Grade 1. There was little fuel to warm them, no food to sustain them. A small hole in one of the liquor barrels being transported to a hotel or grog shop, a long thirst-quenching pull on the straw, a peg and some wet soil to hide the evidence . This was one of the Think Big projects driven by the Muldoon led Government to diversify the economy and drive growth. Its a lovely place to base yourself for Great Ride adventures with a wide range of quality accommodation, and great shops, cafes and restaurants. With Adele arriving late after work Friday night and her bike still needing to be loaded that night, I was happy with a six-thirty start on a lightly overcast day. The trail then shares a 4WD track closer to lake level before reaching a section of trail that was the toughest to build and virtually all hand made. A good warm-up for the day, taking about ninety minutes, during which I could look back over the hills Id climbed and traveled over the previous days. The first power was generated in 1992. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. Be at the cutting edge, setting directions and accepting challenges. What are the benefits of being included on the List? E-bikes are also permitted and available through most bike-hire companies. But, its on our list now. You can then rent a vehicle, catch a bus, or book a tour and be guided through the area. 11.3km, Grade 23/easyintermediate, 11.5 hours. dangerousroads.org is not responsible for the information contained in these pages. When two californian prospectors startled the Dunedin treasury office by bringing in 87 pounds of gold in 1863 the name Dunstan was little more than a scratching on a surveyors map. The trail offers cyclists and walkers an a 40.km ride (Grade 2-3) through unique and fascinating landscapes so characteristic of Central Otago as it journeys along Lake Dunstan, the Kawarau River and the mighty Clutha River Mata-au. The existing road diverts from the trail twice. Required fields are marked *. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Its mostly uphill cycling, northwest on Highway 87, to Clarks Junction 49 km from Dunedin. Theres no shame in that, and youll increase your chances of spotting the pick-axe stuck in the rock wall. The Lake Dunstan Trail includes some remote terrain and challenging grade 3 riding. A wagon team of six Clydesdale horses, the Cobb andCo coach, and ten other carts and wagons rode on before us. There are 13 tunnels (total 18.5km of tunnels) drilled into the Cromwell Gorge in the mid 1990s. Is the Old Dunstan Road paved? To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. In late spring the hillsides are covered in the purple of flowering wild thyme, and in late summer and autumn the celebrated Central Otago green and gold colours contrast with the brilliant blue sky, dry hillsides and schist outcrops. As you go, look out for the drainage tunnels dotted along the length of the gorge. Old Dunstan Road, also known as The Dunstan Trail, is a 4WD track located in the Otago Region in the South Island of New Zealand. It was designed to protect the river from a major land slide, which could overwhelm the Clyde Dam, a short distance downstream. Grade 2-3, Cairnmuir Gully to Halfway Hut - 8.4km, Grade 2 - 3, Halfway Hut to Dunstan Arm Rowing Club - 10.7km, Grade 2-3, Dunstan Arm Rowing Club to Clyde Heritage Precinct - 3.5km. A Guide to Cycle Safety on the Lake Dunstan Trail | Central Otago Good Cycle Etiquette and Safety on the Lake Dunstan Trail Preparing to ride the Lake Dunstan Trail - cycle safety and trail etiquette. New Zealand. Trail Key Trail Access and Parking Toilets Important Information The Lake Dunstan Trail is open year-round. To leave Dunedin by the shortest possible route, cycle straight up Stuart Street from the Octagon and veer right onto Taieri Road, which turns into Three Mile Hill Road. The trail offers cyclists and walkers a challenging 55km ride (Grade 2-3) through unique and fascinating landscapes so characteristic of Central Otago as itjourneys along Lake Dunstan, the Kawarau River and the mighty Clutha River Mata-au. Date: 1/06/2008. Copyright Ng Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dunstan_Trail&oldid=903812693, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 June 2019, at 04:06. From there it's mainly plain sailing to the Dunstan Arm Rowing Club, except for some short, tricky, grade 3 riding around Jackson and Byford Creeks, and Annan Gully. Notes The historic Dunstan Trail was the route originally used by goldminers in the 1860s to travel from Dunedin to the goldfields in Central Otago. This section follows the sealed road in places, and shares the Clyde road bridge before climbing up towards the Clyde Heritage Precinct. Some sections can be exposed to high winds so check weather alerts. Much of the route is only suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles. The rain really set in, so Sunday morning we finished by riding in the rain mostly down, but at times noticeably up, to the outskirts of Dunedin where Dad picked us up and we went for a well-deserved cooked breakfast. There were few smiles on the faces of the 1991 cavalcaders as we cocked our akubra hats to the southerly blast and picked our way up the Rock and Pillar on our first day on the trail. The first power was generated in 1992. As trail transport does not run to a scheduled timetable, any shuttles should be arranged in advance direct through operators or local i-SITE visitor centres. The Old Dunstan Road turns off to the left here, and you head into an isolated and barren Central Otago landscape. There is no shelter from the weather, which can change quickly, and it is bitterly cold in a southerly. The road is sealed at the start and turns to gravel after 9.2km. The Lake Dunstan Trail extends and complements the well-established Great Rides in Central Otago and the Southern Lakes, and provides a key link with the Otago Central Rail Trail and the Roxburgh Gorge Trail, both of which are part of Nga Haerenga - New Zealand Cycle Trails. 8.4km, Grade 23/easyintermediate, 11.5 hours. Vilnius Altstadt 1775-1799 1923. From the house, head north for 300 metres before turning west onto another 4WD track, which is also part of the original Dunstan Trail. There are 13 tunnels (total 18.5km of tunnels) drilled into the hillsides of the gorge in the mid 1990s. The road ranges from a sealed road to a graveled track. journeys along Lake Dunstan, the Kawarau River and the mighty Clutha River Mata-au. The ultimate Lake Dunstan Trail experience is the full, one-way journey from Cromwell to Clyde (41km) using local shuttles to transfer bikes and riders. This is section contains the highest point of the trail, rewarded with magnificent views which also means exposure to the weather. Subscribe to our free newsletter for news and prizes. This section of the Lake Dunstan Trail is a popular day ride or walk to / from Cromwell. Over the next two days gale force winds continued to challenge the line-up of akubra (stockmans) hats as we forded rivers, followed dusty tracks and cantered across tussocky farmland. However, its possible to enjoy shorter rides on the trail, a few ideas for which follow here. Cellphone coverage is pretty reliable the whole length of the trail. Not far from the rowing club is Burton Creek Recreation Area, a pretty campground with million-dollar views of the lake and Clyde Dam. a smile on the face of the wagoner. Old Dunstan Road is the name of a 4x4 track/Adventure riding track located in Otago South Island of New Zealand. To gold-hungry prospectors time was precious, and most preferred to take their chances with the unpredictable weather and desolate, unstable countryside offered by the Mountain Track. As we climbed to over 1000 metres we were five abreast, with the hail battering and soaking horse and rider alike. The trails highest point is marked by the trig point, 324m above sea level and 130m above the lake. In fact, there were three ways prospectors could get to the Dunstan. Vilnius-oblast (Litva) Frolov 1820-1835 1820-1835 1:38 000. But plans on trips like these are fluid at best and I was happy to scale this one back as I had company! But further thought could wait until the day developed a bit; for now, there was a big downhill to enjoy! Maurice Shadbolt records that these men had to gamble their lives against a pitiless landscape. Designed to protect the river from a major land slide, which could overwhelm the Clutha Dam, a short distance downriver. There are plenty of picnic spots to stop at and enjoy the lakeside. This scenic ride will take you along the Lake Dunstan shores, through undulating hills, flat areas . Find out what to expect in this short video. (Bigger groups are advised to ring Coffee Afloat before they set off, as this helps with their logistics.) A detailed description of this Great Ride, including maps and more information, can be found here. The interactive map will show you some of the best parts of the track and let you see where to take on next. Its 46 km (28.64 miles) long, running south-north and coming south at the Poolburn Dam, Upper Taieri-Paerau Road. Some careless child of the giants left their Tonka toy just sitting there. I restarted my playlist of favourites in the hope it would reduce the suffering, or just distract us from it. Old Dunstan Road is a 4x4 track located in the Otago Region in the South Island of New Zealand. This section includes the first of the bluff bridges, and you will cycle at the base of the stonework faces of the Cairnmuir slide, a unique feature high on the slopes above the lake. National Heritage Preservation Incentive Fund. The Dunstan, like Gabriels Gully 18 months earlier, was to become an irresistible magnet to thousands of fortune seekers. We would shortly climb to Poolburn Reservoir, or Rohan Village as some may know it. It includes more boardwalk sections, a narrow trail that includes a switchback up with amazing hand-stacked rock walls before you reach the storyboard overlooking Halfway Hut. Cycle north out of Paerau on the Styx-Patearoa Road for 1.5 km. This is barren territory, strewn with rocks in any shade ofbrown, with clumps of sparse yellow grass and golden tussock. The Roxburgh Gorge Trail (and in turn the Clutha Gold Trail) is also easily accessed at Alexandra, reached from Clyde via the Rail Trail or via the Millennium Track on the other side of the Clutha Mata-Au River. Clyde to Jackson Creek/Hydes Spur(return), 2023km or more,Grade 2/easyintermediate, 23 hours or more. Looking over the valley below and at the clouds encroaching, they were looking a bit too far away to be that evenings goal. This one was harder to find, but with a route description and a couple of maps we found it. This section follows the sealed road in places, and shares the Clyde road bridge before climbing up towards the Clyde Heritage Precinct. Because of the fragile environment, vehicles and mountain bikes must keep to track. It's not just traditional accommodation, all these historic banks, halls and stables have been repurposed, redesigned, and refurbished to suit the needs of today yep, they even have wifi. What happens after I submit a consent application for a property included on the List? Why is this heritage place not on the List? Lake Dunstan Trail Need to know The trail ranges from grade 2 (easy) to 3 (intermediate), mostly following wide, smooth gravel and earth paths with some sections of wooden boardwalk. This section of the Lake Dunstan Trail is a popular day ride or walk to / from Cromwell. Those who followed were scarcely better prepared; some perished in the harsh landscape, many returned to Dunedin emptyhanded and disillusioned, a few became wealthy overnight. Much of the route is only suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles,[1] and the road as a whole is closed in winter months. Cromwell and Clyde are the obvious bases for a Lake Dunstan ride. In wet conditions, parts of the trail are unridable because of sticky mud. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Once the private chapel for St Joseph's Convent, the Mercy Room continues as a place of devotion for the Catholic community. At Clyde, the Lake Dunstan Trail links with New Zealand's original Great Ride the Otago Central Rail Trail. As we eased our aches in imagined hot baths, the stories grew tall, but even the most experienced musterers from the area agreed that our storm had been one of the roughest and riskiest they had encountered. Please note that parts of the trail are in remote terrain with some challenging grade 3 sections which are only recommended for confident and experienced cyclists. The trail diverged from the road near the bottom of the downhill, we found the correct gate and put ourselves on farm track trying to follow the path of those miners long ago. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Getting to Central Otago is easy with flights into Queenstown and Dunedin. Coffee Afloat is parked up on the lake most days from mid-morning to mid afternoon serving coffee, scones and burgers. Speaking of fair clouds, the clouds were kind to us that day providing light cover and no rain. Old Dunstan Road starts from Clarks junction, around an hour from Dunedin on the way to Middlemarch. The road was part of the original route called the Mountain Road taken by hardy people seeking their gold rush fortunes in the early 1860s, to travel from Dunedin to the goldfields in Central Otago. The Lake Dunstan Trail links the townships of Clyde and Cromwell. A hundred or so kilometres of gravel on the trail, leaving it to slog up a 4WD track onto and along the Rock and Pillar Range, a steep plunge off the side to Middlemarch and then another sixty kilometres of gravelly hills to the coast and home. These tunnels are also used to mitigate against landslips into the Clutha River. Unlimited access to every NZGeo story ever written and hundreds of hours of natural history documentaries on all your devices. Beyond the settlement of Pisa Moorings the trail crosses the 45th Parallel on its way to Lowburn where there are toilets and a car park. Much of the route is only suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles or those with experience, and should only be attempted with a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon). The sheep station here is called Rocklands it could hardly be anything elseand rocks are even used as fence posts. There are impressive views across to the Bannockburn vineyards, through which the trail will soon head once it crosses to the other side. It's 46 km long. With less bike time in Adeles legs than mine, the plan was modified to stay the night in one of the huts on the Rock and Pillars and ride home the following morning. It is suited to riders of average fitness; although some riders may wish to push up some of the steeper climbs. Today, the trail is a public road, ranging in quality from chip-sealed road to gravel track. Five Must Do Foodies Experiences in Central Otago, Smiths Way to Cromwell Heritage Precinct - 16km, Grade 1, Cromwell Heritage Precinct to Bannockburn Inlet - 7km, Grade 2, Bannockburn Inlet to Cairnmuir Gully - 11.3km. Other highways, such as the Southern Scenic Route, offer further exploration of the deep south. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. The trail is well constructed albeit narrow in places making 2 way passing tricky. The Cashmere Sanatorium Open Air Shelter is a rare surviving open-air patient shelter that provides a poignant insight into the early 20th century response to the global disease of tuberculosis. Started construction 1977. It is possible to return to Cromwell on a trail alongside Bannockburn Road - making for a wonderful short and family friendly day ride. As news of Horatio Hartley and Christopher Reillys magnificent haul spread, the name sparked an exodus of the able-bodied for the new El Dorado. A map showing the planned 500km continuous trail network from Queenstown to Dunedin, estimated in 2018 to cost . This was made keeping in mind that the weather was due to pack it in that night, but there were contingencies. A good leg-stretch is the 10km ride (20km return) to Jackson Creek and Jackson Buttresses, or a little further to Hydes Spur (23km return) which is at the top of the climb with terrific views back down to the Clyde Dam. Cromwell Heritage PrecinctBannockburn wineries (return), 16km or more, Grade 2/easyintermediate, 1.53 hours or more. The Lake Dunstan Walking and Cycling Trail links the townships of Clyde and Cromwell. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}453600S 1695430E / 45.60000S 169.90833E / -45.60000; 169.90833. If you go any further than the river, youll be on private land. There are plenty of picnic spots to stop at and enjoy the lakeside. It is a diverse and evolving resource available to all New Zealanders. A journey by horse along the old Dunstan Trail. Can be ridden in both directions. From the Heritage Precinct, the trail follows the Kawarau arm of Lake Dunstan to reach Bannockburn Bridge. To share your ride story or trail tip you need to be logged in. Dunstan Arm Rowing ClubClyde Heritage Precinct. VILNIUS is a cosmopolitan and thoroughly modern city that is relatively compact and easy to get to know, with a variety of inexpensive attractions and a lively nightlife. It then arcs around the lake to reach Cromwell where it dips under the highway bridge and continues along the shoreline to reach Cromwell Heritage Precinct, a great place to park up and explore the boutique galleries, shops and cafes. The Dunstan Trail, also known as the Old Dunstan Road, is a historic route in Otago, New Zealand.The road was created during the Central Otago Gold Rush of the 1860s.. At the time of the road's creation, it was the shortest route from the city of Dunedin to the goldfields around Clyde, or Dunstan as it was then known.Known at the time as "The Mountain Track", it was a dangerous route which . Peter and Sophie from Cycling in New Zealand, Lindis Loop 23 Cluden Creek to Longslip Creek, Lindis Loop 23 to the headwaters via Dromedary Hill, A40BPT4 Lyell to Mokihinui (Old Ghost Road), A40BPT3 Westport to Lyell via Denniston, A40BPT2 Ces Clark hut to Westport (Paparoa), A40BPT1 Hokitika to Ces Clark hut (Paparoa). Plenty of breaks provided ample rewards with the view across Central getting better with every metre claimed from gravity. It can be done on a rainy day too but the road will change into a single mud track. This is section contains the highest point of the trail, rewarded with magnificent views which also means exposure to the weather. Nary a soul about, I was wary of getting stuck up here in the incoming weather although I did have sufficient pork scratchings to see us through. Head south, through Patearoa and take the Linnburn Runs Rd turnoff (40km). As I loaded my little borrowed mare into the horsefloat I took a last look back towards the mountains and wondered when another opportunity to experience history so vividlywould present itself. This track was officially opened on the 8th of May 2021. Recognition on the Rrangi Krero is a way to actively care for Mori heritage by promoting the associated stories and tribal connections of those places. New bridge Deadmans Point. We really enjoyed reading your blog. The schist was ever present and we began to notice tall, skinny slabs of it filling the role of fence posts and looking like theyd done so for scores of harsh Central Otago years. The first power was generated in 1992. This section includes the first of the bluff bridges, and you will cycle at the base of the stonework faces of the Cairnmuir slide, a unique feature high on the slopes above the lake. With the help of the trees we hid behind, I was dry albeit very warm. We also slept in the same playground as that time. It then varies between gravel, clay, and bare rock. The historic town of Clyde marks the southern end of the Lake Dunstan Trail and the western end of the Otago Central Rail Trail. So vital were the wagoners supplies to the isolated canvas-town communities of prospectors that prices could be pushed sky-high. A dramatic entry was planned at Cromwell, with hundreds of onlookers turning out for the opening of the resited and restored buildings in Old Cromwell, the historical precinct built by residents when the towns main road fell to the Clyde Dam development. It was into that pitiless landscape that 220 horses, a Clydesdale team, a coach and assorted wagons rode in November 1991 in the first Dunstan Cavalcade, a four-day trek over the 160km trail used by diggers to get to the goldfields. Key features of the trail are the man-made landscapes, rich Maori and early pioneer history, abundant vineyards and cellar doors in Bannockburn and the Historical Precinct in Cromwell. In wet conditions, parts of the trail are unrideable because of sticky mud. After Cromwell, known as Clutha River. XVIII. After crossing the Bannockburn bridge loop around to Bannockburn Inlet where there is a toilet, and parking available. Some network coverage is patchy in places, but text messages will usually get through. As you go, look out for the drainage tunnels dotted along the length of the gorge. Bike hire, shuttles and tours are also available here. It then varies between gravel, clay and bare rock. On this section, there are plenty of picnic spots to stop at and enjoy the lakeside. The road was created during the Central Otago Gold Rush of the 1860s. The other engineering landmark here are 13 drainage tunnels drilled in the into the hillsides to prevent landslips. Cromwell is only a 40 minute drive from Queenstown, so is also an easy day trip on your South Island adventure. One prospector is said to have taken 200 ounces of gold from a crevice in a single panning. Cyclists and walkers experiencing the Lake Dunstan Trail will marvel at the man-made landscapes, the rich Maori and early pioneer history, and amble through the vineyards of Bannockburn. Dogs are not permitted between Cornish Point and Dunstan Arm Rowing Club. In the winter months which is still a great time to ride some businesses run on limited hours. Toilets are at either end of this section at Cairnmuir Gully & Halfway Hut. Happy riding and keep posting! Please understand that most places on the List are private property and not accessible to the public. One route, from Tuapeka, followed the Molyneux River all the way. From Cromwell its an easy ride to Bannockburns world-class cellar doors and winery restaurants.

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