CLUTHA GOLD Trail
WATCH THIS SPACE A new section of the Clutha Gold Great Ride Cycle Trail is underway, to expand the length from 73km to a total of 136km. The addition will run from Lawrence to Waihola via Milton. BOTH IMAGES: Clutha Gold Trail © www.cluthanz.com
GREAT RIDE • CLUTHA GOLD TRAIL
BEST FOR: Couples or groups with conflicting interests – this one ticks a lot of boxes.
LAKE ROXBURGH DAM to LAWRENCE 73km
2 days
Whether you’re adventurous, a naturelover, history-buff or science seeker, this trail keeps every cyclist smiling.
TOP TIP – Pack a head torch. Big Hill Tunnel is found on the last 20km stretch of the trail and measures a whopping 440m in length.
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here 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.
