7 minute read
Clutha Gold Trail
LAKE ROXBURGH DAM to LAWRENCE - 2 days, 73km
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Whether you’re adventurous, a nature lover, history-buff or science seeker, this trail keeps every cyclist smiling.
There are Māori moa hunting and gold-rush stories for the historians; great feats of engineering for the perpetually intrigued, and between the countryside and rumbling Clutha Mata-au River (hello nature-lovers), a bounty of farming and fruit orchards to elate the foodies.
The Clutha Gold Trail officially starts at Roxburgh Dam and finishes in Lawrence: Otago’s first gold-rush town after Gabriel Read discovered the precious metal in 1861. Speed demons could complete the trail in one day, but two days allows for an overnight stay somewhere seriously gorgeous. If you’d prefer to experience just a segment of the track, the four main villages to weave between are Roxburgh, Millers Flat, Beaumont and Lawrence.
Rich in folklore, there are a handful of information boards along the route that detail days gone by, including 19th century gold fever. These days, ‘golden’ finds are more likely to include native kōwhai trees, with their signature yellow flowers, and Roxburgh apricots, said to be the tastiest in the world.
The track eventually ambles into Lawrence, where local hosts welcome guests inside – and pour large drops of world-class wine.
Clutha Gold Trail © www.cluthanz.com
TRAIL INFO
TRAIL GRADES: ALL GRADE 2 (EASY)
COMMISSIONER FLAT (ROXBURGH DAM) TO ROXBURGH, 9KM ROXBURGH TO MILLERS FLAT, 20KM MILLERS FLAT TO BEAUMONT, 25KM BEAUMONT TO LAWRENCE, 19KM
NOTE: An annual maintenance contribution of $25 per person or $50 per family can be purchased at local i-SITES or bike tour companies. A 1-day pass is $10 per person or a life pass is $500.
MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE: Coverage is good for almost the entire length of the trail, but can get patchy away from townships and in river narrows.
DRINKING WATER: Water bottles can be filled at various settlements.
TYPE OF BIKE: A mountain bike is recommended, but a hybrid bike will suffice. E-bikes are permitted.
Riding the trail
COMMISSIONER FLAT (ROXBURGH DAM) TO ROXBURGH, 9KM
The Clutha Gold Trail begins below the Roxburgh Dam, which is New Zealand’s biggest gravity-fed dam. The trail follows the gentle bends of the blue Clutha Mata-au, with the bald peaks of the Old Man Range and Benger Ranges a dramatic backdrop. It’s not far to the atmospheric little town of Roxburgh, famous for fruit orchards that serve up a splash of colour in every season. Roxburgh is also the home of Jimmy’s Pie Shop, another way to taste local flavours.
ROXBURGH TO MILLERS FLAT, 20KM
There are new scenes around every bend as the trail meanders along the river’s edge. Pinders Pond, 5km from Roxburgh, is a pleasant place to pause for a while, and offers safe swimming in the otherwise treacherous Clutha Mata-au. Towards the end of this section, the trail cuts across pastoral farmland to reach Miller’s Flat. This wee town offers visitors dining in both a café and pub, along with a handful of accommodation options.
MILLERS FLAT TO BEAUMONT, 25KM
Continuing down the valley, the trail returns to the riverside and heads through the Beaumont Gorge on a mix of quiet roads and railway line spliced together with a custom-built cycle path. It’s well worth taking a couple of short detours signposted off the trail around here. The first is Horseshoe Bend Bridge, an impressive pedestrian suspension bridge built in 1913. The second, nearby, are the Lonely Graves – humble testament to the kindness of strangers. The trail emerges at the highway, across the other side of which is the Beaumont Hotel where you can stop for refreshments.
BEAUMONT TO LAWRENCE, 19KM
The last leg of this trail climbs gently along the old railway line to the highest point of the trail, Big Hill Tunnel. After a 440m pedal through the dark, the trail sets off on its final sweep down to Lawrence. Lush farmland surrounds the route, which crosses the highway several times on its way through Evans Flat with its bygone vibe of early industry – gold mining, flax milling and pioneer sheep farming. The trail ends at Lawrence. On its outskirts, the trail passes an historic camp where up to 120 Chinese miners lived in the 1860s, but there is plenty more evidence of the town’s heyday. A pleasant stroll can be enjoyed through the streets of Lawrence, where country cafés wait to lure you in with hot pies and lamingtons. If you have the time and energy, venture into Gabriel’s Gully (6km return), a peaceful reserve where stories of the first gold discoveries are retold.
Highlights of the trail
• Stone fruit worth writing home about. Drop into the many orchards and tuck in.
• New Zealand’s endangered native falcon, the karearea calls Otago home but there are only approximately 3000 nesting pairs remaining. They are also one of the world’s fastest birds, so you’ll need a sharp eye.
• Roxburgh dam is a big, commanding presence on the river. Whether you find dams an eyesore or a marvel, there’s no missing this behemoth.
• Pinders Pond is a scenic reservoir, perfect for a picnic or quick dip. It might look serene now, but the pond was originally hand dug by a gold-mining giant using an hydraulic elevator to uncover gold.
Walking at Pinders Pond © www.cluthanz.com
• Cycle across Horseshoe Bend Bridge. Built in 1913, the 70m-long timber bridge is one of the few reminders that Horseshoe Bend was once a booming gold-mining community.
• Bite into one of Jimmy’s famous pies in Roxburgh. Many say they’re the best pies they’ve ever eaten – what says you?
• Evans Flat is an interesting stretch of land, if only for its two former dwellers, George and Helen Munro. The couple arrived here from Scotland in 1857. Upon hearing about Gabriel Read’s momentous 1861 gold find, Helen set about finding her own, with nothing but a dish and butcher’s knife. She came up trumps – unearthing 18 ounces of pure gold just nine metres from their hut. Now called Munro’s Gully.
• Big Hill Tunnel is the only tunnel on your journey but at 440m, it's a jolly large one.
Explore more
Clutha Gold Trail © www.cluthanz.com
From Lawrence, join the coveted Southern Scenic Route – a ‘roadless travelled’, where deserted beaches, rainforest, pristine lakes and mountains all feature.
The Clutha River runs through the town of Balclutha. Further south is the wild Catlins, with sweeping beaches and spectacular cliffs. A ‘must-stop’ is Curio Bay where, at low tide, a petrified forest is exposed on a rock shelf. Curio Bay’s Tumu Toka CurioScape is a world class interactive heritage centre and also well worth a visit.
Nugget Pt, with its picturesque lighthouse, is where you’ll find seals, sea lions and a gannet colony. Stop at Porpoise Bay – rare Hector’s dolphins often swim close to the beach. Just north of Papatōwai, walk through beech forest to the magnificent 3-tier Purakaunui Falls.
Invercargill is a city with a strong Scottish heritage. It’s also home to the country’s largest collection of tuatara. Bluff, 25 minutes south of here, is famed for its Bluff oyster and where the one-hour ferry departs to Stewart Island Rakiura. From Bluff, the route also heads towards Te Anau and onto Queenstown, where it concludes.
More mountain biking, please
Clutha Gold Trail © www.cluthanz.com
Look no further than Alexandra for an exhilarating mountain biking experience.
HAWKSBURN RD: A mix of 4WD gravel roads and tarseal, with some steep ascents and vast open spaces for the fit and fast.The route covers a 25km stretch between Clyde and Bannockburn.
FLAT TOP HILL: One of Otago’s newest mountain biking areas. There are varied options for different skill levels, including a 10km loop from Butchers Dam and a demanding Roxburgh Gorge descent.
OLD MAN RANGE: This 39km trail boasts steep inclines and gnarly downhills. Expertise is needed for the rutted and rocky parts of 4WD track.
MAIN IMAGE ABOVE: Clutha Gold Trail © www.cluthanz.com
