This year in 2007, it is 145 years since Cobb & Co started a coach service from Dunedin over the Old Dunstan Trail to the Dunstan (Clyde) and the Manuherikia (Alexandra) Goldfields. And, it's 22 years since we (as Venture South NZ) first took clients over this exciting, historic trail. Now, we are proud to operate this service again. Today this trail is 6 hr journey between Middlemarch and Clyde or in conjunction with the Taieri Gorge Railway trip.


The Old Dunstan Road was and still is the most direct route between Dunedin and Alexandra. The route (see map) climbs the lower slopes of the Rock & Pillars, traverses the Lammermoor Range at 1000m, crosses the upper Taieri river at Styx, over Raggedy range and down past Poolburn, (of Lord of the Rings fame) and into the Manuherikia valley upstream from Alexandra/Clyde. This is a great trip - a very historic journey through the centre of Otago.


This is a guided eco-trail experience for individuals and small groups. The total distance is about 130km spread over 6 hours which means time for short walks and side trips to places of special interest. The road surface is unsealed, graveled in places, muddy after rain and rough in places and not suitable for conventional cars. Our max seating capacity is 8. All our vehicles are 4WD. The trip includes a highly informative interpretation of the natural and social history, a pic nic lunch and tea/coffee.


For those with their own high ground clearance 4WD vehicle, you may follow in your own vehicle as a tag-along and join in for the benefits of the guiding, meeting others and lunch. For those with bikes there is no problem. Hire cycles may be obtained from Nature-wise or left in Middlemarch for pick up and return to Clyde. If you have your own cycle, Nature-wise has cycle racks some bikes. The nature of our operation means that it is not practical to carry large numbers of bikes