The Otago Central Rail Trail is certainly popular with those on two wheels but it's also considered an interesting walking trail with its own challenges and rewards. As author Heather Kinsey points out in her book's introduction, walking means...

• you will have more time to enjoy the beautiful Central Otago scenery
• no sore bits from spending many hours a day in the saddle
• you will be less affected by the high winds that can sometimes hit the trail
• no need to worry about mechanical failures
• you will be closer to nature
• you will meet more people than if you cycled it, because more people will overtake you
• and the best reason of all, it will give you a chance to switch off from the world for 7 to 10 days and rediscover the beautiful country we are blessed with in New Zealand.

Recommending walkers should spend seven to 10 days on the trail, Heather's book is set out in seven 'one day' segments where she writes about what to expect and based on a comfortable average walking speed of around 4 to 5 kph, how long each segment will take.
And here's one for the books, having cycled the trail twice Heather confesses to prefer walking it saying that next time she will be walking in a different direction to get a new perspective of the scenery.

About the author: Originally from England Heather emigrated to New Zealand in 1997 and moved to Lauder (on the trail) in 2001. Until June 2009 Heather was Corporate Services Manager at the Central Otago District Council. Photographs in the book were taken by Estelle Hunt, Bald Hills Vineyard Marketing Manager.