Otago Central Rail Trail - Day 1

Otago Central Rail Trail

The Clyde Rail Head is only but metres from our property in Clyde and ever since the trail has been open we have promised ourselves to do at least some of it. We have, over several occasions biked the section to Alexandra but never any further.  So when we finished our contract at the Camping Ground off we set.

We decided that we would take the bus to use our accommodation, and relocate the car along the trail as needed.  Our visit stop was Omakau and we set up camp beside the river, just over the bridge. That evening we did a warm up ride around the Ophir-Omakau loop which is just a mere 6km.

The original Post Office at Ophir which now comes under the NZ Historic Trust ownership.

The 1880 Daniel O’Connell suspension bridge with its stone piers crosses the Manuherikia River at Ophir.

 
We got ourselves well organised in good time the next morning and drove to Hayes Engineering at Oturehua. This is another Historic Trust site and there is also camping for here for NZ Motorhome Association members. We left the car and set off on our bikes the 30km to Omakau.
This is an excellent ride. The section through the Poolburn Gorge is particularly interesting with its tunnels, the remains of a workmen's camp site and the opportunity to see our threatened New Zealand falcon/kārearea. We briefly saw 2-3 of these birds flying/swooping in the distance and heard their distinctive “kekking” call.  

About to start at Oturehua

Ida Burn Dam

The Poolburn viaduct.

Tunnel entrance

Looking towards one of the tunnel entrances.

Below are photos of the remains of the 'living along the line.'

We stopped for some lunch at Lauder before heading along the trail and back to Omakau by just after 1pm.  After a rest and a cuppa we relocated the bus to the Hayes Engineering site where we camped for the night.