South Island ▷ Central Otago ▷
Land Activities
The Rail Trail is the Real Deal
The Otago Central Rail Trail is Central Otago's standout land activity, full stop. It's a multi-day ride along an old rail line through the heart of this wide-open country, never too steep, always scenic, and easy to break into sections if you don't want the full three or four days. Plenty of operators out of Cromwell and Middlemarch can sort you with bikes and shuttles, and the promo code RANKERS saves you 10% on cycling through NZ Bike Trails if you're booking that way.
Don't Skip the Detour Country
Once you're out on SH85 and 87, the land activities get a bit more off the wall. Curling in Naesby is one of those things that sounds odd until you're doing it, and then you're completely sold. Low key, all ages, genuinely good fun. And right next door to the Vulcan Hotel in St Bathans, the Blue Lake walk is a 45-minute loop through old gold mining country that's worth every minute, or just head straight to the lake for a swim.
The Bannockburn Sluicings Track and the Clutha River Track between Alexandra and Clyde are both solid walks if you want to stretch your legs without committing to anything epic. The sluicings in particular feel like walking through a weird moon landscape left behind by gold miners, all scarred cliffs and mini buttes. Good stuff.
Land Activities in Central Otago
28 items with the highest ranking score first, showing page 1 of 2.
Walking
Cycling
Hiking Tours
Camping NZ App
All the great camping sites on your iPhone™, iPad™ or Android™ phone or tablet. Avoid camping penalties using this council approved app. Featuring offline maps.
Kānuka Track
Bendigo
Quartz Reef Point walk
Lake Dunstan
Come in Time Battery
Bendigo
Hunting
Horse Trekking
4WD Adventures