Things to do in Central Otago, South Island: The Best Outdoor Activities

Cycle the Otago Central Rail Trail in comfort. Our fully supported 4 day / 3 night cycling packages feature front suspension mountain bikes, helmet & waterproof panniers, our own superior heritage accommodation in Ranfurly, continental breakfast & home baking, personalised transport & optional sightseeing excursions, all tailored for your comfort and enjoyment. Departures from Sept to May. Customised itineraries, stand alone accommodation, mountain bike hire and transfers also available.

The Otago Central Rail Trail - New Zealand's Original Great Ride. Open all year round this cycleway takes you through 152kms of remarkable Central Otago landscape away from roads and vehicles, yet never far from the next town. Whether you start from Clyde or Middlemarch, the wide easy gradient is suitable for riders, walkers and cyclists of all ages. You may choose to go solo, or share the experience with friends, either way it's a trail of discovery best enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Discover historic villages, enjoy local food and drink and the famous southern hospitality. As you travel through this untamed natural environment there is plenty to explore on and off the trail. Don't miss this 'must do' experience.

Richard and Jolanda Foale from Heliview Flights invite you to take to the skies over Central Otago, near Queenstown. 5 reasons we make your holiday awesome * Heliview Flights - a family business with the personal touch; we spend more time with you, making your trip special * Cromwell has the best flying weather in New Zealand, with only 400mm of rain per annum! * Dramatic landscapes, majestic vistas or a stunning sunset all from our luxury 7-seater helicopter * Your pilot Richard has extensive experience (over 30 years) including search & rescue, police, corporate and UK Army AirCorps * Experience Cromwell: an authentic, gentler pace, only a 45 minute drive from bustling Queenstown, NZ's adventure capital Blending a luxury helicopter, personalised service, friendly staff and the stunning Central Otago landscape, family-owned Heliview Flights offers a range of scenic helicopter flights and heli-biking trips (guided and self-ride). From their base at Cromwell Racecourse Airfield, flights take in the majestic vista of the surrounding area and Southern Alps. Note: we used to be in New Plymouth, which old reviews reflect, but it's the same people and helicopter as before, so expect the same high standards, combined with new scenery.

SheBikesHeBikes is a Cycle tourism provider on the Otago Central Rail Trail, Roxburgh Gorge and Clutha Gold Trails. Catering for day and multi-day adventures, we have something for everyone.

Clutha River Cruises is the only licensed operator providing fully guided and catered tours on lakes Roxburgh & Dunstan in Central Otago, New Zealand. Our tours journey the isolated reaches of the stunning Clutha River and historic Roxburgh Gorge. Passengers can marvel at some of New Zealand's best examples of European and Chinese gold mining. View the mining sites of Doctors and Butchers Points and enjoy the spectacular schist scenery that only Central Otago has to offer.

Trail Journeys has operated on the popular Otago Central Rail Trail (New Zealand's Original Great Ride) since the rail trail began in 2000. We’ve helped thousands of independent travellers put together great tour itineraries tailored to their special interests, budgets and time constraints. We are Qualmark certified meaning you can be assured of a quality experience in all aspects of your tour. With depots at both ends of the trail, a large fleet of specifically developed bikes, vans and buses and experienced drivers and guides, we make your journey on our Rail Trail comprehensive and effortless. While cycling might form the core activity on your tour, we can incorporate other activities such as Motorsport, 4WD adventures, Curling, Farm visits and many more. As well as operating on the famous Otago Central Rail Trail we also operate on the Queenstown Trails, Roxburgh Gorge Trail & Clutha Gold Trail all with their own unique beauty and history.

Your experience starts as soon as you arrive in the stunning Kawarau Gorge. Step aboard one of our high-spec purpose built V8 Jet boats and hold on tight for a unforgettable experience through the Kawarau Gorge. Your highly trained driver will navigate the shallow braided waters of the Bannockburn Arm. Power up stream, racing past canyon walls before arriving at the impressive Staircase rapids. The only trip to offer shallow braided water, deep rapids and 360 spins in one adrenaline hit. No need to look anywhere else - Experience the best! Not the rest!

Bike It Now! Has a vision of providing the highest quality service for those wanting to enjoy the cycling trails of the Central Otago, Southern Lakes and MacKenzie and Waitaki regions of New Zealand as part of their next holiday. They can provide for all your requirements from organising fully supported tours, self guided tours to dropping you off on a One Day Wonder on the Otago Central Rail Trail or Roxburgh Gorge. They will provide you with the latest Trek Roscoe 7's to complete these adventures on. They also have the latest European designed / manufactured Electric bikes for hire. To top it off, they have a retail bike shop which specialises in Avanti, Scott Trek and Merida bikes and accessories, this is supported by a full workshop. They specialise in door to door pickups and drop offs from Queenstown - removing all the worry.