Product Overview

Product Description

Dunstan Discovery

Clyde Heritage Precinct to Dunstan Arms Rowing Club 3.5km (grade 1) From Clyde you head out cycling over the Clyde Bridge then turn right and head down to meet the trail heading towards the Clyde Dam and Dunstan Arms Rowing Club. This section is a sealed road to start with, note that Clyde bridge is shared with other traffic. A dominant feature you cycle past is New Zealand’s third largest hydro-dam – the Clyde Dam, in which the first power was generated in 1992.

Dunstan Arms Rowing Club to Halfway Hut 10.7km (grade 2-3) There are plenty of picnic spots to stop at and enjoy the lakeside on this section. Closer to Halfway Hut you will find a short switch back section with tight corners and a good climb/descent.

Halfway Hut to Cairnmuir Gully 8.4km (grade 2-3) This section requires more attention and skill, as has narrow sections and more gradient. It’s also the section with the highest point of the trail, with magnificent views to take in. The Hugo suspension bridge is in the middle of this section. Coffee Afloat awaits your arrival at the end of this section – yummy coffee and treats awaits you

Cairnmuir Gully to Bannockburn Inlet 11.3km (grade 2-3) This section includes the first of the bluff bridges, you will cycle at the base of the stonework faces of the Cairnmuir slide, a unique feature high on the slopes above the lake.

As you continue towards Cornish Point cycling though vineyards and olive groves you come to Carrick Winery & Restaurant, pop off your bike and enjoy a glass of wine with a bit of lunch prior to heading towards Bannockburn Inlet which is a popular with a designated swimming area.

Bannockburn Inlet – Cromwell Heritage Precinct 7km (grade 2) Follow the trail cycling under the Bannockburn bridge following Lake Dunstan to Cromwell Heritage Precinct, if time allows be sure to park up and explore the boutique galleries, retail stores and restaurant/cafes here prior to cycling back to our Cromwell office (2.5kms) to return your bikes by 5pm.

Winery Tour - Cromwell to Bannockburn

Meeting here at our recently established branch on the northern edge of Cromwell, you will receive a briefing on your bike, trail conditions, options on cellar doors and directions to get you on the trail, and off you go.

Initially the riding takes you alongside Lake Dunstan, before reaching Cromwell Heritage Precinct just 2.5 km away. The precinct is the official start of the recently opened Lake Dunstan Trail (a 42km grade 2 and 3 trail finishing in Clyde). Leaving the precinct, you ride alongside the Kawarau arm of Lake Dunstan through rolling terrain on an excellent trail, before reaching Bannockburn Bridge after 8km.

Turn left and ride 3km to Carrick Winery, which is an excellent venue for coffee, pizza and wine on their expansive lawn. Retrace your steps to Bannockburn Bridge, then continue on to Felton Road to visit Mt. Difficulty, Te Kano, and Terra Sancta, all with wonderful views and just a further 2-4 km riding.

Plan your lunch stop at Mt. Difficulty, Te Kano or Carrick Wineries. An alternative option is Black Rabbit Café or Bannockburn Hotel in Bannockburn. The choice is entirely yours.

For the return journey, you may like to ride the roadside trail back to Cromwell direct, and visit Scott Base Wines (just to the west of Cromwell), and Mischa’s, Pisa Range and Wild Earth Wines, all close to our depot.

A leisurely day out, approximately 35 km cycling with some wonderful Central Otago wines.

Gorge on Roxburgh

Kiwi Journeys will meet you in Clyde at 9.15am or start your journey with bike fitting and briefing at our Cromwell depot at 8.30am prior to being shuttled to Clyde at 9.15am for your adventure to begin. (Transport from your Queenstown, Wanaka or Cromwell accommodation is available for an additional cost)

Your first section is 12km from Clyde to Alexandra on the scenic river track which links up with the Roxburgh Gorge trail just below the Alexandra bridge. This trail takes you along the true right bank of the powerful Clutha Mata-au River.

The Roxburgh Gorge trail from here is flanked by bluffs up to 350metres high with spectacular countryside to enjoy on the 10km to Doctors Point. You will wind through the gorge, climbing a zigzag to access “The Narrows”, an ancient rock slide where care is required to negotiate the narrower sections of trail and boardwalk.

Doctors point is the pickup for your 45-minute Jet Boat trip tour down the river, take in this highly memorable ride to delve deeper into the gorge’s history.

Disembarking at Shingle Creek jetty, this next section is 12km to Roxburgh Dam to meet your shuttle transfer back to Clyde. A series of switchbacks in this section lead to a fitting finale, the impressive Roxburgh Hydro Dam lookout. Open in 1956 it’s the largest concrete gravity dam in New Zealand and powers up to 200,000 homes.

Pickup commissioner’s flat carpark at 3:00pm for transfer back to Clyde.

Duration

Lake Dunstan Discovery

Lake Dunstan Trail

Grade 2-3 (intermediate)

Distance: 45km

Duration: 4 to 6 hrs

 

Winery Tour - Cromwell to Bannockburn

Lake Dunstan Trail

Grade 1-2 (easy to intermediate)

Distance: 35km (approximately - you choose)

Duration: 4 to 6 hrs

 

Gorge on Roxburgh

Roxburgh Gorge

Grade 2-3 (intermediate)

Distance: 34km (Ride Distance 21km - Boat Trip 13km)

Duration: 3 hrs

What To Bring

We provide all the basic riding equipment with bike rentals: spare tube, tyre levers, pump and lock.

Company Info

Our History:

The locally family owned business is operated by Andrew and Sherie Schwass, Glen and Geoff Lovelock, who are passionate about the region and providing first class experiences on two wheels.

In 2011 Andrew Schwass had the vision of starting the operation in Nelson after then Prime Minister, John Key committed to the construction of New Zealand’s, ‘Great Rides’

In 2012 the Mapua Ferry service was purchased for taking passengers and their bikes from Mapua to Rabbit Island. Based on the Mapua Wharf Kiwi Journeys had their first year of operation in 2014/15, hiring out bikes for people wanting to explore the trails on Rabbit Island. They now offer rental services in Nelson where you can enjoy the city trails or explore the Great Taste Trail towards Mapua and Wakefield.

The next step was taken in 2018, when Kiwi Journeys added the West Coast Wilderness Trail to their portfolio, offering a West Coast base to offer a variety of multi-day tours on this amazing trail.

As of October 2023, Kiwi Journeys is now open in Central Otago, where we offer a range of tours on the renowned Central Otago Rail Trail, as well as other historic trails dotted around the region.

Our Achievements:

In 2014, Kiwi Journeys won the ‘Business Accelerator’ competition, allowing local businesses to provide their expertise to the tune of $30,000.

The company is committed to environmental issues, ensuring the company and its employees maintain appropriate standards and encourage clients to respect the environment.

Kiwi Journeys is a Qualmark Gold operator. Their annual review stipulates that we maintain excellence in the following areas:

• Occupational Health & Safety

• Employment Processes

• Maintenance of Customer Satisfaction

• Responsible Tours

In 2021, Kiwi Journeys was a finalist in the 2021 Qualmark 100% Pure New Zealand Experience awards. To be recognised for this award, we first needed to achieve the Qualmark Gold Award standard.

To reach the finals, we had to demonstrate excellence in the following criteria:

• Manaakitanga - showing aroha to guests within your community.

• Tiaki - guardianship and protection for the people and places under their care.

• Whānau - looking after those closest to the business, as well as those visiting from afar.

These awards recognise the dedication of Kiwi Journeys to the wellbeing of the people supporting and surrounding us, even through the challenging tourism environment we experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Kiwi Journeys aim to make cycling in the region accessible to all. We have a number of E-bikes and Tandems for people with reduced mobility or vision impairments.

Kiwi Journeys have been a service provider for Blind and Low Vision New Zealand (BLENZ).

We are also proud to support the Cancer Society and many Schools around the district.