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It’s All About Clutha18th – 23rd March 2027
Day One: 18th March - Fly to Dunedin and once we get our rental van we will drive to Waihola to meet our bike hire operator. In the afternoon we will cycle the first 33km of the trail to Mt Stuart Reserve. Dave will transport group in van to lodge, bikes will be transported to lodge separately.
This section includes 1.6km of boardwalk traversing lakeside wetlands and the shores of Lake Waihola – nature, history and wildlife to begin with; how good it that?
Night Stay – Mata-Au Lodge - Luxury en-suite rooms and large spa with amazing river views, will be a very welcome arrival.
Day Two: 19th March - Cycling the 48km section of easy grade 1 & 2 with lunch at Lawrence
15km Mt Stuart Reserve – Waitahuna – We will be transported back to Mt Stuart Reserve - morning tea option coffee cart at the historic Waitiahuna Railway Station.
The trail in this section is gently undulating and partially follows the old railway corridor through rail cuttings and includes 2 tunnels and a viaduct. You will also cross the main road several times and some short sections where the trail shares public gravel roads.
14km Waitahuna – Lawrence (time 1.5 hours) – lunch
The section between Waitihuna and Lawrence is mainly rolling farmland
19km Lawrence to Beaumont (time 2.5-3 hours)
On the outskirts of Lawrence, the trail passes an historic camp where up to 120 Chinese miners lived in the 1860s. There is more evidence of the town’s heyday, which once had a population of 11,500.
Lush farmland surrounds the route, which once again crosses the highway several times on its way through Evans Flat with its bygone vibe of early gold mining, flax milling and pioneer sheep farming
Our day will be well rewarded with our second night at the Mata-Au Lodge.
Day Three: 20th March Cycling the 54km section Beaumont to Roxburgh Dam Village
25km Beaumont to Millers Flat (time 1-1.5 hours)
In the first section it’s well worth taking a couple of short detours signposted off the trail. One is the Lonely Graves – humble testament to the kindness of strangers and other is Horseshoe Bend Bridge, an impressive pedestrian suspension bridge built in 1913.
You will cycle the Beaumont Gorge on a mix of quiet roads and railway spliced together with a custom-built cycle path. Millers Flat started life as a stop on the branch railway line to Dunedin, closed in 1968.
20km Millers Flat to Roxburgh (time 2 hours)
First you cut across pastoral farmland. There are new scenes around every bend as the trail meanders along the river edge, strange rock forms protruding from the riverbanks and hillsides to elegant stands of willow and regenerating Kanuka.
9km Roxburgh to Roxburgh Dam Township (time 1 hour)
The Dam is NZ’s biggest gravity fed dam. We will say goodbye to our new 2 wheeled friend and travel to Alexandra for a 3-night stay at Avenue Motel.
Day Four: 21st March, Heritage Jetboat trip on Clutha River with Clutha River Cruises
The Heritage trip offers a rare opportunity to explore the remote reaches of the Clutha/Mata-Au River and discover some of New Zealand’s best-preserved European and Chinese gold-mining sites. A truly memorable day
• Discover the most isolated, scenic and historic sections of this amazing river
• Enjoy full commentary on Central Otago’s Gold Rush history
• Visit the historic Doctor’s Point Gold Mine (1860s)
• See some of Central Otago’s best-preserved Chinese and European miners’ huts and rock shelters
• Excellent photo opportunities throughout the trip
Day Five: 22nd March Dunstan Trail – see information below. If this is not for you enjoy a day relaxing in Alexandra. Bike rental price will be deducted from your price. OR get a bike (already part of package) and do part of the Otago Rail Trail instead, options for one day rides.
After a day off the bikes, you have the ‘option’ for this full day cycling adventure.
We will meet up with our Clyde Bike Rental company who will transport us to Cromwell for us to bike back to Clyde.
The Lake Dunstan Trail is a premier 55km (approx. 4-5 hours) cycling Great Ride connecting Cromwell and Clyde. It features dramatic gorge scenery, engineered boardwalks, suspension bridges, vineyards, and a unique floating coffee boat. The trail is generally considered an intermediate grade with some narrow, challenging sections and is ideal for e-bikes.
• Location: Runs between Cromwell (often starting at Smith's Way or the Heritage Precinct) and the Clyde Dam.
• Terrain & Difficulty: Grade 2-3 (Easy to Intermediate). Includes narrow, exposed, and rocky sections in the Cromwell Gorge.
• Length: Approximately 55km total (41km-55km depending on starting point).
• Highlights:
o Coffee Afloat/Burger Afloat: A unique cafe/burger bar located in Cairnmuir Gully, accessible only by boat, bike, or foot.
o Engineering: Features spectacular cantilevered bridges and cliff-edge trails.
o Vineyards: Passes through the Bannockburn wine area.
o Scenery: Offers panoramic views of the turquoise Lake Dunstan and surrounding arid landscape.
• Best Direction: Generally recommended to ride from Cromwell to Clyde to have the wind behind you, although it can be ridden in both directions.
• Preparation: As it is a remote trail, cyclists should be self-sufficient, though popular and well-patrolled. E-bikes are highly recommended due to some steep climbs.
Day Six: 23rd March, Return Home, we will travel from Alexandra to Dunedin Airport for our return flights – flights times to be advised
Price yet to be 100% confirmed will be approximately $3490.00pp for flights, 5 nights’ accommodation with breakfast, all bike hire and transport of bikes, jetboat trip, 3 Dinners, Clutha Gold Cycle Pass, refreshments and of course van transport and support throughout.
Does not include – 2 Dinners and all lunches
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