Central Otago Vineyard Sweep · part 1

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Fuel stop near Cromwell

   Cromwell sits where two of Central Otago's big rivers used to meet, and these days the meeting happens under water. When the Clyde Dam was finished in the early 1990s, the rising Lake Dunstan swallowed the old town centre and much of the gorge, and what survived of the gold-era main street was rebuilt as a heritage precinct on the new lakeshore. It is worth the short detour: schist cottages, a bakery or two, and the eerie knowledge that the original riverbank is somewhere below the boats.

   Read the complete Fuel stop near Cromwell write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Central Otago Vineyard Sweep is where the day begins. Next is Queenstown / South Island return.

2. 2. Queenstown / South Island return

   The lake is long, deep and glacial, a cold turquoise in summer, with steep brown hills falling to its shores and snow-capped peaks beyond. The air here is clear, the silence is deep, and the only sounds are wind, water and birdsong.

   Read the complete Queenstown / South Island return write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Queenstown / South Island return comes up about 131 km into the recorded legs. Next is Central Otago Vineyard Sweep food stop.

3. 3. Central Otago Vineyard Sweep food stop

   This is the most southerly wine region in the world, a rain-shadow landscape where the mountains hold off the Tasman Sea weather and leave the valleys cold, bright and dry, with hot days and frosty nights that suit pinot noir.

   Read the complete Central Otago Vineyard Sweep food stop write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   The route ends here after 187 km.