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Cycling in Oamaru

Alps to Ocean Elephant rocks

We carry our Moustache electric bikes upfront on our caravan and we are keen to use them as much as possible.  We decided to do do the last day of the Alps to Ocean Cycle TrailDuntroon to Oamaru.  We drove to Duntroon and left the car there to be picked up tomorrow. 

Rail Journeys service this trail with accommodation, bag transport and bike hire if you do not have one.  They have a shuttle that drives most of the route once a day.  $25 will get me to Duntroon to pick up the car. 

Duntroon to Oamaru on Alps2Ocean Cycle trail

Duntroon to Oamaru on Alps2Ocean Cycle Trail

We really enjoyed this section of the trail on our Moustache ebikes – the ride included the amazing limestone formations of Elephant Rocks.  The trail diverts through some lovely limestone country, and a rail tunnel. 

Mostly up and down until the first shelter, then downhill all the way though farmland (some beautiful fields of sunflowers) and following the stream. 

We had to chase a couple of bulls off the path at one stage, but only the occasional rabbit other than that. Luckily we arrived at the first shelter at the time time as a shower came through.

Warning 1 – flood damage:

There is lots of damage to the trail because of the recent floods – but it has largely been made safe again.  There was one serious landslide we had to carry the bikes over, and another where the trail had all but disappeared into the gully below.  Another thing to watch is soft gravel where new gravel had been added to washout sections, but had yet to bed down to a hard surface.

Warning 2 – Food on the trail

Thinking you would like a coffee or something to drink on this section?  Duntroon Cafe is closed, and nothing else open until Fort Enfield which is a must stop.  Great coffee and cabinet food or a cold beer and a cooked meal. 

Really friendly place, with a warm welcome to riders.  Just before this stop – keen an eye out for the remains of some really old established farms.  The sire for Phar Lap was onced housed in this ornate lodgings, which are sadly in need of repair, but you can see what it once was peaking through.

Cycling around Oamaru

We discovered a good trail north that follows the train line, and of course we cycled every day through the Botanic Gardens. Check out the local Oamaru Cycle Trails here – they are being added to all the time

Ride to South to Kananui: beautiful quiet sealed road beside the beach – a slight detour where the road has disappeared because of coastal erosion.

More about our stay in Oamaru

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Posted in Otago, Southland

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1 Comment

  1. Pingback:Oamaru – Cycling, Steampunk, Gardens and Sealife - lots to do here - Women Travel NZ

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