We will collect you from your accommodation in Queenstown and drive through to Clyde. We ride from Clyde to Alexandra, and then ride through the flat rural countryside to Chatto Creek. The trail then starts to rise before levelling off at Omakau, where we briefly leave the trail and take a short ride around the quaint township of Ophir.

The highlights of today are the wooden trestle Muttontown Viaduct; the Old Tucker Hill gold diggings; views of the Dunstan Mountains and Raggedy Range and (hopefully) a sighting of brown trout in the Manuherikia River.

Dinner tonight is at a local cafe where you can experience true Central Otago hospitality.

This morning we make a side trip in the bus to the historic gold-mining town of St Bathan’s, and walk around the beautiful Blue Lake.

We return to Lauder where we start todays biking. Today we bike through two tunnels and over two rail bridges and follow along above a willow tree edged gorge and welcoming river pools. We finally emerge into the scenic Idaburn valley, and have a last easy climb up to the summit of the trail. We then enjoy the descent down to the art deco township of Ranfurly.

The highlights of today include the engineering marvel of the Poolburn Gorge Viaduct and tunnels; the vast wide open Ida Valley (made famous by the artist Grahame Sydney); the Idaburn dam (known for its winter curling); and a trip to Hayes Engineering Works (Hayes invented the wire strainer, pulley block and cattle stop at the beginning of the 20th century);and visiting the town of Wedderburn.

This morning we drive to Naseby, which is a small forestry township, and play a game of curling (if you can imagine bowls on ice then you are on the right track….they have the only dedicated curling rink in the Southern Hemisphere).

From Naseby drive to Ranfurly where we start todays ride. We ride the trail to Waipiata and along the edge of an old lake, before entering the Taieri Gorge. The trail then crosses through further tunnels and bridges……… before a fast downhill to the end of todays cycling at Hyde.

The highlights of today’s itinerary include curling at Naseby, crossing the vast Maniototo Plains; following the Taieri River as it snakes around the Rock and Pillar Range; crossing the stone bridge over Cap Burn; and experiencing the 32 metre high Price’s Creek Viaduct, and the 152 metre long tunnel.

The highlight of the final day’s ride includes views of the Rock and Pillar and Taieri Ranges; the Hyde Railway Disaster memorial; and dropping down into the Strath Taieri Plain.

We end at Middlemarch – which is a small farming town that is well known for the Easter Singles Ball. Girls travel there to meet eligible rugged young Southern Men who come down to the ball from their hill country stations.

After lunch we drive to Alexandra, where we get on the bikes and ride alongside the Clutha River to Clutha. From Clutha we then drive to Queenstown and drop you off at your accommodation.

This is a fantastic trip, particularly for novice cyclists who want to experience the wonderful scenery and pioneering history of Central Otago.