The many viaducts, embankments and tunnels are testament to the sheer hard work, ingenuity and skill of the men who built this railroad with little more than picks and shovels.
They would be regarded as engineering feats even today with the modern equipment that we now have at our disposal. I guess they would never have imagined that the result of their labour would be thousands of people leisurely travelling along it every year by bike.
The real highlight was the opportunity to simply talk to each other and share a lot of laughs with the amazing people we met along the way. Country cafes and pubs now replace the once-busy little railway stations, usually marked by 30 or so bikes parked outside. As most of them are hire bikes it was useful to leave your water bottle on them to make sure you left on the right one.
The hotel meals of blue cod enjoyed with a Central Otago Pinot Gris were also another experience not easily forgotten.
The youngest cyclist we saw was four and the oldest were in their seventies. Accommodation ranged from tents to luxurious B & Bs. So as long as you are reasonably fit, the ride caters for every age and budget and provides a great Kiwi experience that in my opinion should not be missed.
