Neat Trail Places

New Zealand’s original Great Ride covers 152km from Clyde to Middlemarch and is punctuated every few kilometres with neat trail towns with some remarkably good food, wine and more than a few opportunities for some retail therapy along the way.

Affectionately known by the locals as the “Ale Trail” because of the proliferation of country pubs every 20kms or so, real ale connoisseurs also need to check out Neat Places "Great Country Pub Crawl of Central Otago"!

Clyde

The historic town of Clyde is situated below the dam which formed Lake Dunstan and is the start / finish for both the Otago Central Rail Trail and Lake Dunstan Trail. With a surprisingly wide variety of cafes, restaurants and boutique shopping, Clyde has become the perfect hub for cyclists on both trails.

• Paulina’s Bar – Clyde’s answer to a local pub. Unpretentious and welcoming, Paulina’s exudes small town charm with the promise of a cold craft beer with a hot slice of fresh pizza.
• Folklore – expect to find an eclectic assortment beautiful pieces with a focus on natural materials.
• Monte Christo Winery – home of the first vines to be planted in Central Otago. Immerse yourself in the historic setting, enjoy an informative wine tasting, get a bite from Fritzy the food truck or compete in a few leisurely games of pétanque.
• Recharge Café – a go to for locals looking to refuel. Cold pressed juices and healthy salads… juxtaposed with hearty burgers!
• The Post Office Café and Bar – open morning til late, relax in front of the roaring fire in winter or the sunny garden in summer.
• Yoyo Design by Kiwis – showcases NZ made furniture, lighting and objects that celebrates natural materials and circular thinking.

Naseby

Just a hop, skip and a jump from the trail, a to visit Naseby is a must. It also makes a great destination for a long weekend in its own right – especially to explore the vast network of mountain bike trails in Earnslaw One’s Naseby Forest.  

• Stardust Gallery – old stables have been lovingly restored into a studio space that showcases mesmerising landscape photography and art work.
• Maniototo Adventure Park – seeking an adrenaline rush? Race down the ice luge (winter) or gold rush luge (summer) and try your hand at curling at the only dedicated curling rink in the Southern Hemisphere.

If riding through the dramatic Cromwell Gorge with the Lake Dunstan Trail’s series of bluff bridges and epic views wasn’t neat enough, then the fact that the trail passes through Bannockburn and some of the country’s most iconic wineries makes this Great Ride doubly neat. Bookended by the heritage towns of Cromwell and Clyde there’s plenty of opportunity for wining, dining and shopping.

Cromwell

The Cromwell Heritage Precinct was created after the completion of the Clyde Dam in 1990, which flooded the original Cromwell town centre, including the historic buildings from the 1860s gold rush. To save this history key heritage buildings were restored and moved to higher ground, forming the precinct on the shores of Lake Dunstan. Today, the precinct offers a blend of history, art, shopping, and dining, allowing visitors to step back into the 19th-century gold rush era.

Cromwell Heritage Precinct marks the start of the Lake Dunstan Trail and will also be the starting / finishing point for the new Kawarau Gorge Trail which is due to open in late summer 2026.

• Pinot Junction – set in Murrell’s Cottage at the Cromwell Heritage Precinct, the café will leave you well-fed, well-loved and vowing to come back the next day.
• OCTA Gallery – an intimate gallery with an impressive collection of original NZ prints and international artists.

Bannockburn

Established in the 1860s during the Dunstan Gold Rush, Bannockburn developed into a significant gold mining settlement on the Carrick Range, but today its claim to fame is the production of world class pinot noir wine. A ride from Cromwell to Bannockburn as part of a wine tasting experience is a Central Otago must do.

• Bannockburn Hotel – don’t judge a book by its cover… this isn’t just an ordinary country pub! Perched on top of a hill overlooking the vineyards and rugged mountains, expect a modern and exciting tapas menu complimented by an offering of over 200 wines.
• Carrick Winery & Restaurant – located right on the Lake Dunstan Trail, Carrick offers a range of experiences. Keep it casual with a gourmet pizza and a glass of wine on the lawn, wine tasting is available at the cellar door, or go all out with a fine dining feast in the restaurant.
• Terra Sancta – located on Felton Road (the first section of the new Kawarau Gorge Trail – opening summer 2026), Terra Sancta is a well-kept secret and home to Bannockburn’s oldest vines. A great place to find a shady corner in their garden on a hot summer’s day and try a pinot noir or chilled rose.
• Dicey – these two brothers are making boxed wine great again! Sample wines shaped by the harsh Central Otago landscape in the cool, understated tasting room... with absolutely epic views. (Also located on Felton Road).

Clyde 
(See Otago Central Rail Trail above).