and 12. The ride was challenging in parts, but we had no trouble completing this and overall loved the solitude of the long trails and spending this time together as a family.
The trail is suitable for any age, as long as you are reasonably fit. You can even hire electric bikes, allowing you to enjoy the scenery and control the intensity of your ride.
The Otago Rail Trail is open all year-round with each season providing distinct and spectacular scenery.
The most popular season is summer. We recommend you cycle early each day to avoid cycling during the peak heat of the day, then enjoy the long afternoons and evenings at each stop along the way.
We experienced this trail in Autumn with our family. The weather was a little cooler and there were some gusty winds during sections, however the autumn scenery was vibrant red and gold as you can see in this video footage.
You may not think to cycle this trail in winter, but the snow-capped mountains against the blue sky make for spectacular scenery. Early starts are not recommended due to overnight frosts, and plans may need to adjust due to weather, but the reward of a glass of Pinot around a log fire make for a cozy end to each day. Not all accommodation options are open at this time of the year, so check with us for details.
Spring brings another colour palette to the Otago landscape with fresh green on the trees and lambs in the green paddocks, often with mountains still snow-capped, and hillsides of the scenic wild purple thyme. The days are getting warmer, but the weather can still be changeable.
The trail is 152 kilometres and runs in an arc through the valleys between Middlemarch and Clyde. You can travel in either direction and we can book local accommodation along the trail at appropriate distances. Allow between 3 to 5 days to complete the ride at a pace that suits you. We did the trail in 4 days, booking 3 nights accommodation. It was a good pace based on 4-5 hours cycling each day and allowed time to stop for breaks, meals and enjoying the scenery.
Plan for a few days before and afterwards. We can book transfers to the trail to and from Queenstown. We can also book accommodation in Dunedin and a ticket to or from Dunedin and Middlemarch for the Taieri Gorge Railway. This rail experience is one of the best in the world and a great way to start or finish your Otago Rail Trail experience.
The Otago Rail Trail was an experience we thoroughly enjoyed and will definitely repeat. Please contact us for more information and remember to support local and book your holiday with one of our Travel Professionals.
Contact our team of Travel Professionals to book your next New Zealand Travel Adventure.