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E-bike hire on the Lake Dunstan Trail

The short answer

41km, grade 1–3, easy to intermediate, usually ridden in 1 day. 4 hosts hire Sinch e-bikes on it — SheBikesHeBikes, Trail Journeys, nzbiketrails and Adventure South NZ, with pick-ups at Clyde, Cromwell, Bannockburn.

Cantilevered boardwalks clipped to the cliffs above Lake Dunstan, Cromwell to Clyde in a day.

4 hosts hire Sinch e-bikes on the Lake Dunstan Trail

A rider on the Cairnmuir switchbacks above Lake Dunstan
Qualmark Gold
SheBikesHeBikes Clyde, Central Otago · 6 depots & pick-ups

Depots in six towns across the network, so riders can start, finish or switch trails without being tied to one location.

Shuttles Luggage transfer Kids' bikes Briefing & maps
Book direct
Book direct with the team · about 2 days ahead
Two riders on the canal road on the Alps 2 Ocean
Qualmark Gold
Trail Journeys Clyde, Central Otago · 7 depots & pick-ups

On-trail support for every client and equipment kept to a standard, with vehicle backup if it is needed.

Shuttles Luggage transfer Kids' bikes Briefing & maps
Book direct
Book online or phone · a day ahead for day trips, months for multi-day
The cantilevered clip-on boardwalk above Lake Dunstan
Qualmark Gold
nzbiketrails Wānaka · 6 depots & pick-ups

Quality bikes, run by passionate trail riders who are committed to making sure you have a brilliant time.

Shuttles Luggage transfer Kids' bikes Briefing & maps
Book direct
Book online · same-day bookings taken, and up to 2 years ahead
Four riders on the Otago Central Rail Trail, riding out through a rock cutting
Qualmark Gold
Adventure South NZ Christchurch, Canterbury · 2 depots & pick-ups

Small-group guided cycling holidays, fully supported, with Sinch e-bike hire added at booking.

Shuttles Luggage transfer Kids' bikes Briefing & maps
Book direct
Guided trips · book 2–12 months ahead

Rider questions

Marked up as FAQPage structured data

How hard is the Lake Dunstan Trail, really?

It is 41km rated Grade 1–3. The Cromwell end is flat and easy; the cliff section into Clyde has short climbs and cantilevered boardwalks. On an e-bike most riders are on the bike for about two and a half hours, plus stops.

Do I need an e-bike?

You do not need one, but every host here recommends one. Gravel has far more rolling resistance than tarmac and a Central Otago headwind can undo a whole day. As one host puts it: you are on holiday, take the e-bike.

Which direction should I ride?

Cromwell to Clyde. It runs with the prevailing wind and saves the boardwalks and the Clyde Dam for the finish. Hosts will start you at Clyde if you insist, but it is the harder way round.

How does the shuttle work?

You are driven to the start and ride back to your car, or you ride one way and get shuttled back. All three hosts on this trail run rider-plus-bike shuttles between Cromwell and Clyde.

Can children ride it?

Yes, with a caveat. Hosts recommend 10 years and up on an e-bike for Lake Dunstan, and stock 20", 24" and 26" bikes. Tag-alongs, trailers and child seats are available from the Clyde depot.

Where do I meet the host?

This is the most common question hosts get. Meeting points are the Junction Lookout and McNulty Inlet in Cromwell, and the Clyde Dam boat ramp or Fraser Street in Clyde. Be ten minutes early — shuttles cannot wait.

Where you pick the bike up

Meeting points on this trail. Be ten minutes early — shuttles cannot wait.

Clyde depot 13 Fraser Street, Clyde, Central Otago SheBikesHeBikes
Cromwell meeting point 20 Matthews Crescent, Cromwell 9310 SheBikesHeBikes
Bannockburn depot 164 Felton Road, Bannockburn, Central Otago SheBikesHeBikes
Clyde depot 16 Springvale Road, Clyde, Central Otago 9391 Trail Journeys
Cromwell — Highlands Highlands, Cromwell, Central Otago Trail Journeys
Cromwell — McNulty Inlet 5 McNulty Inlet, Cromwell, Otago 9310 nzbiketrails
Cromwell — The Junction Lookout The Junction Lookout, Cromwell, Otago 9310 nzbiketrails
Clyde Dam boat ramp 145 Fruitgrowers Road, Clyde, Otago 9391 nzbiketrails
Trails that link up with this one
Otago Central Rail Trail 152km · Grade 1 · 3 hosts Roxburgh Gorge Trail 21km · Grade 3 · 4 hosts Clutha Gold Trail 135km · Grade 1-2 · 3 hosts Kawarau Gorge Trail 32km · Grade 2-3 · 4 hosts Queenstown Trails 138km · Grade 1-3 · 3 hosts Wānaka & Hāwea Trails 30km · Grade 1-2 · 1 host