Four hours bicycle ride from Middlemarch and much the same from Oturehua, the tiny Taieri River hamlet of Kokonga could not be better positioned for your first or last night on the Otago Central Rail Trail. And what better way to reward your pedalling than to spoil yourself at Kokonga Lodge.
 Cementing the appeal of the lodge's location is that at 42km from Middlemarch and 43.5km from Oturehua, and based on an average speed of 10 -12 kph for bikes travelling over the trail's hard packed gravel surface, it coincides timely with the maximum four hours a day most bottoms can comfortably cope with seated on a bike saddle.
As if six superbly appointed double rooms with ensuites and capacity to accommodate extra adults or children isn't enough, Kokonga Lodge boasts commanding views over the magnificent, awe inspiring Maniototo Plain. What's more, every bedroom is a room with a view. Food is a key ingredient of the Kokonga Lodge experience with gourmet meals professionally prepared using home-grown produce and local meats and poultry.
Because of where it is and what it offers, Kokonga Lodge is increasingly  favoured as a base for Rail Trail excursions and for exploring a district steeped in gold mining and pioneer history. The lodge's 8-seater bus has a passenger service license with the hosts happy to collect and deliver guests and their bikes from points along the Rail Trail, and to and from the Taieri Gorge Railway at Middlemarch or Pukerangi.
Kokonga Cottage
This newly built two-storied self-contained cottage, suitable for four persons (double brm & twin brm), is situated close to the Rail Trail on the same property as Kokonga Lodge |
