Plan your journey - packing for the Central Otago Rail Trail

Packing for the Otago Central Rail Trail

Traveling light (or not) on the Otago Central Rail Trail: Daily bag transfers

Ah, packing. The part of any trip that makes grown adults question their life choices. On the Otago Central Rail Trail, we get it - some people are natural minimalists, while others… well, let’s just say they treat four days on the trail like a winter expedition to the Antarctic.

That’s why we offer daily bag transfers: you pack your bag, hand it over, and we weigh it (more on that later), check it-in, and whisk it away to your next stop. Simple and stress-free (especially once you check out our handy guide on 'What do I really need to pack for the rail trail (and what can I leave at home)'

Here’s the lowdown:

Bags cost $20 per bag per sector, and each bag has a weight limit of 15kg. And yes, your “just-in-case” pile of snacks, that quirky ceramic gnome you picked up in Queenstown and the bottle that you're absolutely-going-to-drink-tonight all counts toward this. This limit is strictly enforced and no amount of 'it didn't weigh that much at the airport', or 'it's just a few kilo's over' will change this.

A little humor aside, heavy bags aren’t just a nuisance - they’re a health and safety risk for our shuttle team. Quick test - if you can't carry one bag in each hand, briskly walk 100 meters and then lift one bag over your head to stack it in a van, odds are that our hard-working shuttle team will also find it challenging.

But maybe you’re the sort who insists on bringing the entire contents of your house… never fear. For those overachievers (we see you), we have end-to-end bags. These can weigh up to 23kg because they’re only moved once - from the start of your ride to the finish. Perfect for those items you won't need on the trail but can't leave at home (dancing shoes, hair straighteners, your rock collection), or those in the middle of a longer trip that requires more wardrobe changes

So, think light, pack smart, and let us do the heavy lifting. That way, all you need to focus on are the views, the trail… and perhaps the odd “souvenir” rock. (True story - we once had a bag that mysteriously got heavier every single day. Turns out it wasn’t magic at all, just the start of a very committed Rail Trail rock collection!)

Bag rules: keep It light, keep it fun (and safe!)

15 kg max per bag - Overweight bags risk being banned from the bag shuttle and left to think about their life choices. Please ensure everyone in your group is aware that the bag weight limit is 15kg. For daily transfers, we request you bring soft bags or carry-on-sized hard cases if possible - no super upsized mega-cases, please!

Please have bags ready by 9 a.m. each day. Late bags? That can attract a $50 'special drop-off' fee if the driver has to wait. There a lots of moving parts that have to work in sync for the trail to function like the well-oiled machine it is, and on-time bag pick ups are one of them.

No dangling items! We can't carry any bag that has shoes, hats, or rogue water bottles tied to it. Sorry about that, but we can't be responsible for anything that's not actually inside the bag.

Labels are crucial. Keep them on - we don’t want your bag taking a detour and making new friends without you.

End-to-end bags are your heavy-duty heroes. We’ll move them just once, so you can pack up to 23 kg - perfect for all the “extras” that didn’t make it into your daily bag.

Pro tip #1: Packing is stressful, and inevitably there’s one person in every group who overpacks. For groups of eight plus, we even give one free bag - saving you the public humiliation of having to unload four kilos of “essentials” while everyone in the group gives you serious side-eye.

Pro tip #2: If you're travelling from overseas, use your cabin bag as your daily bag on the trail and send your larger case as an end-to-end bag

Pack smart, keep your trail buddies happy, and let Big Sky Bike Adventures do the heavy lifting while you enjoy the stunning Central Otago Rail Trail!