3 Day Itinerary Middlemarch to Clyde

Our Recommendation: Day 2/Night 2 ( start Waipiataor Ranfurly  finish Lauder or Omakau/Ophir )

Three days divided into the 152km of the Otago Central Rail Trail equals around 50km per day, pretty close to today’s recommended ride from Waipiata to Lauder (48km), Ranfurly to Lauder (40km) or perhaps go an additional 7km from Lauder to Omakau/Ophir.

Do try to give Oturehua your time. On the northern outskirts is the historic Golden Progress Mine where Otago’s last remaining wooden gantry. Oturehua is also home to New Zealand’s longest serving general store and Hayes Engineering Works and Homestead where there’s something for men and women.

From Oturehua, the trail crosses the floor of the Ida Valley and up a gradual climb to the Poolburn Railway Viaduct. From there it’s a relaxing downhill ride through the fantastic Poolburn Gorge with its two long tunnels (don’t forget to bring a torch) and the chance of spying a kārearea, the NZ native falcon and world’s fastest diving bird of prey.

The distance between towns ( Middlemarch to Clyde )

• Middlemarch to Hyde: 27km
• Hyde to Kokonga: 14.5km
• Kokonga to Waipiata: 10.5km
• Waipiata to Ranfurly: 8 km
• Ranfurly to Wedderburn: 13km
• Wedderburn to Oturehua: 12km
• Oturehua to Lauder: 23km
• Lauder to Omakau: 7km
• Omakau to Chatto Creek: 12km
• Chatto Creek to Alexandra: 17km
• Alexandra to Clyde: 8km

Our Recommendation: Day 3 ( start Lauder or Omakau/Ophir finish Clyde)

Your final day on the Otago Central Rail Trail. Whether you set out from Lauder or Omakau/Ophir, it’s a relatively easy pedal to Clyde that includes the fun of freewheeling down Tiger Hill between Omakau/Ophir and Chatto Creek. Day 3 can also become Night 3 on the Rail Trail should you plan to stay in Alexandra or Clyde, both towns offering plenty to see and do.

With Alexandra or Clyde so close to Queenstown what better way to complete your Otago Central Rail Trail experience than to at least get a taste of New Zealand’s most popular tourist destination. Year round Intercity departs Clyde for Queenstown. ( Intercity Bus Timetable ) 

If you wish to bus back to Dunedin, timetables will have a big influence in your overnighting decisions… Intercity departs the Clyde Trail Head daily for Dunedin.

The distance between towns ( Middlemarch to Clyde )

• Middlemarch to Hyde: 27km
• Hyde to Kokonga: 14.5km
• Kokonga to Waipiata: 10.5km
• Waipiata to Ranfurly: 8 km
• Ranfurly to Wedderburn: 13km
• Wedderburn to Oturehua: 12km
• Oturehua to Lauder: 23km
• Lauder to Omakau: 7km
• Omakau to Chatto Creek: 12km
• Chatto Creek to Alexandra: 17km
• Alexandra to Clyde: 8km