Otago Central Rail Trail

Our trail passport & passport boxes have had a makeover... There's still great info in the passports about the former railway station sites & we've replaced stamping with a set of stickers to match for each station site. Proceeds from passport sales are really important to our trail to support ongoing development. You can purchase trail passports from all good Operators along the trail, i-sites (Ranfurly & Alexandra) & the Alexandra DOC office. $12.50 per passport gives you a treasured momento of your trip along the trail. Passport box doors have been removed & and a historical image is displayed inside. You can checkout the story at each site, and / scan to donate to the Trust which exists to develop the trail to help provide a great experience for rail trailers. image: A new trail passport box at the Clyde Railhead and the new stickers to match and attach at each station. image credit: Clare Toia-Bailey #otagocentralraitlrail #nzoriginalgreatride

Here's a taste of some of the delicious dishes on offer by some of our trail supporters that have entered dishes in the Eat Taste Central regional menu. It's your opportunity to add to your cycle trip & enjoy the flavours of Central and support our local businesses this month. You can vote People's Choice awards or see the full menu at www.eattastecentral.co.nz or pick one up from venues around the region. #eattastecentral #centralotagonz

We always recommend no matter what time of year you choose to explore the trail to pack for all conditions. This was taken yesterday by a railtrailer - we had snow to ground level at Wedderburn & other parts of the trail. It can be a stunning sight but best experienced with layers of merino! 📸 mumwhoquilts via instagram #otagocentralrailtrail #nzoriginalgreatride

A few more photos from the official reopening of Lauder Station in the weekend. Great to see the Trust Chairwoman, Kate Wilson participating and also the new trail interpretation panels on the station walls. Full story in the odt article posted earlier image credit: Museograph #otagocentralrailtrail #nzoriginalgreatride

Congrats the tiny community of Lauder for the huge achievement of restoring the old railway station! Ka pai 👏🙌

Sandra Holliday has been discovering the rail trail over three days with a friend this week. Some images from highlights of their last day on the trail exploring Daisybank, Hyde Station (& wagons), Tirioiti & Middlemarch. Thanks for tagging us, we love seeing rail trailer images :) #otagocentralrailtrail #nzoriginalgreatride

Thanks to the work of the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust and a local business there is now access to potable water for public/rail trailer use in Hyde (it's located near the trail and opposite the Hyde Hotel). Note it is not available for use in winter. More about Hyde here: https://www.otagocentralrailtrail.co.nz/explore/trail-places/hyde/

Have you visited the Golden Progress Mine? It's a historical mining site a couple of km's from Oturehua that once employed 25 miners working on shifts. Explore it from Nov - August outside lambing: 📸 Tim Hawkins https://www.otagocentralrailtrail.co.nz/explore/things-to-do-in-central-otago/historic-sites/golden-progress-mine/

Oturehua - (Pronounced: Or-to-ree-who-a)) meaning "Place where the summer stands still" and boasting a great old country pub – lots of communities still do. But no other place in New Zealand has a museum quite like Hayes Engineering Works and Homestead, as well as an old store like Gilchrists. https://www.otagocentralrailtrail.co.nz/explore/trail-places/oturehua/

Waipiata pronounced (why-pee-ahh-ta) meaning clear water” owes its beginings to the railway - then rabbits & tuberculosis... https://www.otagocentralrailtrail.co.nz/explore/trail-places/waipiata/

To celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, we share the meaning and pronunciation of some of the places along the trail. Kokonga - (kow-kow-nah) meaning 'bend' or 'corner'. From volcano to vanished lake, its now farmland and a peaceful riverside that is just right for a rest. About Kokonga https://www.otagocentralrailtrail.co.nz/explore/trail-places/kokonga/ image: Rail Trailers cycle near Kokonga between Daisybank & Hyde Credit: Clare Toia-Bailey