Lauder to Oturehua

The riding from Lauder to Oturehua is arguably the most scenic section of the Otago Central Rail Trail.  Leaving Lauder it is only a few kilometers until the start of the amazing Poolburn Gorge. The Poolburn Gorge is a break in the mountains between the Raggedy Range and Blackstone HIll and takes cyclists from the Manuherikia River area to the Ida Valley.

The gorge starts with the 110 metre Manuherikia Bridge Number 1, the longest on the rail trail, and gradually makes it’s way into the rugged schist rock formations. Two magnificent tunnels assist cyclists (trains) up the hill without the need to climb too steep.  The first tunnel in this direction is Poolburn Tunnel Number 2, which is the longest of the two at 230 metres.  Ideally you should have a torch or riding light. The tunnel goes round a corner so you can’t see the end of the tunnel and it gets very dark and quite disorientating trying to ride without a light.  It is also worthwhile stopping and using your torch to investigate the craftsmanship of the tunnel cut through the schist  The Poolburn Tunnel Number 1 is slightly shorter at 201 metres.

The rail trail through this section is built on large embankments, made all the more impressive when you consider that the railways were built using little more than a pick and shovel.  Before you enter the first tunnel a trail leads you up over a bank and down into a gully where there are remnants of huts and a small village that was home to the construction workers during building the Poolburn Gorge sections. You get a real sense of how harsh the living conditions were wandering around the remaining buildings .  It took three years and over 300 workers to get through the rugged Poolburn Gorge section of the Otago Central Railway.

The ride through the gorge is not over until you ride across the awesome 108-metre long, 37-metre high Poolburn Viaduct with its impressive schist rock piers and abutments, set against stunning scenery. If you are very lucky you may even get a glimpse of the very rare and endangered Käreärea, New Zealand Falcon, which habitats the Gorge.

The section through Poolburn Gorge has two toilets en-route.

Once you leave the gorge the trail continues to climb as it sidles around the Blackstone Hill before descending into the farmland of the Ida Valley and past two former rail stations of Auripo and Ida Valley.  Look for two Gangers Sheds which contains information panels and a stamp for your passport - one between Auripo and Ida Valley township and the Ida Burn Gangers Shed - near the Ida Burn Dam. 

The trail crosses the main state highway about 3km prior to Oterhua. On your right is the Ida Burn Dam, where in winters where it is cold enough to freeze the whole Central Otago community takes to the ice for the annual Bon Spiel tournament of curling. You will see photos around all the taverns and hotels across Central Otago of locals dressed in colourful hats and jumpers.

Finally as you approach Oterhua on your left is the old Hayes Engineering Factory famous for inventing many tools including the still-used fence strainer.

The approximate distances of each section of the ride from Lauder to Oturehua are:

• Lauder – Auripo 10.5km
  Auripo – Ida Valley 4km
  Ida Valley – Oturehau 8km

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