TRAILBLAZER: Your perfect five day escorted Big Sky Rail Trail adventure
- jacquie Crawford
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
If you’ve ever dreamed of exploring the Otago Central Rail Trail with all the magic, none of the hassle, and a whole lot of beautifully curated Big Sky charm, TRAILBLAZER is your golden ticket.
This escorted five-day journey blends world-class cycling, boutique accommodation gold-rush history, big-sky nightscapes, and a legendary rail experience all wrapped in trademark Big Sky hospitality. You pedal. We take care of everything else.
Why TRAILBLAZER is the perfect Rail Trail package:
Craving big skies, tiny towns, wide-open spaces, effortless comfort, and a story-rich journey through the heart of Otago? Then TRAILBLAZER is your perfect match.
Here's what's included:
✓ Four glorious days of cycling on New Zealand’s most iconic trail
✓ Friendly guide & support vehicle - pedal freely, we’ve got your back
✓ Bike hire with helmet, gel seat & pannier
✓ Four nights of boutique ensuite accommodation
✓ Daily continental breakfast
✓ A thrilling curling experience (full tuition + 90 minutes on the ice!)
✓ Guided night-sky experience under some of NZ’s clearest stars
✓ Escorted tour of the historic gold mining villages of St Bathans & Cambrians,
including the famously haunted Vulcan Hotel
✓ Self-guided visit to Hayes Engineering Works
✓ Daily bag transfers
✓ Complimentary Big Sky drink bottle & Rail Trail passport
✓ Shuttle from Queenstown to Clyde
✓ All on-trail shuttles included
✓ A spectacular rail journey aboard the historic Taieri Gorge Train
If you’re thinking, “This sounds dangerously like the perfect cycling holiday,” you’re absolutely right!
Your Five-Day TRAILBLAZER Adventure
Day One: Queenstown → Clyde → Chatto Creek → Omakau
Your adventure begins with a scenic shuttle from Queenstown to Clyde, followed by a leisurely eBike ride alongside the shimmering Manuherikia River. Stop for lunch at the iconic Chatto Creek Tavern - home to New Zealand’s smallest working post office and plenty of colourful local stories. Then it’s onwards over the not-as-fearsome-as-it-sounds Tiger Hill, before rolling into Omakau for the night. Wander across to Ophir, a beautiful gold-mining village perfectly preserved in time.
Day Two: Omakau → Poolburn Gorge → Oturehua
A gentle warm-up ride leads you into the dramatic Poolburn Gorge, with its soaring viaducts, tunnels, and impossibly photogenic landscapes. Explore Hayes Engineering Works, then continue to charming Oturehua - home to Gilchrist’s Store, NZ’s oldest continuously operating general store. Tonight, prepare for magic: a guided stargazing experience under Central Otago’s vast, velvety sky.
Day Three: St Bathans → Wedderburn → Ranfurly → Naseby
Start your morning in the hauntingly beautiful St Bathans, visiting the Blue Lake and the famously spooky Vulcan Hotel. Then enjoy a relaxed ride to Wedderburn, Art Deco Ranfurly, and finally into Naseby - a character-filled village where history practically greets you at the door. Enjoy the iconic 1860s pub, meet the locals, and get excited — tomorrow morning, you curl.
Day Four: Curling → Hyde → Waipiata
Kick off the morning with a hilarious and addictive curling session at the southern hemisphere’s only dedicated indoor rink. Then cycle across the open Maniototo Plain towards Waipiata, passing clay cliffs, curved bridges, and dramatic Taieri Gorge views.
Your guide meets you in Hyde for a short transfer to Waipiata for the night.
Day Five: Middlemarch → Taieri Gorge Train → Dunedin
And now - the grand finale. A relaxed morning drive leads you to Middlemarch and on to Pukerangi Station, where you board the iconic Taieri Gorge Train: one of the world’s truly spectacular rail journeys. Settle in and soak up towering cliffs, historic viaducts, sweeping views, and deep gold-country history. It’s old-world travel at its finest - and the perfect final chapter to your Big Sky adventure.
Rates & Dates
NZD $1,630 per person Small group tour - minimum four to proceed, maximum 10 people on the tour
Single supplement: $1,115
eBike upgrade: $200pp
Lunch & dinner: At your own cost - enjoy choosing along the trail!
Last remaining dates:
29 January – 2 February 2026
28 March – 1 April 2026
Spaces are limited - contact us to book your Big Sky Trailblazer adventure today.
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