Trail Journeys Blog

In the Media: Trail Journeys

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 07:31:24 GMT

New Zealand's 'Vanished World' of Ancient Megafauna

Tracey Croke | BBC | April 2025

New Zealand’s Alps to Ocean trail is a ride through deep time and dramatic terrain. Traverse fossil-strewn valleys, ancient seabeds, and landscapes once home to colossal penguins and predator eagles. Read More

Discovering Otago's Bike Trail: A Journey of Adventure and Unforgettable Experiences

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 02:43:12 GMT

Review: Tara bikes the Otago Central Rail Trail

Our team really appreciates receiving beautifully written reviews from our travellers. So it was no surprise that we were delighted to read about Tara's recent biking holiday in New Zealand. Read on and follow Tara's journey as she experiences the iconic Otago Rail Trail for the first time. She had the chance to try out one of our new e-bikes on her self-guided cycling experience allowing Tara and her cycling partner to take breaks and soak up the scenery along the way.

Over to you, Tara.

In pursuit of an active, purposeful holiday teeming with both planned itineraries and an essence of spontaneity, I found myself drawn to the Otago bike trail, about an hour's drive from Queenstown. What began as the transformation of a rail trail into a dedicated bike route turned into a captivating expedition, blending adventure with exploration in the mesmerizing landscapes of New Zealand.

The allure of cycling through breathtaking countryside without the worry of encountering cars made this journey truly unique. The trail unveiled a tapestry of experiences, each stop presenting a different facet of scenic marvels and historical remnants.

The journey commenced in Clyde, a picturesque town that set the stage for the adventure ahead. From the cozy accommodations to the welcoming pub and cafes, Clyde encapsulated the essence of the escapade that awaited.

However, the true gem of this expedition revealed itself at Hayes Engineering. This hidden treasure, steeped in history and frozen in time, with its impeccably preserved workshop and historic house, transported me to an era long past, a testament to the region's rich heritage.

As the trail unfolded, it presented a collage of varied scenery and a myriad of delights for the senses. Quaint bridges, remnants of railway life, distant snow-capped peaks, pastoral farms with grazing cattle and playful spring lambs, and charming villages all contributed to the picturesque postcard views along the route. The symphony of babbling rivers, birdsong, wild thyme, and vibrant yellow flowers added an enchanting touch to the surroundings.

The culinary delights along the trail were a delightful surprise. From the delectable treats at Alexandra Cafe to the standout pies at Waipiata and the home-cooked wonders at Hyde School, each stop offered a wonderful chance to refuel ready for the next leg of the trip.

One of the most satisfying aspects was cycling into Wedderburn, feeling a sense of accomplishment after conquering the highest point of the trail for the day. The cozy cottage accommodation offered respite, followed by a short stroll to the local pub for a warm welcome from the amiable locals.

Cycling the trail with an e-bike offered flexibility in tackling the varying terrain. While not physically demanding, the changing weather added an extra layer of intrigue. Proper clothing and equipment were crucial, transforming potential challenges into mere moments in the journey.

A surprising revelation was the time commitment required for each leg of the trail. Covering the distance to reach lunch spots or picturesque locations took a substantial part of the day. Yet, this unhurried pace allowed for complete immersion in the stunning vistas and seamless navigation thanks to excellent trail signage.

For future adventurers, I recommend allowing ample time to relish the journey, averaging around 37km per day. Take breaks to capture the stunning views through your lens and consider padded seat covers or specialized biking gear for comfort during extended hours on the saddle.

The journey's culmination brought the realization of the distance from Middlemarch to Clyde, suggesting that a night's stay in Clyde at the end might be preferable for some, rather than making the three-hour drive to Queenstown.

Trail Journeys orchestrated this adventure seamlessly, ensuring our needs were met and enhancing the experience with insightful briefings, notable highlights along the route, and impeccable accommodations awaiting us each night.

In conclusion, the Central Otago bike trail journey was undeniably a bucket list experience, seamlessly blending adventure, exploration, and the sheer joy of discovering the hidden gems tucked away in New Zealand's mesmerizing landscapes.

>> View our 4 Day Otago Central Rail Trail itinerary and availability here.

Images and review written by Tara.

Family cycling holidays: 5 reasons why they're good for you

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 05:18:00 GMT

A family that cycles together, stays together. Cycling as a family promotes a positive, healthy lifestyle, which encourages many children to keep biking well into their adult life.

Trail Journeys has a range of family friendly cycling trips in the Central Otago region with plenty of flexibility built into them. From the Roxburgh Gorge to the Otago Central Rail Trail our self-guided trips offers the bonus off being luggage-free, with your bags shuttled from each accommodation to the next as well has having your meals, accommodation and route planning taken care of.

Here’s our top 5 reasons why family cycling holidays are good for you

1. It gets you outside.

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A cycling holiday offers the opportunity to explore the outdoors and be fully interactive with the environment you’re in. It's a great way to get up and close with nature, breathe in some fresh air, and create some ever lasting memories.

2. It's great for everyone's fitness

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Biking holidays are great for health and fitness, and encourage the whole family to be active, regardless of age, ability and fitness levels. Younger children can cycle on a tag-along, while older children develop a healthy competitive spirit to keep up with their parents, as long as the routes aren’t overly hilly or too long.

3. Learn about New Zealand

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Experiential learning is one of the most engaging ways for anyone to learn. The whole family will learn about world famous natural landmarks, cultural sites, and the history of a region. Your children may also be exposed to different ways of life that they are not used to, helping their resiliance and confidence. There's even a scale model of the solar system along the trail.

4. Spend quality time together

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Spending quality time together is what it's all about and pedalling slowly along the trails will give you ample bonding moments. Our self-guided cycling holidays offer the opportunity to enjoy friendly local hospitality from our hand-picked accommodation and meal providers. You never know, you may end up on a jet boat on the Roxburgh Gorge or even curling on an ice rink on the Otago Central Rail Trail.

5. Explore new Landscapes

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There's something new around every corner here in Central Otago. From rolling farmland to flowing rivers and snow-capped mountain ranges, make the most of the ever-changing landscapes both on and off the bike. Historic tunnels and viaducts compliment the dramatic gorges and vast rocky plains, with a diverse network of trails offering the chance to explore new areas, vibrant towns, tourist attractions, and interesting wildlife.

Learn more about our family friendly range of Otago region cycling trips.

The benefits of an E-bike

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 04:55:00 GMT

Once a rare alternative for those considering a cycling trip, e-bikes are now the most popular bike option at Trail Journeys. Their popularity first rose rapidly in Europe, and now they are spreading out across the world to New Zealand, making cycling trips a viable option for everyone, regardless of their fitness levels.

What is an E-bike?

Many confuse an e-bike with a scooter or electric motorcycle, but they are quite different. An e-bike, or electric bike, is a bicycle with an electric motor that adds a speed boost as you pedal, giving you a helping hand or push to get up hills and achieve longer distances.

An electric bike has all the features of a regular bicycle, but they are slightly heavier due to the motor. You still need to pedal, change gears and steer. The benefit comes from the addition of an electrical drive system that consists of a battery, a motor, a way to integrate the motor’s power into the drivetrain, and a way to control that power.

The main advantage of e-bikes is that they enable people of different fitness levels to join a trip together.

If you aren't comfortable with your cycling ability, upgrading to an e-bike is a great option. If you are new to cycling and cycling holidays, then e-bikes offer you a safety net, so you don’t feel like the odd one out.

Ideal for families

E-bikes are designed to make cycling easier, meaning that people of all different fitness levels can cycle together and tackle routes that previously would have been too difficult, or simply to cover longer distances.
They’ve levelled the playing field for families or groups of friends where one rider is fitter than the other, or perhaps someone is recovering from an injury and not quite back to full physical capacity.

Other benefits of e-bikes include:

Ease of operation: e-bikes are quick to master and make active holidays physically easier without taking away from the adventurous spirit of the trip
Less joint impact: even though you are still pedalling, e-bikes reduce the impact on your knees and joints as they minimise the strain you get from a regular bike.
More fun to ride: for many, choosing an e-bike can mean a more relaxed journey where you can spend more time enjoying your surroundings than huffing and puffing
Bigger ambitions: e-bikes open many travellers up to the world of cycling holidays, or allow cyclists to choose a trip that covers longer distances

Electric bikes do cost a lot more than regular bikes, and require more maintenance, so therefore they cost more to hire.

Talk to our team if you want to learn more about e-bikes or how to rent one for your next cycling trip in New Zealand.