Te Aka Ōtākou
Te Aka Ōtākou, Ōtepoti Dunedin’s shared pathway which lines the scenic Otago Harbour is the perfect excuse to get out and about, enjoy some scenery and explore the wider Dunedin area. About 30(-ish) kilometres in length, the loop has been bestowed the official name of Te Aka Ōtākou (The Otago Vine), fitting, as the trail clings to the shores of one of the most picturesque locations in the country.
Start where you like, finish where you like. Tackle it in one day or pick a side to explore over two, there’s no wrong way to do it. It’s a real choose your own adventure. The path is mostly flat and fully sealed. The duration of the full loop, with ferry crossing, can take from 2-4 hours depending on how many photos you stop to take, and snack stops you make. Walking can take between 6-7 hours, but nature sets the pace if there’s a strong head/tailwind or a sealion parks itself in the road.
Mountain Biking
Dunedin is a mountain biker’s playground and single track trails can be found in every direction. Year-round the city is perfect for mountain biking, with hillside tracks to suit all abilities, winding through beautiful native and exotic forests. MTB Otago have excellent information on all of Dunedin’s mountain biking tracks. Popular rides include:
- Signal Hill
- Bethunes Gully
- Whare Flat
- Redwoods/Wakari Creek
- Leith Valley
Road Cycling
Dunedin is a fantastic city for cycling. A compact layout and a flat run all the way from the top of North East Valley through to South Dunedin and St Clair beach, or around the Harbour, make Dunedin easy to get around by bike.
The hills and bays around the city and on the Peninsula provide ample opportunity for riding, at all levels of difficulty, set against a stunning backdrop of hill, Harbour, and coastal scenery.
Our network of dedicated cycle lanes, shared pedestrian and cycling paths, and some of the popular cycling routes into and out of the city are described here to help you get around safely and enjoyably.
Otago Central Rail Trail
The Otago Central Rail Trail is a 150-kilometre walking, cycling and horse riding track in the South Island of New Zealand. The trail runs in an arc between Middlemarch and Clyde, along the route of the former Otago Central Railway. This is a very popular trail and accommodation should be booked well in advance, ask the i-Site Visitor Centre to help you.