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Central Otago Rail Trail New Zealand

Easy Cycling, a Curling Rink and Attractions in NZ's South Island

Sep 4, 2009 Claudia Perry

The Central Otago Rail Trail is one of the most popular destinations on New Zealand's south island. You can curl in Naseby, kayak in Karitane and see penguins in Oamaru.

The trail provides some easy cycling and hiking. Trains can’t climb steep grades so the hills are easily negotiated. There are some stretches through dark tunnels (a flashlight or headlamp might be helpful) but the riding shows you a part of New Zealand that is as spectacular as the usual South Island postcard views of Christchurch and Queenstown.

Companies such as Adventure South offer guided tours of the rail trail. The costs includes guides, sag wagon, some meals, inn and home stay accommodations plus side trips that many visitors to the area don’t get to see. If there’s a “Lord of the Rings” fan in your party, a trip to Poolburn Dam is recommended. The place was transformed into Rohan for the film. It's a also a great fishing spot. As trail use increases, more bike rental groups, restaurants, lodging and other attractions are available along the trail.

Ice, Railways and Boats

Not far from the Waipiata stop on the rail trail is the town of Naseby. Among Naseby’s claims to fame is having the only curling rink, Manioto Curling International, in the Southern Hemisphere. Visitors are welcome, but bring some fleece since it’s a lot colder than the spring temperatures outside. With a quick explanation of sweeping and shooting, curling is easy to grasp and more fun than it looks during Olympic telecasts.

At trail’s end in Middlemarch, you can take the scenic Taieri Gorge Railway to Dunedin. From Dunedin, it’s a short ride down the East coast to Karitane, where you can rent kayaks and take a spin on the ocean if the winds don’t blow the boat back into port. There’s a friendly seal hanging out at the kayak put-in who likes to be fed. He also waits for fishing boats to come in case the fishermen drop some of their catch while unloading.

Penguins in Oamaru

Some visitors choose to loop back to Christchurch from Dunedin. If so, a stop in Oamaru is a must. The small town’s main attraction is its blue penguin colony, which is protected from predators and studied by wildlife experts. The town has built a small amphitheater close to the beach that the penguins use to come back from hunting for food in the ocean. Each evening, a guide explains the return trip and visitors can watch the birds come up the beach and go to their colony across an unused road. Silence is enforced so the birds don’t get spooked.

The varied attractions in and around New Zealand’s Otago Rail Trail make it a fascinating destination for people with varied interests.

The copyright of the article Central Otago Rail Trail New Zealand in Aus/NZ/Oceania Travel is owned by Claudia Perry. Permission to republish Central Otago Rail Trail New Zealand in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.