Thanks for considering the Clutha Gold Trail in your cycling plans!
Many of our visitors find using a cycle tour company the best way to plan their visit. You can see a range of options here.
However, if you just want to cycle for a day, or you prefer to do your own thing, this page gives you an outline of the stages of the trail and local services available along the way.
Riders can start at any point along the trail and do as much or as little as they like. The four main villages along the way are Roxburgh, Millers Flat, Beaumont, Lawrence, Waitahuna, Milton and Waihola. You can download a trail map here.
The Clutha Gold starts at Roxburgh Dam, the end point of the Roxburgh Gorge Trail that starts upstream in Alexandra and ends in Waihola, just 15 minutes drive from Dunedin Airport. The Roxburgh Gorge Trail can readily be added on to the Clutha Gold for an additional 4–6 awesome hours of adventure.
The stages of the Clutha Gold Trail by township.
Clutha is a quiet region and many businesses restrict their operating hours during off-peak times. Planning your stops and checking opening hours is recommended.
We ask that users purchase a trail pass.
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ROXBURGH DAM TOWNSHIP (TRAIL START/END)
Local bike hire: Nil.
Local bike transfers: Nil.
Local food choices: Limited. Lake Roxburgh Lodge opened to the public during the season Monday to Saturday. Bookings are essential. No shops or convenience stores. Ring ahead for opening hours.
Local accommodation choices: Lake Roxburgh Lodge.
Public toilet: Yes
Arriving: By car
Commissioners Flat (Roxburgh Dam)—Roxburgh town
9km, Grade 2/easy, 1 hour
The Clutha Gold Trail begins below the Roxburgh Dam, which is New Zealand’s biggest gravity fed dam, its story is retold in the first of many excellent interpretation panels dotted along the cycle path. It takes an hour to cycle from the main Roxburgh township.
It is a one hour cycle to Roxburgh town and the local cycle hire, accommodation and food facilities.
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ROXBURGH
Local bike hire: Highland Bike Hire
Local bike transfers: Highland Bike Hire
Local food choices: Multiple day time options including well stocked small-format supermarket. Nighttime options can be limited depending on season. Book ahead or consider self-catering.
Local accommodation choices: Multiple. Roxburgh Clutha Gold TOP 10 Holiday Park, motel and peer-to-peer options on common accommodation platforms. Use search term “Roxburgh”.
Public toilet: Yes, in the main shopping street.
Arriving: By car or bus (Intercity)
Pharmacy: Yes.
Trial stage: Roxburgh town —Millers Flat
20km, Grade 2/easy, 2 hours
There are new scenes around every bend as the trail meanders along the river’s edge. Pinders Pond, 5km from Roxburgh, is a pleasant place to pause for a while, and offers safe swimming in the otherwise treacherous Clutha Mata-au.
There’s plenty more to see and enjoy along this stretch, from strange rock forms protruding from the riverbanks and hillsides to elegant stands of willow and regenerating kanuka (tea tree).
Towards the end of this section, the trail cuts across pastoral farmland to reach Miller’s Flat. This wee town started life as a stop on the branch railway line to Dunedin, which closed in 1968.
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MILLERS FLAT
Local bike hire: Nil
Local bike transfers: Nil
Local food choices: Limited. Millers Flat Holiday Park sells ice-cream and drinks. Millers Flat Tavern (across the bridge) open for lunch and dinner during the peak and some off-peak times.
Local accommodation choices: Millers Flat Holiday Park and some peer-to-peer options on common accommodation platforms. Use search term “Millers Flat”.
Public toilet: Yes, in reserve near bridge and on trail.
Arriving: By car.
Trail stage: Millers Flat—Beaumont
25km, Grade 2/easy, 1 hour
Continuing down the valley, the trail returns to the riverside and heads through the Beaumont Gorge on a mix of quiet roads and railway line spliced together with a custom-built cycle path.
It’s well worth taking a couple of short detours signposted off the trail around here. The first is Horseshoe Bend Bridge, an impressive pedestrian suspension bridge built in 1913. The second, nearby, are the Lonely Graves – humble testament to the kindness of strangers.
The trail emerges at the highway, across the other side of which is the Beaumont Hotel where you can stop for refreshments before carrying on or while waiting for your pick-up.
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BEAUMONT
Local bike hire: Nil
local bike transfers: Nil
Local food choices: Limited. Beaumont Hotel is open for breakfast and dinner seven days a week, plus does takeaway hot food.
Local accommodation choices: Beaumont Hotel and Holiday Park and the Matu-Au Lodge.
Public toilet: No, but one on the trail at top of Tunnel Hill.
Arriving: By car.
Trail stage: Beaumont—Lawrence
19km, Grade 2/easy, 2–3 hours
From Beaumont, the Clutha Gold climbs steadily, and then uphill for one km, along the old railway line to the highest point of the trail, Big Hill Tunnel. After a 440m pedal through the dark, the trail sets off on its sweep down to Lawrence. Lawrence, Otago’s first gold rush town.
Lush farmland surrounds the route, which crosses the highway several times on its way through Evans Flat with its bygone vibe of early industry – gold mining, flax milling and pioneer sheep farming.
On its outskirts, the trail passes an historic camp where up to 120 Chinese miners lived in the 1860s, but there is plenty more evidence of the town’s heyday – would you believe its population once topped 11,500?
A pleasant stroll can be enjoyed through the streets of Lawrence, where country cafes wait to lure you in with hot pies and lamingtons. (Southern home-bakers are arguably the nation’s best, we reckon.)
If you have the time and energy, venture into Gabriel’s Gully (6km return), a peaceful reserve where stories of the first gold discoveries are retold.
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LAWRENCE
Local bike hire: JR Farm Supplies
Local bike transfers: Central Otago Bike Shuttle and Transfers offers shuttles along the trails, as well as a self drive van and trailer.
Local food choices: Multiple day time options, including a well stocked small format supermarket. Limited evening dining.
Local accommodation choices: Multiple. Campground, Jafa's Motel and several peer-to-peer options on common accommodation platforms. Use search term “Lawrence, Otago".
Arriving: By car or bus (Intercity).
Public toilet: Yes, in main road, next to Night'n'Day convenience store.
Medical centre and pharmacy: Some services.
Trail stage: Lawrence to Waitahuna
14km, Grade 2/easy, 1-2 hours
Leaving Lawrence, the trail gently climbs and traverses rolling farmland before you get to the small settlement of Waitahuna. There you can enjoy a coffee and refreshments from the coffee cart at the historic Waitahuna Railway Station and goods shed.
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WAITAHUNA
Local bike hire: Nil
Local bike transfers: Nil
Local food choices: Limited. A coffee cart offering snacks and a small selection of food is open during peak times. Check opening times and pre-order for groups.
Local accommodation choices: Nil known.
Public toilet: No
Arriving: By car.
Trail stage: Waitahuna to Milton
31km, Grade 2/easy, 3 hours
The trail between these two settlements is gently undulating and partially follows the old railway corridor through rail cuttings and includes two tunnels and a viaduct. Make sure you remember a torch. You'll also pass through some picturesque woodland glades. Another point to note is that the trail crosses the main road several times and there are some short sections where the trail shares public gravel roads.
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MILTON
Arriving: By car or bus (Intercity).
Bike hire: Nil
Bike transfers: Nil
Local food choices: Multiple day time options, limited evening dining. Some takeaway options. Several small format supermarkets or convenience stores.
Local accommodation choices: Limited. Taylor Park Motor Campground and St Johns Court Motel (e-bike charging station).
Public toilet: Yes, just off the main road.
Trail stage: Milton to Waihola
17km, Grade 2/easy, 2 hours
From Milton the trail follows a wide, flat floodplain and includes 1.6km of boardwalk traversing lakeside wetlands and the shores of Lake Waihola, a melting pot of nature, history and wildlife.
The lake was once used as a shortcut during the famous Otago gold rush. Greedy gold diggers would hop on a paddle steamer up the Taieri River, cross the lake and trek over the hills to Lawrence.
Just around the corner from the village centre is a beautiful lakeside picnic area, the perfect place to enjoy your food while soaking up lakeside vibes.
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WAIHOLA (TRAIL END/START)
Arriving: By car or bus (Intercity). Dunedin Airport is 10-15 minutes drive away or an on-highway cycle.
Bike hire: Nil
Bike transfers: Lake Waihola Holiday Park
Local food choices: Multiple day time options, evening dining at Waihola Fish and Chips or the Waihola Tavern and Restaurant.
Local accommodation choices: Limited. Lake Waihola Holiday Park and motel. More peer-to-peer options available a short drive away at Taieri Beach/Mouth.
Public toilet: Yes, in reserve, by trail end.
Arriving: By car or bus (Intercity).
Thanks to Nga Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand for some of the trail descriptions in this guide. Visit their site to compare trails across New Zealand.
Want to suggest a correction or update the information on this page. Email Anna.
Last updated March 2025.