Roxburgh Gorge Trail

What to expect on the trail

If you are looking for a real taste of historic Central Otago then this ride is for you!​

Visually spectacular and stretching from Alexandra through to the Roxburgh Hydro Dam, the trail follows the Clutha Mata-Au River south past rugged bluffs, old schist huts and other gold mining relics.​

Within minutes of beginning the trail you are in a completely new world away from any civilization, with just the flow of the river and the smell of wild thyme to guide you.​

The first stretch to Doctors Point (10km) is relatively cruisy with a wide track flanked by bluffs up to 350m-high in some places, stacked stone walls and hidden rock “bivvies”.  The trail starts to wind its way deeper into the gorge and becomes narrower for a short time before you reach your first destination.​

The 13km Clutha River jet boat ride offers you a rare chance to see some interesting sights deep in the gorge, before you set off again biking another 12km from Shingle Creek to Roxburgh (Grade 2-3 easy)​

Passing an old gold mining hut and hotel ruins, the trail starts a gentle climb to Elbow Creek with each bend offering an entirely new perspective of the river below.  A series of switchbacks end the last part of the ride, as you descend down onto the Roxburgh Hydro Dam lookout.

We can provide a return shuttle back to Alexandra from here or you may decide to cross over the Hydro Dam to the start of the Clutha Gold trail and ride the 8km to the township of Roxburgh.