Thank goodness for the rails

'Dunedin 55 km' was written on the green and white signpost in the center of Milton. Despite the fact that Dunedin was our destination, we ignored the sign and, following the advice of our friendly campground manager, headed in the opposite direction, following the inconspicuous, gold-brown signs that led us away from State Highway 1 to the start of the Clutha Gold Trail.

This was the beginning of an inland route that would take us 400 kilometers to Dunedin, the second-largest city on the South Island. We chose this route because it allowed us to take advantage of two of the 23 Great Rides that New Zealand offers for cyclists. Both Great Rides, the Clutha Gold Trail and the Otago Central Rail Trail, follow the routes of former railway lines and were therefore perfectly suited for our fully loaded bikes.

Along with many other cyclists, most of them on e-bikes and carrying light luggage, we wound our way along well-maintained gravel roads through the fantastic landscape of the Otago region, stopping in small towns, visiting the local restaurants along the way, and enjoying the long "detour" from beginning to end. (Dunedin, New Zealand)