Central Otago · Hard · 3 days

Central Otago: Rail Trail & Rivers

Off-lead rivers, gold country, big Otago skies

49.0 km walking190 km driving3 days10 stops

Best for Water dogs, off-lead adventurers.

Dogs on this trip. Dogs are welcome the length of this route, and the high-country and rail-trail sections give them room to properly run. Read each trailhead sign, and keep them close past farm stock and through lambing (roughly August to October), when some farmland tracks close. The Clutha and Kawarau run fast, cold and deep; keep dogs out of the main current and use lake edges and side-stream shallows for swims instead. This is rabbit-poison country: pindone and 1080 baits turn up on high-country and DOC land like the Old Man Range, so check for warning signs and consider muzzling on back-country tracks.

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Day 1

Upper Clutha Rivers

1
Waterfall Creek Track
Dogs allowed4.8 km · Easy · 1–1.5 hr
Easy lakeside warm-up; calm Wanaka shallows for an early dog swim.
~3 km drive
2
Upper Clutha River Track
Dogs allowed21.1 km · Easy · 4h 30m
The new off-lead Clutha ride: turquoise water, endless riverbank, turn back when your dog tires.
~67 km drive
3
Bannockburn Domain Camping
Dogs welcome
Lakeside domain in wine country; quiet dog-friendly overnight near Cromwell.
~2 km drive to Day 2

Day 2

Rail Trail: Clyde to Alexandra

1
Bannockburn Sluicings Loop
Dogs allowed3.9 km · Easy · 1–1.5 hr
Top-rated gold-sluicing loop from camp; eroded cliffs, dogs welcome, dry paws underfoot.
~23 km drive
2
Clyde Lookout Loop
Dogs allowed2.1 km · Moderate · 0.5–1 hr
Short climb to a Clutha and dam view above historic Clyde village.
3
Post Office Cafe
Dogs at outdoor tables
Clyde's stone Post Office cafe; outdoor tables and water bowls for a Central lunch.
~10 km drive
4
Otago Central Rail Trail: Clyde to Alexandra Section
Dogs allowed5.1 km · Moderate · 1h 1m
The namesake rail trail: flat, riverside, room to run, and keep them close past farm stock.
~5 km drive
5
Alexandra Holiday Park
Dogs by arrangement, call ahead
Handy Alexandra base by the river; grassy sites, easy dog overnight.
~23 km drive to Day 3

Day 3

Obelisk & Roxburgh

1
Obelisk Loop Track
Dogs allowed10.2 km · Hard · 2h 30m
Big off-lead climb to the granite Obelisk on the Old Man Range, alpine and exposed.
~22 km drive
2
Commisioners Track
Dogs allowed1.8 km · Moderate · 0.5–1 hr
Gentle riverside finish at Roxburgh; short Clutha-side stroll to wind everyone down.

Banks’ tip. Pack far more water than you think: Central Otago is New Zealand's hottest, driest region and most trailheads have no shade for a dog, while the Obelisk can hold snow into summer.

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