The Ride Between
It’s not about the ride... on Otago’s trails, it’s about what you ride between.
You could drive from winery to winery. You could spend a weekend hopping between scenic viewpoints, cafés or plotting a route around historic pubs.
But increasingly, people are discovering there’s a better way to do it. They’re choosing to cycle between them.
There’s something different about riding between experiences. The stops feel deserved and the journey in between becomes an integral part of the experience.
Ride between the wineries of Bannockburn, including Mt Difficulty (pictured)
Ride along the Kawarau River and between vineyards on the Gibbston River Wine Trail, Queenstown
Ride between wineries
There’s a rhythm to riding through Otago wine country.
The pace is unhurried, and the idea of getting there starts to matter less than how you arrive.
In Queenstown, the Gibbston River Trail traverses the iconic “Valley of the Vines” - a scenic half-day ride paired with frequent opportunities for wine tasting. A short distance downstream of Gibbston, the wineries of Bannockburn in Central Otago boast some of the world’s best pinot noir and are easily visited from the Lake Dunstan Trail. Or, along the Otago Central Rail Trail between Clyde and Alexandra there’s numerous cellar doors to discover.
Ride between historic country hotels
Otago’s small towns have stories to tell, and there’s no better way to move between them than at a pace that lets those stories unfold.
Each country pub feels like a natural pause. A place to rest, to chat, to take in the local character before moving on again.
Indeed, the Otago Central Rail Trail has become affectionately known as the “Ale Trail” because of a proliferation of country hotels located every 20km or so! And for real ale lovers, a bike ride on the Queenstown Trails is a perfect excuse to visit a craft brewery or two.
Ride between cosy country pubs like the Royal Hotel in Naseby...
...or bewteen craft breweries like Canyon Brewing in Queenstown.
Ride between cafes, coffee and bakeries
No coffee. No ride. It’s a cycling mantra.
Along Otago’s 500km+ trail network, small towns with friendly local cafés and bakeries form part of the flow of the ride. They break the journey into comfortable, enjoyable segments.
You could write a book to the best cinnamon scrolls or cheese scones along the Otago Trails, not to mention the pies! In Roxburgh on the Clutha Gold Trail, the baking at 103 The Store alone is worth the ride and then pop down the road to Jimmy’s Pies - “world famous in NZ”. On the Otago Central Rail Trail, the French flare at Muddy Creek Café in Omakau is simply délicieux, and another contender for NZ’s best cinnamon scroll can be found at Floral & Feast in Ranfurly. And the sticky buns at Provisions in Arrowtown are the things legends are made of.
Check out Trail Hub's guide to the best pies in Otago here, or click the link below to check out some of our favourite bakeries.
Floral and Feast in Ranfurly - worth riding the Rail Trail for alone!
Home baking at 103 The Store, Roxburgh on the Clutha Gold Trail
The sticky buns at Provisions in Arrowtown are legendary...
Great baking - including sensational pies - is ubiquitous across the trail network (photo: Sangas Pies, Cromwell)
Ride between unique things to do
A cycling trip in these parts is rarely just about the ride; it’s about connecting the unique things to see and do off the trail.
On the Rail Trail you can challenge the family to a curling match in Naseby or visit heritage sites like Historic Hayes or Gilchrist’s Store, one of NZ’s longest continually operating shops. On the Clutha Gold Trail explore Gabriel’s Gully in Lawrence, where the Otago Gold Rush started in 1861, then learn more about how the gold rush influenced the development of Otago on a jet boat trip – an integral part of the journey along the Roxburgh Gorge Trail.
On the Queenstown Trails join (or maybe just watch!) the bungy jumpers above the Kawarau River or jetboaters through the Shotover Gorge, relax in historic Arrowtown, enjoy a lakefront lunch or take a scenic gondola ride… all accessible by bike from the trails and without the hassle of looking for a car park.
Naseby is home to NZ's only international curling rink.
A tour through Historic Hayes in Oturehua is a Rail Trail 'must do'.
The Queenstown Trails access all of the main activities and attractions (photo: Shotover Gorge Trail).
Ride between diverse landscapes
Otago’s trail network stretches for over 500kms from the mountains of the Southern Alps to the coastal plains of the Taieri River on the east coast, not far from Dunedin.
The purpose-built cycle trails encompass some of the most dramatic and varied landscapes in New Zealand. From glacier-carved lakes and mountains to deep river gorges and rugged, tussock-clad high country, from vineyards to lush rolling farmland and from tranquil meandering rivers to coastal plains and the ocean itself.
The landscape is forever changing as you ride between one scenic highlight after another.
Ride Between Peak Seasons
Inland Otago has a semi-continental climate. This means hot, dry summers and cold, crisp, clear winters. It’s New Zealand’s driest region and on average receives less than 400mm of rain annually. Low rainfall and high sunshine hours provide an ideal climate for cycling year-round with trails that are generally dry and mud-free.
School holidays are popular times of year along the trails, and autumn (March-April) with its golden colours and settled weather patterns can be busy. But, with a climate suited to riding throughout all four seasons, planning a trip to ride Otago’s trails between peak times is easy and rewarding.
Just pack the right clothes!
Check out these tips to beat the summer heat, or click below to find out more about winter riding.
Ride from Lake Whakatipu and the Southern Alps of Queenstown...
... to the coastal flats of the Taieri River on the Clutha Gold Trail.
Otago's trails can be ridden year-round - fresh snow on the hills of the Rail Trail in spring.
Cooling off after a summer ride on the Lake Dunstan Trail.
Riding between wineries, breweries, epic scenery and unique off-trail attractions are often what people look forward to most about a cycling holiday to Otago. Yet often, the highlights and lasting memories come from simply sharing the experience between friends and family.
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