The Otago Central Rail Trail 1

I heard about the Trail from a TV programme called Off the Rails which charted the journey of a New Zealand broadcaster around the many miles of used and disused NZ railway. The track looked so good I made my way down here to try it! The journey started in fruity Cromwell where I booked my hire bike and sundry transport. I stayed two nights and hit lucky when a Kiwi holidaymaker gave me a ride around lake Dunstan on his motor boat. The lake is beautiful. For those interested it is a man-made lake, caused by the building of the Clyde Dam. Historic Cromwell is now submerged beneath the lake (including the road bridge which originally towered many metres above the river here).

Day One - Clyde to Oturehua

Nine hours riding and 70km complete! It was at least 37 degrees in the shade today and I really suffered in the afternoon. The scenery is breathtaking, with high dry mountainous landscape with snowy peaks in the background. Gorges through the limestone country are crossed on wooden and iron bridges, some dating back to the turn of the last century. Two long tunnels made by blasting and brick work look fantastic and create an amazing atmosphere on the trail. Isolated farmsteads make the only human entrance on the rail trail, else it is desolate and solitary. I saw only three other riders all day.
I had to grit my teeth a few times as the legs burned and the brow sweated but I felt a great achievement in arriving at Oturehua, I had done the majority of the uphill section in just one day. The wonderful people at Chatto Creek and Oturehua who looked after me are to be congratulated on their excellent hospitality, and cooking! Also the ladies at Cromwell Information Centre who helped organise this trip are real angels. Thanks!