Cycling the Otago Central Rail Trail

– Top 10 tips before you go –

It was about a year ago (2021) when I first started thinking about cycling the Otago Central Rail Trail. Before that, various friends and family had raved to me about the times they completed it. Finally in late November 2022, I can say I have cycled the Otago Central Rail Trail.  

Below are some tips I recommend considering before venturing off. And if you do find yourself cycling the Otago Central Rail Trail, I hope you find it as rewarding as I did!

If you are in need of being further inspired, check out my video above. I passed through Lake Tekapo on the way there and stopped in Moeraki Boulders afterwards (hence the rather sudden changes in scenery).

Top 10 Tips

1. Convince some friends or family to join you!

I roped four family members into completing the trail with me, and I’m so glad I did. Not only was I probably safer, but being able to share such an incredible experience with those closest to me made it all the more special. While I don’t lead a particularly busy life compared to some, I can still find myself struggling to make time for all my friends and family. Having the chance to spend quality time together away from everyday distractions was possibly just as rewarding as completing the trail itself.

2. Be prepared to budget

Since Otago Central is fairly un-populated compared with other New Zealand regions, It relies on charging tourist prices. This means a higher average cost for accommodation and bought meals. Usually you can expect to pay around $150NZD (~$100USD) per night for a room with a double bed (slightly more if you want a private bathroom and/or kitchen). As for food, most mains cost around $30NZD (~$20USD) for pub-style quality (if eating out). That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed my meals out at the pub.

3. Choose your dates wisely

The weather can make a big difference to the difficulty and enjoyment of the trail. Thankfully I only had to cycle through rain for about 10 minutes of the entire trail. But even then I was glad to have my waterproof trousers to slide on over my leggings. So I recommend grabbing a pair of those and of course bringing a rain jacket. Planning to complete the trail on either end of the peak summer season is probably also best in terms of both weather and accommodation availability. Also be prepared to book up to six months in advance as some of the smaller towns are limited in their accommodation options.

4. Check out the official Otago Central Rail Trail website

Click here to view all the information you need to get ready for the trail. It’s also worth printing off some of their maps as we found it useful to check the distances between towns. The site also provides the predicted trail conditions for the coming week in each of the main towns which is useful when deciding what to wear and bring with you each day.

5. Hire bikes

This very much depends on personal preference, but for someone with little skill in repairing a bike tire puncture, hiring bikes was an obvious choice for me. We went with Trail Journeys which was on the pricier end of bike providers ($60NZD per day), but guaranteed us puncture-resistant tires. They also claimed to be a phone call away and were prepared to pick us up anywhere along the track if any of our bikes malfunctioned or a cycling member couldn’t continue. However, I reckon all of the bike hire providers are about as good as each other. Finally, hiring bikes meant we didn’t have the hassle of transporting our personal bikes down from Christchurch.

6. Support vehicle

This completely depends on your cycling ability and confidence. We had one family member who was happy to just drive and meet us along the track for tea and coffee breaks. If peace of mind is a priority, then I think having a support vehicle is definitely worth considering. Plus it meant free luggage transportation between accommodation sites. It also saved us paying for both secure car parking and transport back to our car when we finished (all bonuses).

7. Pack snack bags

Along with water, another key essential became our small snack packs. These were great in providing a wee energy boost. Everyone in my group made them slightly differently, but mine included filling a small zip-lock bag with bhuja mix, dried fruit, nuts, cookies, and a dark chocolate bar.

8. Bring a headtorch

This was not something I had really considered, but quickly came to realise how important it was when we approached our first tunnel! Since the trail follows the old Otago train line, it leads you over high viaducts and through very dark curving tunnels. On our travels locals told us of cyclists who had broken collarbones while attempting to cycle through the tunnels without a torch. Luckily two other group members had brought torches so we all remained intact!

9. Practice

While the Otago Central Rail Trail is considered a grade 1 (easy) trail, I am still glad I managed to fit in a few day-long practice bike rides beforehand. This gave me practice cycling in different weather conditions and let me test out and decide what gear to take. I would especially recommend practicing if you haven’t cycled in a while. That being said, most people of average fitness could definitely get away with no practice, though they may feel rather stiff after the first few days on the trail.

10. Enjoy it!

This might sound silly, but I think it’s important to emphasise. Some parts of the trail are certainly challenging, especially if you’re battling against a headwind or steadily cycling uphill in the heat of the day. In times like those I would try and remind myself of how incredibly lucky I was to be in such a scenic, isolated part of New Zealand with nothing but rolling green hills surrounding me the open road ahead. And believe me, when you finally reach the downhills every moment of pedaling uphill becomes worth it!