050723 Autumn Colours & Fiordland - Flipbook - Page 9
This morning you will be cycling 37km from Clyde to Omakau.
The orst part of the trail will be from Clyde to Alexandra which will
take approx. 40 minutes on an E-Bike (8km). You will have time to
explore the Clyde Railway Station Museum before cycling along
the platform and winding through the township of Clyde to The
Rail Head. Between Clyde and Alexandra, you will pass through a
semi-rural landscape of orchards, vineyards and lifestyle blocks.
You will cycle over the wooden trestle Muttontown Viaduct.
The second part of the morning, you will be cycling on the
Anniversary River Track Clyde to Alexandrea which will take
approx. 1 hour on an E-Bike (12km). This is a scenic cycling track
which takes you along the south bank of the Clutha River. You will
cycle past relics and tailings of the last gold dredges in Otago.
You will then be riding from Alexandra to Chatto Creek which will
take approx. 1 hour 15 minutes (17km). You will cycle over the
Manuherikia Bridge No 3 and cycle through the old Tucker Hill
gold diggings - so called because the miners earnt only enough
to pay for their food (tucker). You will cycle alongside the
Manuherikia River and through typical Central Otago schist rock
and wild thyme landscapes.
Hidden from the world in the small historic town of Ophir,
Pitches Store provides all the charm and special comforts you
desire. Every detail of the Pitches Store accommodation renects
contemporary luxury, tastefully combined with hints of its unique
138-year history.
Accommodation: Ophir Thyme Accommodation
Address: 13 Swindon Street Ophir
Hosts: Russell and Judy
Phone: 03 447 3192
Nights: One
Breakfast: Included
Room type: Super King Bedroom with En-Suite
The Ophir Thyme Accommodation was the former St Andrew's
Presbyterian Church, built in 1897 (a category II listed building).
Owners Judy and Russell have sympathetically restored the
building into accommodation.
Ophir is a 5.5km optional loop which will take approx. 30 minutes
on an E-Bike. Ophir was originally known as Blacks, when gold
was discovered in Central Otago in 1863. The name was changed
to the more apt, Ophir in 1875 after the biblical land where the
Queen of Sheba obtained gold for King Solomon. From the village
continue along the main road, 1km out of town you will cross the
historic Daniel O'Connell Suspension Bridge. You will then cycle
2.5km to complete the circle back to Omakau via SH85.
Accommodation tonight is at one of three small boutique hotels:
Accommodation: Pitches Store
Address: 45 Swindon Street, Ophir
Hosts: Colleen and David Hurd
Phone: 03 447 3240
Nights: One
Breakfast: Included
Room type: King Room with En-Suite
Accommodation: The Bakery Cottages
Address: 37 Swindon Street, Ophir
Hosts: Ralph and Nikki Milne
Phone: 027 4473 632
Nights: One
Breakfast: Included
Room type: King Room with Private Bathroom
