Day 13 - Chatto Creek to Queenstown

Chatto Creek to Clyde winery tour then on to Queenstown. 

So lucky with the weather. It rained last night but a beautiful clear, sunny, hot day.
Fantastic section of rail trail. All down hill to Alexandra then we took the river path which is a fantastic 16 km roller coaster ride around single track paths right next to the Clutha river under beautiful shade trees. Photos below.  Lovely way to end the trip.

Trip to some wineries and saw some people enjoying the shotover river along the way.

Arrived in Queenstown early so we booked dinner at the Skyline restaurant accessed by gondola. Fantastic views and we got a window seat. Extensive buffet including roasts of venison. This is the view of the Remarkables from our table.

Staying at:
Mantra Marina Queenstown.

Day 12 - Rail Trail: Auripo to Chatto Creek

Auripo to Chatto Creek 32 km. 

Poolburn Viaduct a huge bridge supported by schist columns from local stone and cut on site by stone masons who lived in camps nearby.  The men making the tunnels also lived in the camps. The remaining chimneys which they attached a tent to still remain today. 

Lovely down hill ride to a fantastic pub run by another one of those enterprising women along the rail.  This time Leslie Middlemass was up late to provide dinner and up early to serve us breakfast.  Filling us in on her history and that of the Tavern was part of the charm of the place. 

Chatto Creek Tavern. 

Day 11- Rail Trail: Ranfury to Auripo

Ranfurly to Auripo 37 km.

Wedderburn is 13.5 km from Ranfury and a superb little town.  It is also only a few km from the highest point in the track which means down hill all the rest of the way from here!

We crossed the 45th Parallel twice.  This is the midpoint between the equator and the south pole.  We also visited the Gilchrist's Store, built in 1899, is the oldest continuously operating general store. Had lunch at Ida's Kitchen at Oturehua, exceptionally good food and service.

Taradale Homestead, Auripo for some of our group but we stayed at the Lauderburn Cottage at Lauder.  The town needed a doctor, he requested a house so the town built him one in 1923.  Superb place to stay.

Day 10 - Rail Trail: Hyde to Ranfurly

Otago Rail Trail. Hyde to Ranfurly - 32.5km.

2 tunnels and lots of bridges.

Tunnels are very long, requiring torches and one curved in the middle which was a fun experience to ride through!

Plenty of picnic spots next to the river and amazing views of plentiful trout in the Taieri river.  Beautiful weather.  The track is still up hill as it has been from the beginning.

All this activity resulted in a tiny amount of overnight rain but it was clear again the next day.  Either we were very lucky with the weather or Otago’s weather is perfect for outdoor activities.   

Holiday Park Ranfurly.

Day 9 - Rail Trail: Middlemarch to Hyde

Middlemarch to Hyde 34.5 km.

Very pretty trail across lots of bridges which have a timber boarding over the original cast iron rail bridge.

This is the memorial to 21 people who died in a crash on the rail line in 1943 caused when the train got out of control at 120km/hr.

Dinner and stayed at the Otago Central Hotel at Hyde.
The amazing thing about the rail trail is the amazing number of women who run the accomodation and eateries along the way.  Ngaire who moved back into the area and bought and renovated the Otago Central Hotel is one of the main forces behind the towns revival since the rail trail began.
Lovely place to eat and stay with the staff and owner adding a special something to the experience.

Day 8 - Dunedin to Pukerangi

Taking the train through the Taieri Gorge from Dunedin to Pukerangi. 

Dunedin Railway Station.
Spectacular marble and granite railway station kept in immaculate condition.  Fantastic start to the train journey through the Taieri Gorge.  It is a special journey with the crew telling humourous stories about the history of the track along the way.  

This is one of the bridges along the way cut into the rock along the side of the precipitous slopes of the rocky gorge.

We got off the train at Pukerangi where our kind bike hire man decided, as it was very windy, to drive us (well most of us, anyway, yes two of the hardy guys, desperate to get on their bikes rode from Pukerangi) to the top of the hill (12 km of uphill grind) and from there we rode the bike to Middlemarch - 21 km for some, 7 km for others.  

We stayed at The Rocks, Middlemarch. 

This gorgeous farm house is part of the 7,000 acre property where they still have some of the original schist fence posts.  Schist is a metamorphic rock that splits somewhat like slate.

Day 7 - Dunedin

We visited the Christchurch Botanic Gardens in Hagley Park.  Spectacular.  Walked along the Avon River - one of the highlights of Christchurch in my opinion. 

Picked up friends from Christchurch airport and drove to Dunedin. 

Fresh fruit icecream along the way and a very nice dinner at the Oamaru Workers Club which was one of the few places open on New Year's Day.  We have found very nice people everywhere along the way in New Zealand so far. 

Stayed at the Mecure Leisure Lodge, Dunedin. Exceptionally nice place.  A pity if was such a short visit.