30 Oct 2026
Twin share
£1,026pp
Escorted tour
Cycle New Zealand: The Otago Central Rail Trail – 4 Days
A guided ride along New Zealand's favourite rail trail, with bikes, luggage transfers and transfers from Queenstown.
4 days
From £846
Tour overview
This 4-day cycling trip follows the Otago Central Rail Trail, regularly voted New Zealand's favourite ride, across the wide valleys and gold-rush country of Central Otago. The trail follows the route of an old railway that once carried supplies to the goldfields, so the gradients are gentle and the riding is relaxed, with a leader cycling alongside the group. Groups have up to 12 travellers aged 15 and over. You stay three nights in a guesthouse, a cottage and a hotel along the trail, with breakfast included each day, and your luggage is moved ahead for you. Bike hire and transfers to and from Queenstown are included.
Your adventure begins with an early pick-up in Queenstown, New Zealand's adventure capital, and a drive along the Kawarau River to Clyde. After a bike fitting, you ride past vineyards and over an old wooden trestle bridge, following the Clutha River to the gold-rush town of Alexandra, then climb gently past Chatto Creek and Tiger Hill to Omakau, where the local hotel serves a famous craft beer.
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The highlight of the second day is the Poolburn Gorge, where the trail passes through two tunnels and crosses two viaducts. You continue through the farmland of the Ida Valley, past one of New Zealand's few outdoor curling ponds and the Hayes Historic Engineering Works, to lunch at the Oturehua Tavern, then climb to the trail's highest point and stay at Wedderburn.
A short, mostly downhill day brings you to Ranfurly, Otago's Art Deco capital, and across the Maniototo Plains, a landscape of wide skies and distant snowy peaks that featured in the Lord of the Rings films. On the final day you ride beside the Taieri River with views of the Rock and Pillar Range, through more tunnels, including the Daisybank tunnel, to Middlemarch, before the transfer back to Queenstown.
The physical rating is low, with gentle gradients and daily rides of up to 55km. This trip suits active travellers who want a relaxed taste of New Zealand by bike.
Trip highlights
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Vineyards and the Clutha River (Day 1)
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Tunnels and viaducts of Poolburn Gorge (Day 2)
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The Ida Valley (Day 2)
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Art Deco Ranfurly (Day 3)
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The Maniototo Plains (Day 3)
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The Taieri River and Daisybank tunnel (Day 4)
Your route
10 stops from Queenstown to Middlemarch
- Queenstown Days 1 & 4
- Clyde Day 1
- Alexandra Day 1
- Omakau Day 1
- Oturehua Day 2
- Wedderburn Day 2
- Ranfurly Day 3
- Waipiata Day 3
- Hyde Day 4
- Middlemarch Day 4
Why choose this tour
New Zealand's favourite rail trail with a leader alongside you. Bike hire, luggage transfers and Queenstown transfers included.
Best suited to
- Leisure cyclists
- Travellers short on time
- Couples and solo travellers
- Nature and history lovers
Day-by-day itinerary
4 days from Queenstown, New Zealand to Queenstown, New Zealand
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Day 1 · Queenstown, Clyde, Alexandra, Omakau Clyde to Omakau
Start riding through vineyards and gold-rush towns.
- Hotel
- Guesthouse
-
Day 2 · Poolburn Gorge, Ida Valley, Wedderburn Omakau to Wedderburn
Tunnels, viaducts and the trail's highest point.
- Hotel
- Cottage
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 3 · Ranfurly, Maniototo Plains Wedderburn to Waipiata
Downhill to the Art Deco town.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 4 · Taieri River, Middlemarch, Queenstown Middlemarch
The final ride and the transfer back.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Omakau (1 night) Guesthouse
- Wedderburn (1 night) Cottage
- Waipiata (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 3 nights in a guesthouse, cottage and hotel
- Meals 3 breakfasts
- Transfers between Queenstown and the trail
- Four days' bike hire with panniers
- Daily luggage transfers
- Leader cycling with the group
Not included
- Flights
- Meals not included 2 lunches and 3 dinners
- Lunches and dinners
- Helmet bring your own
- E-bike upgrade, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a challenging ride
- You want most meals included
- You don't cycle
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–4 · Lunch: none included · Dinner: none included
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for New Zealand
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £846 per person, twin share, tour only. 36 upcoming departures.
13 Nov 2026
Twin share
£846pp
27 Nov 2026
Twin share
£931pp
11 Dec 2026
Twin share
£1,045pp
15 Jan 2027
Twin share
£1,050pp
22 Jan 2027
Twin share
£1,015pp
12 Feb 2027
Twin share
£995pp
19 Feb 2027
Twin share
£940pp
26 Feb 2027
Twin share
£910pp
05 Mar 2027
Twin share
£1,130pp
19 Mar 2027
Twin share
£970pp
02 Apr 2027
Twin share
£955pp
24 Sep 2027
Twin share
£970pp
08 Oct 2027
Twin share
£970pp
29 Oct 2027
Twin share
£1,000pp
12 Nov 2027
Twin share
£1,030pp
26 Nov 2027
Twin share
£1,030pp
10 Dec 2027
Twin share
£1,000pp
24 Dec 2027
Twin share
£1,000pp
07 Jan 2028
Twin share
£1,000pp
14 Jan 2028
Twin share
£1,000pp
21 Jan 2028
Twin share
£1,030pp
04 Feb 2028
Twin share
£1,030pp
11 Feb 2028
Twin share
£1,030pp
18 Feb 2028
Twin share
£1,030pp
03 Mar 2028
Twin share
£1,000pp
17 Mar 2028
Twin share
£970pp
07 Apr 2028
Twin share
£970pp
14 Apr 2028
Twin share
£970pp
22 Sep 2028
Twin share
£970pp
06 Oct 2028
Twin share
£1,020pp
27 Oct 2028
Twin share
£1,020pp
10 Nov 2028
Twin share
£1,020pp
24 Nov 2028
Twin share
£1,020pp
08 Dec 2028
Twin share
£1,020pp
22 Dec 2028
Twin share
£1,020pp
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
How hard is the cycling?
Easy, on a gentle former railway, with daily rides of about 23 to 55km.
Is a bike included?
Yes, a front-suspension trail bike with panniers. E-bikes are available at extra cost.
Do I need a helmet?
Yes, helmets are compulsory and you need to bring your own.
Do I need a visa?
UK visitors need an NZeTA to visit New Zealand. Check the latest advice before travel.
Is there a support vehicle?
There's no full-time support vehicle, but luggage is moved between stops each day.
How many people travel together?
Up to 12 travellers, with a leader riding with the group.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary