(Bigger groups are advised to ring Coffee Afloat before they set off, as this helps with their logistics.) Getting out the gully requires the trails biggest climb 130 vertical metres up the aptly named Cairnmuir Ladder. The trail was just discernible; the hill was easily recognisable as the sun beat down on us and the gradient stuck to around fifteen percent. Closed for about four months each winter, the Old Dunstan Road is best traversed with a 4WD vehicle. Casual bike hire is available in Cromwell and Clyde. Old Dunstan Road starts from Clarks junction, around an hour from Dunedin on the way to Middlemarch. There may have been some hike-a-bike good training for the madness that is Godzone. Share YOUR roads!We'vemorethan 13.000 roads but we want more! Fear not: the expertly designed switchbacks ensure the a reasonably gentle but steady climb. [1], The road begins at Clarks Junction in the Strath-Taieri, where it meets SH 87, and extends to the northwest, crossing between the Lammermoor and Rock and Pillar Range before turning north. The road is sealed at the start and turns to gravel after 9.2km. Choose to learn from past experiences with the future generations in mind. With the help of the trees we hid behind, I was dry albeit very warm. This section requires the most attention and skills as there are narrow sections and more gradient. It then varies between gravel, clay, and bare rock. Find out what to expect in this short video. In this stretch, youll need a compass to avoid drifting onto new, misleading 4WD tracks. Alternatively, a fun way to start is to catch the train to Middlemarch or Pukerangi (see Otago Rail Trail). You climb from Dam level up 120m twice on this 42km trail. There are options for a vineyard lunch and stocking up on a few bottles; local shuttles can provide rescue if youve overindulged. Skippers Canyon 4WD Tour from Queenstown 41 Recommended Half-day Tours from $184.62 per adult Wild Hills Off Road Safari 80 Recommended Half-day Tours from $259.00 per adult Mt Cook Tour & Heli Hike Combo from Queenstown 13 Recommended Bus Tours from $925.00 per adult LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Later horticulture and pastoral farming became features of the landscape. Dropping to Deep Stream, there was but one more ten percent climb left this time on the seal. When two californian prospectors startled the Dunedin treasury office by bringing in 87 pounds of gold in 1863 the name Dunstan was little more than a scratching on a surveyors map. The road passes through a spectacular landscape with ever changing views some of which made it into the second part of the LOTR trilogy. Crowding in for a not-really-a-summit selfie, and trying to get the bikes in too. A pit stop and a strongly lacedrum truffle restored morale, and the afternoon ride to the Styx Creek was a dream compared with what we had just endured. The Cromwell Basin and Bannockburn area are some of the southernmost grape growing regions in the world. Thank you. Plenty of breaks provided ample rewards with the view across Central getting better with every metre claimed from gravity. It wends its way alongside Lake Dunstan from Smiths Way via Pisa Moorings to Cromwell. An extremely quiet area to escape to, Adele was eyeing it up for future breaks. Winter cold drove some to suicide.. There's numerous explanation boards detailing the history of settlement, and the construction of the Dam. The aptly named Cairnmuir Ladder, may look daunting but the switchbacks have been designed to a maximum of 6 degree gradient with a 3m minimum radius. Night fell and Cromwell buzzed with laughter as exhausted cavalcaders square-danced the locals off their feet to the tunes of John Grenell and the PognScroggin Bush Band. In summer, riders should pack a sun hat and sunscreen (as well as plenty of water), but also preferably a lightweight top for fuller sun protection on high UV days. Park cars at the trees. The jail here has a fireplace that may be useful if its raining or snowing. Or please provide your feedback by completing a trail survey so that improvements can continuously be made to the trail experience. This track was officially opened on the 8th of May 2021. There is plenty of accommodation in Cromwell, Clyde and Alexandra, all of which make great bases for Central Otago cycling adventures. In those hardy days all the miners provisions had to be carted in from Dunedina two- or three-week round trip by horse-drawn dray, and even longer for a bullock wagon. Lake Dunstan Trail Need to know The trail ranges from grade 2 (easy) to 3 (intermediate), mostly following wide, smooth gravel and earth paths with some sections of wooden boardwalk. fascinating pioneer & gold mining history, the 86m-long, 29m-high Hugo suspension bridge, Clyde Dam New Zealand's largest concrete hydro-dam, two charming heritage towns Cromwell and Clyde, floating cafe and burger bar on the trail. The Cairnmuir slide is an unique feature on the slopes above the Clutha River. These tunnels are also used to mitigate against landslips into the Clutha River. This is where you can join the Old Dunstan Road, the modern access. In time, the route became known as the Dunstan Road. Today, the trail is a public road, ranging in quality from chip-sealed road to gravel track. Vilnius Travel Guide. Its 46.1 km (28.64 miles) long, running south-north from New Zealand 87 State Highway, at Clarks Junction to Upper Taieri-Paerau Road. Cycle north out of Paerau on the Styx-Patearoa Road for 1.5 km. Do you have more information about a place on the List? The map will show you where the best spots to stop, and help you get the most out of your ride. A dominant feature at the Clyde end of the trail isNew Zealands third largest hydro-dam, the Clyde Dam. Much of the route is only suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles or those with experience, and should only be attempted with a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon). Incoming ships bringing prospectors from Australia and Great Britain lost their crews to the new bonanza, and Dunedin storekeepers wrung their hands as their staff deserted them. At Cromwell Heritage Precinct be sure to park up and explore the boutique galleries, retail stores, restaurants and cafe's. Those who followed were scarcely better prepared; some perished in the harsh landscape, many returned to Dunedin emptyhanded and disillusioned, a few became wealthy overnight. The Otago Central Rail Trail is New Zealand's Original Great Ride, its open all year round, it is all off-road, no traffic, just Central Otago's big skies and distinctive landscape to enjoy. It is suited to riders of average fitness; although some riders may wish to push up some of the steeper climbs. We would shortly climb to Poolburn Reservoir, or Rohan Village as some may know it. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. The road from Styx is not recommended as it is not gravel and has several gates on it. Grade 1. The road loosely follows the trail that was used by gold miners traipsing from Dunedin to Dunstan (now Clyde) in the 1860s. View of road winding down Lammermoor Ranges towards Rocklands Station. The territory was trackless and the climate murderous. From here it turns toward the valley of the Manuherikia River, finishing at Moa Creek. Close to Halfway Hut you will find a short switch back section with tight corners and a good climb / descent. Clyde to Jackson Creek/Hydes Spur(return), 2023km or more,Grade 2/easyintermediate, 23 hours or more. Downhill across open farmland is never as fast as one hopes as one deals with all the bumps and divots on a loaded bike; this was no exception, but it was nice not to be pedaling for a bit. The trail loops around the Bannockburn Inlet which is a popular picnic area with a designated swimming area. But, its on our list now. From Poolburn, its 50 km mostly downhill to Alexandra. With Adele arriving late after work Friday night and her bike still needing to be loaded that night, I was happy with a six-thirty start on a lightly overcast day. Dunstan Arm Rowing ClubClyde Heritage Precinct. Historic buildings -dating back to the gold rush of the 1860s were saved or lovingly rebuilt on this higher ground. The climbing began again at that cattle stop. Ask your librarian to subscribe to this service next year. This was one of the Think Big projects driven by the Muldoon led Government to diversify the economy and drive growth. The first power was generated in 1992. Wellington 6011 Over the next two days gale force winds continued to challenge the line-up of akubra (stockmans) hats as we forded rivers, followed dusty tracks and cantered across tussocky farmland. There's also a 16km section of trail that traces the pretty Lake Dunstan shore from Smiths Way to the Cromwell Heritage Precinct. Influx of European pioneers associated with the gold rush of the 1960s. The trail then climbs out of the inlet to Carrick Winery which welcomes cyclists for wine-tasting and dining. Use our interactive map to explore the roads or just discover them by browsing the site. It climbs to almost 1,000 metres (3,300ft) before dropping down to Paerau (known during the gold rush era as Styx). Faces quickly became mudpacks aswind-borne dust whistled down the gorge and coated the cavalcade. Two galloping horsemen roused the crowd and attempted to rob the Cobb and Co coach as it entered the town, but in true western style the bandits escape was blocked by cavalcade trail boss Bill McMillan, who forced the miscreants to hand back their stolen loot. As I loaded my little borrowed mare into the horsefloat I took a last look back towards the mountains and wondered when another opportunity to experience history so vividlywould present itself. The ultimate Lake Dunstan Trail experience is the full, one-way journey from Cromwell to Clyde (41km) using local shuttles to transfer bikes and riders. It's free, works offline and has heaps of useful information, including trail descriptions and photos, trail services, food and accommodation. Old Dunstan Road is a 4x4 track located in the Otago Region in the South Island of New Zealand. Cross the bridge to reach Clyde. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. With trout released its a popular fishing spot although one would go slow in a boat as there are so many rocks around. One route, from Tuapeka, followed the Molyneux River all the way. 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A small hole in one of the liquor barrels being transported to a hotel or grog shop, a long thirst-quenching pull on the straw, a peg and some wet soil to hide the evidence . From the Heritage Precinct, the trail follows the Kawarau arm of Lake Dunstan to reach Bannockburn Bridge. This is section contains the highest point of the trail, rewarded with magnificent views which also means exposure to the weather. Photo credits (clockwise from left): bennettandslater.co.nz (1); Tourism Central Otago Will Nelson (2, 3 & 4). Its mostly uphill cycling, northwest on Highway 87, to Clarks Junction 49 km from Dunedin. From Cornish Point, the landscape changes dramatically to rocky bluffs as the trail heads into the Cromwell Gorge. (Lake Dunstan has now buried this orchard road forever.). Its a lovely outing on bike or foot, with stupendous lake and mountain views, pretty picnic areas and swimming spots. Losing a few hundred metres in a hurry, things flattened out through a sheep station. This New Zealand road or road transport-related article is a stub. Im sold on bivy bags now and will soon have my own to further lessen my bikepacking load on certain trips. The schist was ever present and we began to notice tall, skinny slabs of it filling the role of fence posts and looking like theyd done so for scores of harsh Central Otago years. Visit the official trail website for more information on riding safely, and check out this great safety video to see whether this trail is right for you. Following the Kawarau arm of Lake Dunstan to the Bannockburn bridge, you will have amazing vistas across the lake to Bannockburn vineyards and the next section of trail which loops back round on the opposite side. While this isn't officially part of the Great Ride, it does make an excellent short ride. The road is sealed at the start and turns to gravel after 9.2km. At the time of the road's creation, it was the shortest route from the city of Dunedin to the goldfields around Clyde, or Dunstan as it was then known. The Cashmere Sanatorium Open Air Shelter is a rare surviving open-air patient shelter that provides a poignant insight into the early 20th century response to the global disease of tuberculosis. Check back soon to see our map of the Lakes Dunstan Trail. As trail transport does not run to a scheduled timetable, any shuttles should be arranged in advance direct through operators or local i-SITE visitor centres. Food and water are readily available in Cromwell and Clyde. On average it takes 2 hours55 minutes to complete this trail. For a less experienced rider consider Clyde to Cromwell. This Great Ride's official start point is at Cromwell Heritage Precinct (as indicated by the 0km marker), giving a ride distance of 41km, with local shuttles transferring riders and bikes to the start or finish. Lots of inspiration! A hundred or so kilometres of gravel on the trail, leaving it to slog up a 4WD track onto and along the Rock and Pillar Range, a steep plunge off the side to Middlemarch and then another sixty kilometres of gravelly hills to the coast and home. Beyond Paerau, the trail becomes far rougher as it passes above the meanders and oxbow lakes of the upper Taieri River's scroll plain, and then descends towards Poolburn Reservoir, best known as a location during the filming of The Lord of the Rings trilogy of films. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Started construction 1977. Following the Kawarau arm of Lake Dunstan to Bannockburn, you will have amazing vistas across the lake to Bannockburn vineyards and the next section of trail. The Upper Tairei River is just around the corner, behind that sign. The nor-wester, while warm did at least help us up the hill. (Clive pic.) A map showing the planned 500km continuous trail network from Queenstown to Dunedin, estimated in 2018 to cost . Wellington 6142 Also, writing this Im still most keen to have a go at my original plan. We cycled in Central Otago but never did this trail.

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