It was so brand-spankin’ that the trail was almost gleaming.

With the extraordinary use it had been receiving, however, since it’s May 8 opening, the Lake Dunstan Trail was more than likely just well-polished!

The 58.3km (each way) trail, takes riders and walkers alongside the incredibly picturesque Lake Dunstan, the Kawarau and Clutha Rivers; starting at Smith’s Way and finishing in Clyde.

This new trail adds to the myriad of cycling, walking and running tracks on offer in the Central Otago region - another great reason to visit the area.

There are numerous drop-in, drop-out points along the Lake Dunstan Trail making it attractive for people to plan their own excursions for as little or as long as they like. It would also be an option to combine both walking and cycling in the one trip. It would also be possible for those wishing to add on to their adventure, to include the cycle trails leading from Clyde, such as the Otago Rail Trail.

I checked out the trail last weekend, and not being one generally to jump into this type of cycling, (preferring instead to be in bush or forested single track), I was blown away by the scenery and immaculate trail design.

Boarded tracks jut out from the sides of sheer cliffs, trails snake their way upward with names such as the ‘Cairnmuir Ladder’ and epic views greet you around every corner. I could not believe the engineering genius that had gone into the construction of this trail.

I opted to start my ride at Cornish Point.

There is not much space for parking there and the need for more planning around this, plus access down to the track along with amenities such as a toilet, would be welcome additions in the future. I arrived and found a parking space, but by the time I had off-loaded my bike, donned my cycling gear and swigged a mouthful of water, both sides of the road were swelling with would-be nosey-parkers like myself.

The distance from Cornish Point to Clyde is 29km. I decided to turn around 2km shy of Clyde as the day was marching on and my pace had been not far off from that of a snail. A slow snail.

I was surprised at how I had under-estimated this trail - it was more challenging than I had given it credit for.

Then again - maybe I was just a lot less fit than I thought I was - in fact I KNEW I was a lot less fit than I thought I was! I could also see how people may well also under-estimate it and get stuck without drinking water.

Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink. Take plenty! There is one old hand pump along-side the track, not far from the first toilet stop along the Cornish Point to Clyde section. This can be used to pump water up from a small stream. Given its down-slope proximity to the toilet, I decided that was not a fantastic option.

There was, however, COFFEE.

Coffee Afloat - offering fantastic coffee, cakes, cookies, chocolate, cold drinks and ice blocks.

Yes … coffee.

Coffee Afloat has positioned itself at the foot of the first major climb between Cornish Point and Clyde - the Cairnmuir Ladder. I cycled through wondering why everyone was gathered around on the trail, getting in the way of people hooning down the ladder at break-neck speeds. It took me a moment to realise that here, in the oddest of all places, was a cafe.

What a bloody brilliant idea!

I did think to myself though “here’s an accident waiting to happen” - as folk were wandering about in a caffeine-fuelled stupor, oblivious to the dangers of rapidly descending and approaching cyclists.

Ah well, death by coffee probably isn’t such a bad way to go.

I had decided originally I was going to bike to Clyde and have a late lunch there, but I turned back about 2-3km from my destination, as the day was moving quickly by and I had not been as lightning fast as I thought I would be (cough, cough). My legs were tired from my previous days antics, and now my tummy was empty - all I could think about was that cafe on the water and its coffee. I found myself repeating the mantra (in time with my pedal-stroke), “please be open, please be open” and then “please take eftpos, please take eftpos”.

It was a yes to both.

Win.

The owner of the floating caffeine-heaven, said many people on the trail just came as far as the cafe; guzzled their coffee and then turn and went back; seeing it as a good place to call it a day and avoiding the zig-zag ascent up ‘the ladder’. The cafe also sells cold drinks, a wickedly good brownie and other slices, cookies, chocolate and ice blocks.

I was certain that I was one of a handful of m-bikes on the trail.

An m-bike is what I term a ‘manpower-bike’, and they were few and far between the day I was out grovelling up hills and feeling like I had not seen any form of fitness since 1986. The advent of the e-bike has lured people out to explore on gravel, where previously they may never have contemplated cycling, let alone cycling on any form of dirt.

This trail was, on this day, the e-bike epi-centre of the world.

Whilst I was in the midst of my own private hell, ascending the Cairnmuir Ladder

and other forms of evil,

95 year-old great-grannies were effortlessly floating past me, waving, seemingly with a bottle of bubbly in one hand and a bunch of flowers (smelling like lavender) in the other. I cursed these e-bike maniacs who showed no respect for the suffering that m-bikers endured, and briefly pondered a life with a battery under my seat and pain-free legs.

No - I shall not yield.

If this trail gets people out of their homes and into the outdoors, then they can flock in their e-bike droves.

Some advice would be:

Plan your trip in advance by having a good look at the Lake Dunstan Trail website. That way you can make decisions about how far to go, where to start, where to eat and where the toilets are.
Take toilet paper - I found the toilets along the trail to be devoid of the stuff!
Take plenty of water. There are a few small streams and one water pump along the way, but given that the water is coming from agricultural land above, I would not be keen to drink it.
Take a puncture repair kit and pump, and know how to fix a flat tyre.
If you are wanting a really nice break, take your wallet for either a break along the way at Coffee Afloat (not sure if it is there weekdays also or just weekends), cafes in Clyde or in the Heritage precinct if you start before Cromwell.
Bring a camera! The views are stunning.
Be careful on the boarded sections - these are narrow and it is not easy to see on-coming riders/walkers.
Be careful on descents. There are numerous steep twisty descents with steep drop-offs.
If you are on an e-bike and want to rely on the battery for the steeper sections, make sure it is well-charged, otherwise be prepared to push those pedals harder once it runs out (as I saw some people having to do!).
Wear a helmet - please! I saw some knobs without helmets, no water, no repair kits - nothing. Good on you!

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