Otago Central Rail Trail

Otago Central Rail Trail is a 150-kilometre walking, cycling and horse riding track. For sixteen harsh winter and scorching summers, scores of stonemasons, labourers, blacksmiths, and enginners pushed through this 150km railway track from Middlemarch to Clyde.

In 1907,  the Otago Central Railway finally linked Clyde and the country's major goldfields with Dunedin, then New Zealand's largest city and a commercial powerhouse. By 1921, when the Otago Central Railway reached the railhead at Cromwell, the gold rush was over.

Finally, in 2000, Otago Central Rail Trail is officially opened. New Zealand DOC recognised that the remainder of the route to Clyde had potential as a recreational facility, and bought the formation after the rails and sleepers had been salvaged. Being New Zealand's first walking trail and cycleway, it's also the inspiration for the New Zealand Cycleways Project, launched and partially funded by government in 2010.

Janet and me decided to have a walk from Alexandra to Clyde during our off day. It is a 8km walk, and the weather is really good! We met some people cycling, jogging and walking their dogs. The scenery alongside the road is awesome.

passed by a huge vineyard with fruitful grapes

 

Besides alpacas, we also saw a horse with funny hair and color.

funny horse and his friend

white horse prince?

Another surprise is we found a tree with "chip n dale's nuts"!!

We managed to finish the 8km walk after 2.5 hours. Fresh air, beautiful view, playing with the horse.... it's really satisfying!