shebikeshebikes

22/10/2026

Pre-season maintenance is underway on the Lake Dunstan Trail.
This Sunday, the team from Abseil Access will be out on the Hugo Bridge, replacing a handrail and completing the regular checkup, tightening and tweaking everything.
Next week, the guys from Contact Energy will remove the logs and driftwood from the Kawarau River in front of the Cromwell Heritage Precinct.
The WKC small digger will still be on the trail, fine-tuning the water runoffs and repairing minor surface wear and tear.
Lots happening, and lots to look out for.

22/10/2026

Otto, the dog, was not impressed that he didn't get a Sanga’s Pies pie today.

I had to shoot into Cromwell to get a longer drill bit and the call went out from Jeff and Sandy for "Two Holy Smoke's from Sanga's please Stevie"

Calverts Coffee Cart (onsite) will be stocking this Central Otago icon (the pie, not the dog)

21/10/2026

21/10/2026

🚴 **We're gearing up to open SheBikesHeBikes Bannockburn for the long weekend!**

Unfortunately, the full Kawarau Gorge Trail won't be open just yet. But you can still get a taste of what's to come and ride the open section as far as the Pioneer Bridge, just past the Goldfields Mining Centre.

And if you've got a ☹️ face because the full trail isn't open, we've got a way to turn it into a 😃!

Use our **Bannockburn DeVineCycle app** to plan a fantastic day out exploring Bannockburn by bike. FREE for anyone to use!

🚴 Ride the section of the Kawarau Gorge Trail that's open.

⛏️ Take that trip up into the historic Bannockburn Sluicings you've always wanted to do.

🍷 Discover some of Bannockburn's superb local wineries.

☕ Get your caffeine fix at the Calvert Coffee Cart, just across the road from the Sluicings.

🏊 Cool off with a swim in the Bannockburn Inlet.

There's plenty to explore in Bannockburn, even while we wait for the rest of the Kawarau Gorge Trail to open!

**Need a bike or e-bike? We can help with that!** 🚴
Need a bike? We can help with that!. We've got quality Sinch Bikes E-Bikes and Merida MTB's ready to go.

https://shebikeshebikes.co.nz/kawarau-gorge-trail/bannockburn-devinecycle/

16/10/2026

Just across the road from our Bannockburn depot is the Bannockburn Sluicings reserve. Make sure you build some time into your day for a look.

The faces are oftenlike a cathedral of light.

11/10/2026

Lovely day at Pinot Junction, so much to explore at the Cromwell Heritage Precinct.

15/09/2026

The daffodils are out in Central Otago, and it’s cycling time again!

We’ve done a stack of work on our FREE Trip Notes app to make it easier to plan and enjoy a great day out on Central Otago’s world-class cycle trails.

The app includes the Otago Central Rail Trail, Lake Dunstan Trail, Roxburgh Gorge Trail, Clutha Gold Trail, and the soon-to-open Kawarau Gorge Trail.

It’s free to use here:
https://shebikeshebikes.co.nz/apps/tripnotes/

If you’ve had a GREAT day riding Central Otago’s Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand, make sure you complete the trail survey too. Your feedback helps support continued funding for these trails.

Links to the surveys are included in the app.

24/08/2026

We’ve been beavering away on quite a few projects over winter, and one of significant ones is our all-new SheBikesHeBikes Trip Notes app, now covering all five Central Otago trails that we service.

And the best bit? It’s completely FREE for anyone to use.

Why? Because we want everyone riding the Central Otago trails to have the best possible time.

Sometimes the difference between a brilliant day on the bike and an “oh dear…” moment is simply knowing where the next toilet is, where you can refill your water bottles, or that there’s a 20 km stretch ahead with nowhere to top up.

Because we’re locals, we’re generally pretty well in the know about what’s where, what’s open, and what’s changed. Putting all of that into a digital format means less paper, less waste, and, importantly, we can keep the information up to date.

For example, Ranfurly has a new café, Frida Tacos, and it’s already in the app.

Take a look at the preview and let us know what you think in the comments below. We’d love to hear your feedback.

https://shebikeshebikes.co.nz/apps/tripnotes/

and if you want to go directly to the Ranfurly section to confirm that Frida Taco is there then you can just following this link

https://shebikeshebikes.co.nz/apps/tripnotes/trails/otago-central-rail-trail/trip-notes

09/08/2026

Some places are more than just a pub, they're where stories are shared, friendships are made, and communities come together.

Today, we're incredibly proud to announce the next chapter for one of Central Otago's most iconic country hotels.

The Oturehua Railway Hotel is returning to its original name and will once again be known as the Rough Ridge Railway Hotel.

From 4 September, this historic hotel begins a new journey, honouring its rich past while creating an exciting future for locals, travellers, cyclists and everyone lucky enough to pass through our beautiful corner of the world.

The Rough Ridge Railway Hotel has welcomed generations of visitors to the Ida Valley, and we're excited to bring that name back to life. It's about celebrating our heritage, our incredible community, and everything that makes Central Otago such a special place to live and visit.

We can't wait to share what's in store over the coming weeks as we prepare to reopen the doors under the Rough Ridge Railway Hotel name.

Here's to preserving history, supporting our community, and creating many more memories together.

Welcome back to the Rough Ridge Railway Hotel.

24/07/2026

Is the Lake Dunstan Trail too hard for you? Here's how to tell before you book.

The trail is grade 2-3, and the honest answer is: most of it is straightforward, but the Cromwell Gorge section (Cornish Point to Clyde) is genuinely more demanding. Narrow, exposed, with steep drop-offs and no way off the trail once you're in it.

Run through this checklist:

✅ I'm comfortable riding on gravel and uneven surfaces
✅ I've ridden a full day (35km+) on a bike before, not just short local rides
✅ Steep drop-offs and exposure don't bother me
✅ I can handle tight switchback corners at a controlled speed
✅ I'm reasonably fit, or I'm happy to ride an e-bike for the climbs

Ticked most of these? You'll be fine, and an e-bike takes the edge off the climb up to the Cairnmuir ladder and near Halfway Hut.

Not quite there yet? No shame in building up to it. Two good options:

🚴 Ride the Clutha loop between Clyde and Alexandra. It's flat, forgiving, has a mix of trail surfaces and challenges, and is a great way to get comfortable riding without the exposure. Accumulate rides like this and build your skills and comfort.

🚴 A multi-day ride like the Otago Central Rail Trail helps compound your "oneness" with a bicycle, getting you to that stage where shifting gears, braking, choosing a line on the trail become subconscious.

🚴 The take home message is: build up to it in stages. Start with shorter day trips on the easier sections, then step up to the Roxburgh Gorge Trail. It's a good middle ground before you tackle Lake Dunstan's gorge section.

Did you find this helpful?