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How long should we give ourselves to experience the full 150km length of the Otago Central Rail Trail?
Do we start at Clyde or Middlemarch?
Do we need to book to travel the Rail Trail?
How fit do we need to be?
Is age an issue?
Is there transport to get us (and our bikes) back to our vehicles?
Is there somewhere to park our vehicles?
Can we camp along the Rail Trail?
When is the best time of year to experience the Rail Trail?
What do we need to take with us on the Rail Tail?
I’m told wind can be an issue on the trail?
Is drinking water available along the Rail Trail?
What toilet facilities are on the trail
Is there plenty to hold our interest on the Rail Trail?
Can we take dogs on the Rail Trail?
Q. How long should we give ourselves to experience the full 150km length of the Otago Central Rail Trail?
A. Most people travelling the trail’s full length do so on mountain bikes (there’s no shortage of bike hire businesses). Calculate on averaging around 10km on the gravel surface and spending only around four hours a day on the bike saddle. Feed back from Rail Trailers tell us that much over four hours is more than most bottoms can endure. So really, at the very least you need four full days on the trail. Okay, if you’re super fit and a speedster, you may have no trouble doing it in three. But by spending your time head down and pedalling flat out you’re missing out on all the wonderful sights and experiences of the Rail Trail. Not a great many people walk the full length of the Rail Trail. Few walkers stride it out between stations, getting dropped off at one and picked up at the other. The average walking speed is around 4 – 6kph. If walkers are prepared to put in six hours a day they need to allow a good five days to walk the whole trail. Horses are allowed on the trail but it is not particularly well set up to catering for riders and their mounts.
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Q. Do we start at Clyde or Middlemarch?
A. It really comes down to personal choice. Regardless of which end you start, it’s uphill to the halfway point at Wedderburn. But there are deciding factors to take into account, such as your travel arrangements. Flying into Queenstown it makes sense to start the trail at Clyde. On the other hand, if Dunedin is your departure point for the Rail Trail, then Middlemarch is the logical choice. We should also point out that you might find among Rail Trail businesses those who favour one start point over the other. This isn’t particularly helpful as generally their reasons conflict. Whatever you’re told, just remember there’s no wrong or right end to start the Rail Trail. Clyde to Miidlemarch or Middlemarch to Clyde, doing it in the opposite direction is a great reason to come back and experience the trail again. Views can be so different when seen from an opposite direction.
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Q. Do we need to book to travel the Rail Trail?
A. The Otago Central Rail Trail is a year round public recreation reserve. There is no charge to use the trail and there is no booking requirement. However, we can’t stress enough to book accommodation well ahead. By that we mean weeks before you arrive, especially over spring-summer-autumn months. If planning to ride the Rail Trail as a group, it is wise to make your bookings months in advance. Not all businesses operate for all the year, so in the late autumn and winter months it is still a good idea to check availability and book ahead.
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Q. How fit do we need to be?
A. The Rail Trail is suitable for all but the grossly unfit. Remember, the trail has no steep hills. Although there are several long inclines, none are more than 1:50. The real issue for most people is bottom discomfort from sitting on a bike saddle for hours. Padded cycle pants do help but probably the best thing you can do is condition your bottom with a few weeks bike riding before setting out on the trail. If at all possible, try to find gravel roads or unsealed tracks to practise on. But even with this preparation still calculate on four hours a day maximum on the bike seat and about 10kph average speed.
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Q. Is age an issue?
A. Not really. In fact, riding the Rail Trail can be a wonderful family activity. That said, even a downhill bike ride between two station sites could be expecting too much of a child under five. At the other end, it is not unusual for people in their 70s and 80s to cycle or walk the full 150km of the Rail Trail.
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Q. Is there transport to get us (and our bikes) back to our vehicles?
A. Bus transport operators, bike operators, most accommodation providers and companies that arrange tours offer pick up and deliver services. Through usually these require prior arrangements. This is particularly important when travelling in a group.
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Q. Is there somewhere to park our vehicles?
A.There is parking at Middlemarch near the railway station, at the Clyde railhead and also along the Rail Trail at Rock & Pillar, Hyde, Daisybank, Waipiata, Ranfurly, Wedderburn, Oturehua, Lauder, Chatto Creek. Vehicles left in these carparks are at the owner's risk.
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Q. Can we camp along the Rail Trail?
A. The Otago Central Rail Trail is not really set up for trailside camping. While camping is not prohibited, most visitors find it easier and more comfortable (hot showers, flushing toilets) to overnight at campgrounds (see accommodation) or at backpacker style accommodation. If you do elect to camp on the trail, open fires are not permitted and during summer there may be a total fire ban, so no using gas or meths portable camp ovens. Because it gets so tinder dry in Central, smokers on the Rail Trail need to be especially diligent about disposing of matches and making sure butts are totally extinguished.
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Q. When is the best time of year to experience the Rail Trail?
A. It really depends on what you want to get out of the Rail Trail. Wintertime visitors tell us snow-capped mountains and bike tyres crunching through ice is a truly unforgettable experience. Similarly, the seasonal colour changes of spring and autumn bring their own spectacle and uniqueness to the Rail Trail experience. Generally though, summer is the peak season. But whatever the time of year be prepared for extreme weather changes. In summer it can be up to 40 degrees Celsius and within a few hours drop to the mid teens. Add in a wind chill factor and it can be a very uncomfortable very challenging experience. The key is to be prepared.
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Q. What do we need to take with us on the Rail Tail?
A. You need to take clothing for all seasons. Even at the height of summer a cold snap can race through Central Otago. And while rain is scarce, should a shower arrive it can be very wetting. Similarly, it is advisable to take with you windproof outer garments. Don’t forget toilet paper. Set out on the trail with commercially bottled water and replenish with bottled water as you go.
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Q. I’m told wind can be an issue on the trail?
A. As much as we would like to say it is not, yes, winds can be strong, especially over the summer months. The good news is you’ve now plenty of shelter. The OCRT Trust successfully applied for funding to build 10 new shelter sheds to add to the eight already along the trail. The new sheds are based on the traditional Railways gangers’ shed. The new sheds and two of the older sheds house information panels telling what can be seen from the shed, what side trips you may like to make, and what’s up and down the trail. Back to the winds, a lot of the time they’re caused by our great weather. As hot air rises, cold air rushes down the slopes and ranges and mountains to take its place. As the day heats up the stronger the winds can become. For that reason a lot of Rail Trailers start early and finish travelling around lunchtime. Of course, if you’re riding with the wind it does give welcome assistance. Generally autumn and winter are less bothered with winds.
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Q. Is drinking water available along the Rail Trail?
A. In short, the answer is, not really. To explain! The climate in Central Otago is unlike anywhere else in New Zealand. Rainfall is scarce. Water suitable for drinking can be costly for hotels and other businesses to provide for their customers, so when Rail Trailers drop by expecting their water bottles to be filled, their reception can be less than warm. Bear in mind also, some water comes from bores and while locals are used to drinking it, Rail Trailers may find themselves with upset stomachs. And whatever you do, don’t go into toilets at hotels or other businesses to full up water bottles. It is likely tank water is being used, making it totally unsuitable for drinking. The best advice is to take commercially bottled water onto the trail and replenish as you go. You’ll find most businesses have chillers full of refreshingly cold commercially bottled drinking water.
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Q. What toilet facilities are on the trail
A. There are environmental toilets at various places on the trail. These are identified on the map in the Rail Trail leaflet and also the map in the Passport. You need your own toilet paper to use these toilets. Most of the townships along the trail have public toilets. Unless you are stopping in for refreshments or food, please try to avoid using toilets in hotels and cafes.
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Q. Is there plenty to hold our interest on the Rail Trail?
A. However many days you give yourselves, you’ll probably feel it wasn’t enough. As you’ll see from exploring our website there’s a lot more to the Rail Trail than a gravel track through spectacular scenery. There’s history. There’s flora and fauna. There are places to visit on and off the trail. To help further enhance your experience there’s lots you can learn and discover on the way. Inside 10 new gangers’ shelter sheds and two existing sheds are colourful information panels describing what can be seen from each shed, what’s around the shed, places to visit, and what’s up and down the trail worth looking out for. At station sites there are information kiosks. Then there’s the Rail Trail Passport --- which is great fun, providing a real incentive, especially for younger family members, to ride from one station site to the next.
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Q. Can we take dogs on the Rail Trail?
A. Dogs (on a lead) are only permitted on the 8km section of Rail Trail between Alexandra and Clyde railhead. The Rail Trail is a public reserve and dogs are not allowed on other sections of the trail. This restriction also recognises rural landowner concerns about dogs on the trail.
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