Spin your wheels on the OTAGO CENTRAL RAIL TRAIL

South Island

Be warned: riding the Otago Central Rail Trail may be the start of an addiction, even if you’re a biking beginner. “It’s the combination of food and wine, history and flat, well-graded trail that makes this one so popular,” says Phil Wyndham of Adventure South NZ. “From avid riders to recreational cyclists, so many guests finish this trip and say: ‘That was great – what else have you got?’”

This South Island trail follows the route of the disused Otago Central Railway for 150 kilometres, winding its way through a chain of valleys, dotted with tiny towns that sprang up during the gold rush of the 1860s. Adventure South NZ’s most popular tour is a five-day trip starting in Queenstown, which involves cycling about 40 kilometres a day. “That’s far enough to feel you’ve done something challenging without wearing yourself out – although the support vehicle is always available if you need it,” Phil says.

The Otago Central Rail Trail isn’t just about racking up the miles, however. The off-bike experiences are as entertaining as the on-bike ones. “This region is known for its food and wine, and there’s always a really interesting town to explore nearby,” Phil says. After each day’s ride, participants can chill out in cosy country pubs or explore pretty places, such as the Art Deco gem of Ranfurly or St Bathans, where the gold rush architecture includes a wooden post office and a haunted hotel. Expect to stay in inviting family-run accommodation and enjoy heaps of fine food and the odd glass of the acclaimed local pinot noir. Along the trail, you get to explore some fascinating industrial relics, including abandoned communities, where the old railway waiting room is all that’s left. One of the more memorable stretches is the Poolburn Gorge, where your passage takes in two bridges and two tunnels more than 200 metres in length. It took

300 workers three years to complete the work.

Adventure South NZ’s trips usually include about 10 guests and are popular with women and solo travellers, but Phil says he’s also seeing a new trend. “We’re getting lots of private groups of four friends travelling together,” he shares. “It’s often people who reconnected virtually during lockdown, through WhatsApp groups, perhaps. It’s great to see them getting back together in real life.”

Find out more: Adventure South NZ’s five-day Queenstown Otago Central Rail Trail starts at NZ$1895 (AUD$1759); adventuresouth.co.nz

Take a break and behold the exquisite panorama at the township of Wedderburn – the trail’s summit. Top: The Poolburn Gorge section of the trail encompasses two bridges and two tunnels as it snakes around the rock walls.

Left: Cycle over the famous Poolburn Viaduct – the highest bridge on the trail. Above: Base yourself at Olivers Central Otago Lodge & Stables, where you can sample its award-winning food and premium wines.