Central Otago has one of the most distinctive climates in New Zealand. Summer temperatures are among the hottest, while winters are definitely the coldest.
Ophir
You can get very hot in Ophir, and very, very cold in winter (one of New Zealand’s coldest temperature here was -21°C) – but nobody minds too much, because this tin…
St Bathans
Only a handful of people live here now, but this former gold mining town was once home to 2000 people.
Naseby
An easy detour off State Highway 85, historic Naseby is known for great ice skating, heritage hotels and hiking around the old goldfields.
Hyde
North side of Hyde you have the scenic Upper Taieri Gorge to look forward to, on the other side, it is a gentle downhill ride to Middlemarch.
Macraes
The historic Macraes Flat goldmining town is well worth the detour.
Middlemarch
The Trail ends (or starts) in Middlemarch beside the roadside gates, north of the railway station.
Dunedin
Dunedin, a Trail Partner of the Otago Central Rail Trail, is a beautiful University town on the east coast and a special place to start or end your Rail Trail advent…
Cromwell
Located deep in the heart of Central Otago in the valley of Upper Clutha and situated on the Shores of Lake Dunstan, Cromwell is a special place not to be missed.
Wanaka
Wanaka is a popular ski and summer resort town in the Otago Region of the South Island of New Zealand. At the southern end of Lake Wanaka, it is at the start of the …
Queenstown
The "adventure capital of the world" - Queenstown on the shores of Lake Wakatipu is also surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery.