Roxburgh Gorge Trail © Will Nelson
ROXBURGH GORGE Trail
1 Day 34km
BEST FOR: An isolated one-day adventure littered with surprises.
ALEXANDRA to ROXBURGH DAM 1 day
34km
Roxburgh Gorge Trail has a somewhat Jekyll and Hyde persona. Depending on the season and the correlating flora, colours and weather, you might experience big blue skies and bonniness or a sulky ashen temperament but it won’t matter which you meet because both are enchanting.
T
ravelling from Alexandra to Roxburgh (or vice versa) this trail skirts the Clutha Mata-au River, darting between sweeping willows and during springtime, the
heady buds of fragrant thyme. In between soaring river cliffs and desert-like landscape, the route is sprinkled with remnants from the gold-rush era, including schist
huts. These small den-like shelters were built into rockfaces by miners and offer a fascinating peek into the past. Years before these dwellings existed, the pathway was also trodden by early Māori moa hunters trekking from mountains to sea in pursuit of the prize.
TRAIL GRADES: ALL GRADES 2-3 (EASY-INTERMEDIATE) ALEXANDRA TO DOCTORS POINT, 10KM SHINGLE CREEK JETTY TO ROXBURGH DAM, 11KM
The earlier sections of the Roxburgh Trail are just a taster of the fascinations to come; between Doctors Pt and Shingle Creek, the track becomes inaccessible and riders are required to fill the missing link, which is etching slowly closer to getting constructed, with a 45-minute jet-boat ride. Deep inside the gorge are some of the most visually spectacular sights of the trip, and an isolation that many will deem a rare treat these days.
NOTE: An annual maintenance contribution of $25 per person or $50 per family covers the cost of maintenance for use of the Roxburgh Gorge Trail and the adjoining Clutha Gold Trail. A 1-day pass is available for $10 per person, or a life pass for $500. It can be paid at local bike tour companies and i-SITES.
Once off the boat, the ride turns into a steady climb out of the gorge, but the impressive views of Roxburgh Hydro Dam will counter any fatigue. Soon after, Roxburgh Village comes into view, signalling the ride’s conclusion.
DRINKING WATER: Once in the gorge there are no food/water outlets. Alexandra and Roxburgh are the closest places to stock up.
TOP TIP – Unless you’re prepared to turn back at Doctors Pt, book your jet-boat ride well in advance.
MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE: Some coverage at the far ends of the trail, after which it ranges from patchy to non-existent.
TYPE OF BIKE: A mountain bike is recommended. E-bikes permitted; note boat companies impose a surcharge to carry them on board. GRADE 2 (EASY) GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE)
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GREAT RIDE • ROXBURGH GORGE TRAIL
TRAIL INFO
