Te Kinga Aroha (Former) has special significance as a very rare surviving twentieth century hostel which was dedicated to accommodating and supporting young Mori women. A dominant feature at the Clyde end of the trail isNew Zealands third largest hydro-dam, the Clyde Dam. Incorporate time to explore around Cromwell and through the Cromwell Heritage Precinct. At Cromwell Heritage Precinct be sure to park up and explore the boutique galleries, retail stores, restaurants and cafe's. The climate is extreme, like that of Continental Europe, with hot dry summers and freezing winters. There are toilets here. For now to see a full see the link below. Much of the route is only suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles,[1] and the road as a whole is closed in winter months. There were few smiles on the faces of the 1991 cavalcaders as we cocked our akubra hats to the southerly blast and picked our way up the Rock and Pillar on our first day on the trail. Sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date with what's happening in Central Otago, Website crafted by The trail follows the road uphill past the dam and turns left off the road to descend down to the Clutha Matau-Au Riverside track and Clyde Bridge. There is a total of 580m climbing between Cromwell and Clyde, with most of the ascents gentle but steady. The Upper Tairei River is just around the corner, behind that sign. Carry straight on and youll reach Highway 87 a few kilometres north of Mosgiel. From Clarks Junction, it is 48 km of up and down (but mostly up) to the abandoned Paerau township (called Styx by the locals) where there is an esplanade reserve by the Taieri River. From Cornish Point, the landscape changes dramatically to rocky bluffs as the trail heads into the Cromwell Gorge. Visit the official trail website for more information on riding safely, and check out this great safety video to see whether this trail is right for you. Toward the end, the road passes Lake Poolburn which was another movie site for LOTR. Following the Kawarau arm of Lake Dunstan to the Bannockburn bridge, you will have amazing vistas across the lake to Bannockburn vineyards and the next section of trail which loops back round on the opposite side. At the pub we turn right and thats the start (from the western end) of the Dunstan Trail though a road sign to say it was the Old Dunstan Road would've have been nice. Following the Kawarau arm of Lake Dunstan to the Bannockburn bridge, you will have amazing vistas across the lake to Bannockburn vineyards and the next section of trail which loops back round on the opposite side. The Lake Dunstan Trail is New Zealand's latest Great Ride. Grade 2-3, Cairnmuir Gully to Halfway Hut - 8.4km, Grade 2 - 3, Halfway Hut to Dunstan Arm Rowing Club - 10.7km, Grade 2-3, Dunstan Arm Rowing Club to Clyde Heritage Precinct - 3.5km. Designed to protect the river from a major land slide, which could overwhelm the Clutha Dam, a short distance downriver. A dominant feature at the Clyde end of the trail isNew Zealands third largest hydro-dam, the Clyde Dam. Dunstan Trail Dunedin to Alexandra This trip is a collection of quiet gravel roads, 4WD tracks and old wagon trails pioneered as a bike route by gnarly cycle tourers in the 1970s. dangerousroads.org is not responsible for the information contained in these pages. In wet conditions, parts of the trail are unrideable because of sticky mud. VILNIUS is a cosmopolitan and thoroughly modern city that is relatively compact and easy to get to know, with a variety of inexpensive attractions and a lively nightlife. Please use the above parking locations and park considerately; do not block access to any driveway, boat ramp or trail access point. If you smell coffee as you approach Cairnmuir Gully, you are not mistaken. Along the way there are sections where the land has been reshaped in the search for gold and then again when the lake was formed. Fear not: the expertly designed switchbacks ensure the a reasonably gentle but steady climb. Route finding from here on is relatively easy. Winter cold drove some to suicide.. The Clutha (known then as the Molyneux, after Robert Mollineux, sailing master of the Endeavour) had been unusually low that year, revealing shingle flats that could be panned and sieved for their gleaming booty. Parts of the trail are in remote terrain with some challenging grade 3 sections. Theyre marked on the map as a 4WD track and lead to a derelict house on Linnburn Runs Road, 7 km away. The road loosely follows the trail that was used by gold miners traipsing from Dunedin to Dunstan (now Clyde) in the 1860s. There is a choice of companies to hire from and between them they cover all possible options including childrens bikes and e-bikes. Be sure to book tours, accommodation and other services well in advance for the busy summer season, DecemberApril. The trail crosses farmland and areas of subalpine tussock, passing close to Loganburn Reservoir, formerly the Great Moss Swamp.[1]. Getting to Central Otago is easy with flights into Queenstown and Dunedin. Only averaging ten kilometres an hour by now, Middlemarch went out the window and the aim was to get to Clarks Junction before the pub closed. Several national bike tour companies offer customised tours of popular South Island cycle trails, with Christchurch and Queenstown popular departure points for international visitors. Theres no shame in that, and youll increase your chances of spotting the pick-axe stuck in the rock wall. Its 46 km long. It wends its way alongside Lake Dunstan from Smiths Way via Pisa Moorings to Cromwell. A dramatic entry was planned at Cromwell, with hundreds of onlookers turning out for the opening of the resited and restored buildings in Old Cromwell, the historical precinct built by residents when the towns main road fell to the Clyde Dam development. The road was part of the original route called the Mountain Road taken by hardy people seeking their goldrush fortunes in the early 1860s, to travel from Dunedin to the goldfields in Central Otago. Can be ridden in both directions. Crowding in for a not-really-a-summit selfie, and trying to get the bikes in too. Finally, I got to try out the bivy bag Id been carrying for this trip it rained all night. It was designed to protect the river from a major land slide, which could overwhelm the Clyde Dam, a short distance downstream. Supplies were slow following. Smaller local shuttle operators service smaller destinations and tailor trips to visitors needs; many also offer transfers to and from Queenstown. To understand what to expect, to help you choose the right section of trail for your ability, and how to prepare for your ride, click here. The aptly named Cairnmuir Ladder, may look daunting but the switchbacks have been designed to a maximum of 6 degree gradient with a 3m minimum radius. Close to Halfway Hut you will find a short switch back section with tight corners and a good climb / descent. The road, also known as The Dunstan Trail, ranges from a sealed road to a graveled track. The climb was steady and it took us about two hours before the reservoir was revealed. Old Dunstan Road starts from Clarks junction, around an hour from Dunedin on the way to Middlemarch. We want your experiences too! The Lake Dunstan Track is a 55km (34mi) cycle trail that runs between Cromwell and Clyde in Central Otago. Sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date with what's happening in Central Otago, Website crafted by The Lake Dunstan Trail links the townships of Clyde and Cromwell. A satisfying ride can be had from the Clyde. An easy start on the Rail Trail ended after half an hour and we began climbing over the Raggedy Range (mentioned mostly because I like the name). At Trail Hub youll find stories, news, itineraries and tips to help you discover trails and towns from Queenstown to Dunedin and throughout Central Otago and Clutha. Dotted around it were a variety of small huts, all permanent-enough looking but none of which youd go so far to call a house, or even a bach. Dropping to Deep Stream, there was but one more ten percent climb left this time on the seal. Along the way you will marvel at the man-made landscapes, rich Maori and early pioneer history, and vineyards as you travel along the Lake Dunstan Trail. These tunnels are also used to mitigate against landslips into the Clutha River. Dogs are not permitted between Cornish Point and Dunstan Arm Rowing Club. Cross the bridge to reach Clyde. A hundred and thirty years ago, punters could travel the Dunstan Road by five-horse coach, and stop at one of a number of stores, accommodation houses, and sly grog outlets which sprang up along the route. On this section, there are plenty of picnic spots to stop at and enjoy the lakeside. In winter, multiple layers and gloves are recommended, even if the skies look reassuringly blue. The road was created during the Central Otago Gold Rush of the 1860s. Cromwell Heritage PrecinctBannockburn wineries (return), 16km or more, Grade 2/easyintermediate, 1.53 hours or more. Be open to new ideas, open to exploring the possibilities and appreciate the strengths and talents each person brings. In wet conditions, parts of the trail are unridable because of sticky mud. We really enjoyed reading your blog. What are the benefits of being included on the List? We made it! The ultimate Lake Dunstan Trail experience is the full, one-way journey from Cromwell to Clyde (41km) using local shuttles to transfer bikes and riders. This would be the last time that such a trek could use the historic Fruitgrowers Road on the west side of the Clutha River, opposite the new highway. The Lake Dunstan Trail extends and complements the well-established Great Rides in Central Otago and the Southern Lakes, and provides a key link with the Otago Central Rail Trail and the Roxburgh Gorge Trail, both of which are part of Nga Haerenga - New Zealand Cycle Trails. Check out this great safety video to see whether this trail is right for you. The territory was trackless and the climate murderous. Five Must Do Foodies Experiences in Central Otago, Smiths Way to Cromwell Heritage Precinct - 16km, Grade 1, Cromwell Heritage Precinct to Bannockburn Inlet - 7km, Grade 2, Bannockburn Inlet to Cairnmuir Gully - 11.3km. We saw signs posted that further resurrection was prohibited. Its a hard 71-km day from Paerau to Alexandra with a lot of uphill and heaps of downhill. This New Zealand road or road transport-related article is a stub. For current trail status and any alerts such as temporary track closures and detours check the trail website. With the wind at our backs and views like this, it was rather pleasant. Cromwell and Clyde are the obvious bases for a Lake Dunstan ride. The historic town of Clyde marks the southern end of the Lake Dunstan Trail and the western end of the Otago Central Rail Trail. There is no shelter from the weather, which can change quickly, and it is bitterly cold in a southerly. 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The trail is mostly grade 2 (easy) with some gentle hill climbs and tricky bits that push it to grade 3 (intermediate). Subscribe to our free newsletter for news and prizes. This trail is very well served by numerous local companies offering everything from bike hire to fully packaged guided tours. Five Must Do Foodies Experiences in Central Otago, Smiths Way to Cromwell Heritage Precinct - 16km, Grade 1, Cromwell Heritage Precinct to Bannockburn Inlet - 7km, Grade 2, Bannockburn Inlet to Cairnmuir Gully - 11.3km. Food and water are readily available in Cromwell and Clyde. With Adele arriving late after work Friday night and her bike still needing to be loaded that night, I was happy with a six-thirty start on a lightly overcast day. The trail then shares a 4WD track closer to lake level before reaching a section of trail that was the toughest to build and virtually all hand made. A more unknown part of New Zealand, but this trail is putting Cromwell on the map. Vilnius Altstadt 1775-1799 1923. The trail offers cyclists and walkers a challenging 55km ride (Grade 2-3) through unique and fascinating landscapes so characteristic of Central Otago as itjourneys along Lake Dunstan, the Kawarau River and the mighty Clutha River Mata-au. Queenstown airport is 45 minutes drive from Cromwell, and an hour to Clyde. Wellington 6011 Oddly, for Central Otago, we rarely spotted rabbits; they must have felt vibrations from the horses hooves well in advance of our arrival. This video showcases the Lake Dunstan Trail from Smiths Way to the Cromwell Heritage Precinct is now open. The Cashmere Sanatorium Open Air Shelter is a rare surviving open-air patient shelter that provides a poignant insight into the early 20th century response to the global disease of tuberculosis. Started construction 1977. 11.3km, Grade 23/easyintermediate, 11.5 hours. Other nearby towns with cycling trails on tap include Alexandra, Wnaka and Queenstown. As you go, look out for the drainage tunnels dotted along the length of the gorge. A Guide to Cycle Safety on the Lake Dunstan Trail | Central Otago Good Cycle Etiquette and Safety on the Lake Dunstan Trail Preparing to ride the Lake Dunstan Trail - cycle safety and trail etiquette. The trails highest point is marked by the trig point, 324m above sea level and 130m above the lake. It is rutted in places, slippery when wet, dusty when dry and can be closed in winter by snow and ice. Constructed between 1977 and 1992 as one of the then prime minsters Think Big projects, the 100m-high, 490m-wide concrete structure is New Zealands third-largest hydro-dam. A journey by horse along the old Dunstan Trail. Beyond the settlement of Pisa Moorings the trail crosses the 45th Parallel on its way to Lowburn where there are toilets and a car park. Do the right thing by our region and check what legal requirements need to be met before you get started. There is plenty of accommodation in Cromwell, Clyde and Alexandra, all of which make great bases for Central Otago cycling adventures. The Hugo suspension bridge is in the middle of this section with a walkable steep land option for those uncomfortable on the bridge. Other highways, such as the Southern Scenic Route, offer further exploration of the deep south. Keep up to date with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Take the time to listen and understand other peoples opinions and cultural differences. The trail is well constructed albeit narrow in places making 2 way passing tricky. Historic buildings -dating back to the gold rush of the 1860s were saved or lovingly rebuilt on this higher ground. Are places listed on the List protected from being demolished or altered? with. Old Dunstan Road is a 4x4 track located in the Otago Region in the South Island of New Zealand. In fact, there were three ways prospectors could get to the Dunstan. Some great climbing and wide open views, with very interesting geology and flora to boot. It was clamped to my head with the wet, perhaps frozen there. The first power was generated in 1992. As we eased our aches in imagined hot baths, the stories grew tall, but even the most experienced musterers from the area agreed that our storm had been one of the roughest and riskiest they had encountered. Vilnius. Hartley and Reilly had lost their gold pan, and used bare hands and a broken shovel. From there it's mainly plain sailing to the Dunstan Arm Rowing Club, except for some short, tricky, grade 3 riding around Jackson and Byford Creeks, and Annan Gully. The presbytery was relocated in six sections to a rural site, where it was reassembled and continues as a comfortable residence. Grade 1. Those who followed were scarcely better prepared; some perished in the harsh landscape, many returned to Dunedin emptyhanded and disillusioned, a few became wealthy overnight. Find out what to expect in this short video. (Clive pic.) The Cairnmuir slide is an unique feature on the slopes above the Clutha River. To gold-hungry prospectors time was precious, and most preferred to take their chances with the unpredictable weather and desolate, unstable countryside offered by the Mountain Track. Inthe morning all that was leftwas to award prizes for Sorest Bum, Greenest Trailrider, Most Difficult Horse to Catch, plus others, and to take our leave of our fellow riders. Somehow departing from the trail-proper for the last little bit, that didnt matter we ended up on the correct road and then had to look for the next turn off the road. The newest Great Ride in Central Otago and the Southern Lakes, this specially built trail provides a vital link to the Otago Central Rail Trail, Roxburgh Gorge and Clutha Gold Trail. Unlimited access to every NZGeo story ever written and hundreds of hours of natural history documentaries on all your devices. From raging rivers, goldminers Hartley and Reilly, the Cairnmuir Slide, a unique climate and much more the area has many of its own stories to tell which you will learn about along the way. It's free, works offline and has heaps of useful information, including trail descriptions and photos, trail services, food and accommodation. Ng Manawhenua o Aotearoa me na Krero Tturu | National Historic Landmarks tell the stories of who we are as New Zealanders. Grade 2-3, Cairnmuir Gully to Halfway Hut - 8.4km, Grade 2 - 3, Halfway Hut to Dunstan Arm Rowing Club - 10.7km, Grade 2-3, Dunstan Arm Rowing Club to Clyde Heritage Precinct - 3.5km. The difficulty by wet condition is that the rain fill up the road and it is possible that the water level is front wheel depth. Wellington 6142 Level 3, 4 Bond St We neednt go up onto the Rock and Pillars, rather complete the trail to the highway and ride to Middlemarch for dinner and sleep. Erected in a busy pedestrian route in central Auckland in 1993 to commemorate the centenary of womens suffrage in New Zealand. Riders should be capable of riding the full distance, and be confident biking off-road on grade 3 (intermediate) trails. First stop was just south of Moa Creek to check the map and to take a photo of some sheep and off down Webster Lane we go until we see the pub. The road was part of the original route called the Mountain Road taken by hardy people seeking their gold rush fortunes in the early 1860s, to travel from Dunedin to the goldfields in Central Otago. This was made keeping in mind that the weather was due to pack it in that night, but there were contingencies. After Cromwell, known as Clutha River. Please check weather forecast before using the trail. The Dunstan Trail, also known as the Old Dunstan Road, is a historic route in Otago, New Zealand. From the Smiths Way car park off SH6, the road through to Wnaka, this easy trail meanders along the edge of Dunstan to Cromwell. There are plenty of picnic spots to stop at and enjoy the lakeside. a smile on the face of the wagoner. The views over the Lake Dunstan and surrounding mountains is simply stunning. The official start of the route is a hill named Stalo kalnas in the centre of Vilnius, but you can start the route from any point or cover it in separate sections. Also, writing this Im still most keen to have a go at my original plan. TimeZoneOne This is part of the Old Dunstan trail from the Styx Basin. This trail is generally smooth and mostly wide, however, there are some narrow sections with steep drop-offs that require extra care. Grade 3+ Time 24 days Distance 170 km, Track conditions 35% sealed road, 45% gravel road, 20% 4WD track. While this isn't officially part of the Great Ride, it does make an excellent short ride. There was little fuel to warm them, no food to sustain them. By which I mean about ten or twenty cars basically rush hour. Old Dunstan Road. The climbing began again at that cattle stop. This section follows the sealed road in places, and shares the Clyde road bridge before climbing up towards the Clyde Heritage Precinct. with. Getting out the gully requires the trails biggest climb 130 vertical metres up the aptly named Cairnmuir Ladder. As it continues toward Cornish Point it passes by vineyards and olive groves - with views back across to Cromwell and the Heritage Precinct. This section of the Lake Dunstan Trail is a popular day ride or walk to / from Cromwell. Lake Dunstan Trail Map Lake Dunstan Trail Sections Smith's Way to Cromwell Heritage Precinct: 16.4km Cromwell Heritage Precinct to Bannockburn Bridge - 6km Bannockburn Bridge to Cornish Point - 7.3km Cornish Point to Clyde - 25km (now open) Trip reviews Videos Essential information Videos
