shebikeshebikes

shebikeshebikes We're a bike hire and booking service provider on the Otago Central Rail Trail, Roxburgh Gorge and C

07/06/2026

Wow, look at those bikes back in the 50's. No Otago Central Rail Trail then, rather it was the Otago Central Railway!

Anyone recognise some of those buildings on lower Tarbert Street? I can see a few that are still there today.

You want to ride Queenstown to Dunedin. But piecing together five trails across 200+ km, with shuttles, bikes, and logis...
07/06/2026

You want to ride Queenstown to Dunedin. But piecing together five trails across 200+ km, with shuttles, bikes, and logistics you've never done before, is a lot to figure out on your own.

And handing that to someone who's never done it before? That's a risk you don't need to take.

We've been running multi-day rides across Central Otago since 2009. We know the trails, the challenging parts, and yes, the best lunch stops. When the Kawarau Gorge Trail opens, we'll have the full route covered end to end.

Here's how it fits together:

🚡 Kawarau Gorge Trail: Gibbston to Bannockburn
🚡 Lake Dunstan Trail: Bannockburn to Clyde

Then you reach Clyde. And this is where it gets fun.

Two trails. Two choices. Do you take the Red pill or the Blue pill?

Turn left: the Otago Central Rail Trail. 150 km through the high country to Middlemarch. Classic, iconic, deeply satisfying.

Turn right: Roxburgh Gorge and the Clutha Gold Trail, following the Mata-au Clutha river for much of the way down to Lake Waihola. Wilder. Less travelled. A proper adventure.

Both roads lead to Dunedin. You just have to pick your path.

(One gap remains on the right-hand route. The Roxburgh Gorge jet boat section opens fully in early 2027. After that, it's completely rideable.)

We're not putting this together. We're already doing it. Customers have been riding Lake Dunstan to Dunedin during the 2025-26 season with us taking care of the detail.

Send us a message and we'll map out exactly what your trip looks like, what it costs, and when to go. https://shebikeshebikes.co.nz/contact-us/

Left or right at Clyde, we've got you either way.

Tag whoever you'd do this with. πŸ‘‡

Central Otago just claimed 4 of New Zealand's top 10 wineries.The Real Review's 2026 rankings are out, and no region in ...
05/06/2026

Central Otago just claimed 4 of New Zealand's top 10 wineries.

The Real Review's 2026 rankings are out, and no region in New Zealand had a better year. Felton Road came in at #2 nationally, Prophet's Rock at #3, Quartz Reef at #5 (with Rudi Bauer taking out Vigneron of the Year), and Rippon at #9. Burn Cottage added Red Wine of the Year for their Sabines Selection Pinot Noir. Four of the country's top ten, from one compact, sun-baked centre of the South Island. Furthest place from the sea in Aotearoa NZ.

This isn't a one-year story either. These are wineries that have appeared at the top of national rankings year after year. The consistency is the point.

Now here's a thought. What if you earned your tasting pleasure on two wheels first? No need for a lengthy flight to France.

Ride through the same schist and tussock landscape these grapes grow in, arrive a little dusty and a lot more deserving, then sit down to explore what the region does so well.

Central Otago isn't a single style. There's elegant, restrained pinot. There's complex pinot gris. There are sparkling wines and rich reds that will surprise you. Nuanced.

Pair any of it with the food the region's restaurants and cafes do quietly well, and you've got a pretty convincing argument for taking a few days to enjoy it.

The scenery earns the ride. The wine earns the stop. The food makes you stay longer than you planned.

Thinking about combining a trail with a wine region experience? We know this country well. Talk to us at https://shebikeshebikes.co.nz/contact-us/

The Kawarau Gorge is well within range for any quality e-bike, ridden sensibly.Bringing your own bike? Here's the honest...
05/06/2026

The Kawarau Gorge is well within range for any quality e-bike, ridden sensibly.

Bringing your own bike? Here's the honest version:

βœ… 500Wh+: no worries at all
βœ… 400Wh: fine if you're not leaning on turbo the whole way
⚠️ Under 400Wh: worth thinking about your assist strategy before you go in

One thing people miss: there are NO chargers anywhere on the trail. You go in with what you've got. That's not a problem if you plan for it. It is a problem if you don't.

The other thing that kills range faster than distance?
High gear + low cadence (pedaling speed) - when cadence drops below 60 rpm you drop out of the efficiency "sweet spot" on your bike. Solution is simple, change gears to keep rpm 60+.
Tyre pressure, rider weight, headwind, and how aggressively you use assist on the climbs.

We've written the full breakdown on our site, because the manufacturer claims on most e-bikes are... best case.

Full article: https://shebikeshebikes.co.nz/the-reality-of-e-bike-battery-range-vs-manufacturer-claims/

Any questions about whether your specific bike is up to it, drop them below. We're happy to give you a straight answer. πŸ‘‡

Photo credit Will Nelson

🚡 Is the Kawarau Gorge Trail right for you? Honest answer below.We’re getting this question a lot for this trail and the...
05/06/2026

🚡 Is the Kawarau Gorge Trail right for you? Honest answer below.

We’re getting this question a lot for this trail and the Lake Dunstan Trail. So here it is, straight up.

βœ… YOU WILL LOVE IT IF...
You're a confident, fit cyclist who has ridden gravel or trail before. You're comfortable in remote terrain, happy to walk a short technical section (aka β€œlooking at that freaks me out”) if needed, and you want big Central Otago scenery with a real challenge. Experienced kids are welcome too.

❌ NOT THE ONE FOR YOU IF...
You're a beginner or casual cyclist. You have young or nervous children. You want a flat, easy family day out. The 13 km backcountry section has no easy exit once you're in, and that's not a warning to ignore.

Not sure where you sit? That's the most honest answer of all.

🚴 BUILD YOUR SKILLS FIRST
If this trail is on your bucket list but you're not quite there yet, here's what we'd suggest:

Come to Central Otago and start on one of our Grade 1 trails. The Otago Central Rail Trail is one of New Zealand's Great Rides and a perfect place to build confidence and time in the saddle. Get comfortable, get some kilometres in, and progress from there.

When you get home, find your people. The Recreational Cycling NZ Facebook group has riders at every level across the country. It's welcoming, active, and the fastest way to find locals to ride with near you.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/266132544725598

And if you want to fast-track your skills with proper coaching, two of the best in the business are:

πŸ‘‰ Chris Foggin at UpCycles - technical skills and confidence building for riders who want to genuinely progress. Our staff have done one of his courses and we all improved and use those skills every time we’re on a bike
πŸ‘‰ Janet from Go Bike NZ with Janet - guided rides and skills development with one of NZ's most connected cycling educators

The Kawarau Gorge Trail will be here when you're ready. We want you to have the best day possible out there, and that starts with being honest about where your skills are right now.

Questions? Drop them below or send us a message. πŸ‘‡

Or check out our page at https://shebikeshebikes.co.nz/kawarau-gorge-trail/

Most people who ride through Central Otago are blown away by what they see during the day.Then night falls.We ride throu...
05/06/2026

Most people who ride through Central Otago are blown away by what they see during the day.

Then night falls.

We ride through one of the most extraordinary dark sky regions on the planet. Naseby, right in our backyard, has just become New Zealand's first International Dark Sky Community. That recognition took nearly a decade of grassroots effort by people who genuinely love this place. And Gibbston, where our new Kawarau Gorge Trail begins, is already a certified International Dark Sky Park.

On a clear night out here, the Milky Way isn't a faint smear on the horizon. New Zealand is acknowledged as one of the best places to appreciate just how amazing it is. It's a ceiling.

If the Aurora decides to show up, that's a genuinely good result for anyone lucky enough to be looking up. You'll go home with the most epic images to show to your mates.

A well-deserved acknowledgement to Paul Bishop from Naseby Night Sky Tours, who does careful, patient work helping visitors understand what they're actually looking at. If you're coming to ride, add a night with Paul to your itinerary. Well worth the effort.

If you want to arrive in the dark sky region in some style, Dunedin Railways is running their Stargazer train through the Taieri Gorge again this winter. Last year both nights sold out. A gourmet dinner, a journey through the gorge, and astronomers waiting at Hindon with telescopes. Join the waitlist now and be first to hear when tickets go on sale. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfm_l3BuJtbLhDftlHAZ-gmDUSxwoI9X80f1pFlZ-2Ut2M4xA/viewform

If you can't make the train then it's worth mentioning that Inverlair Lodge provide a lovely two night escape that includes some star gazing with Paul. See https://www.inverlairlodge.co.nz/packages
The added bonus is they have the most fantastic spa pool that looks out over the Hawkdun Range, it's a view to die for.

One of the great landscapes of this country is waiting. We'll put you right in the middle of it, by day and by night.

143,000 of you (and counting) have seen our Kawarau Gorge Trail opening announcement. Here are the questions that came u...
04/06/2026

143,000 of you (and counting) have seen our Kawarau Gorge Trail opening announcement. Here are the questions that came up again and again.

🚡 Will my e-bike battery make it?
Almost certainly yes. Gibbston to Bannockburn trends downhill with the nor'wester at your back. Our hire bikes are 630Wh monsters from Sinch Bikes NZ. Bring your own? Anything above 400Wh should be fine if you're not hammering the assist.

🚡 Is it suitable for gravel bikes?
Yes. Think Lake Dunstan but uniformly wide the whole way. A digger has been through every metre including the clip-on sections.

🚡 How hard is it compared to Lake Dunstan?
Similar grade, but there's a 13 km backcountry section with no easy exit once you're in. Confident, fit cyclists will love it. If Dunstan pushed your limits, talk to us first and come to Central Otago to build your skills on our other epic trails with a lower grading.

🚡 How do shuttles work?
Our depot is in Bannockburn, the inland end of the trail. The most popular option is our 10 am shuttle to Gibbston Valley, then ride back through the gorge. No car shuffle, no logistics stress.
Full timetable and packages πŸ‘‰ https://shebikeshebikes.co.nz/kawarau-gorge-trail/

🚡 Can I ride Queenstown to Dunedin?
Largely yes, and we're the people to talk to about it. Kawarau Gorge + Lake Dunstan + Roxburgh Gorge + Clutha Gold gets you to Lake Waihola. Now we've mapped out a way to ride all the way to Dunedin without playing with too many cars, it's a winner. The Roxburgh jet boat gap closes in early 2027. Hit us up on our contact page and we'll map it out https://shebikeshebikes.co.nz/contact-us/

🚡 I heard the project ran over budget. Is it actually happening?
That was 2025 news. Consenting ran two years long and inflation hit hard, but the project pushed through. Right now we're watching helicopter gravelling in real time. It's happening. 🚁

Opening news lands here first. Hit Follow so you don't miss it, and tag whoever you're bringing. πŸ·πŸš΅β€β™€οΈπŸš΅β€β™‚οΈ

Photo Credit - the ever talented Will Nelson

03/06/2026

Roaring Meg - Kawarau Gorge. You'll look down on this on the trail, however there was once a much more significant landmark.

A natural rock bridge once stretched nearly all the way across the river just upstream, leaving only a small gap that could be leapt across. For Māori travellers this crossing was a vital junction, opening routes west toward Waakatipu, south into the Nevis Valley and Murihiku/Southland, or east along the Mata Au/Clutha River to the Otago coast.

Even during the winter, the food cabinet at the Courthouse Cafe in Alexandra takes immense discipline to turn down -we o...
01/06/2026

Even during the winter, the food cabinet at the Courthouse Cafe in Alexandra takes immense discipline to turn down -we often fail ;-)

If you're not a kiwi then make sure you sample the cheese rolls... they are a South Island of New Zealand speciality.

You can experience the Courthouse Cafe and many more great cafes when you ride the Otago Central Rail Trail or Roxburgh Gorge Trail

Address

11 Wilson Street
Omakau
9376

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm
Saturday 8:30am - 5pm
Sunday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+6434473271

Website

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