Alps to Ocean Trail – Omarama to Otematata

The shortest and possibly the most scenic day cycling the A2O Trail, with 37km almost all off-road heading around the shores of beautiful Lake Benmore. Heading out of Omarama the trail passes attractive fields, framed by the Chain Hills in the distance.

The track drops down toward the edge of the lake, an enjoyable downhill section.

Pumpkin Point was a great place for panoramic views of Lake Benmore.

The trail hugs the lake shore round to Sailors Cutting, a popular place for people to launch their boats. This was the first of many full campsites the trail passed by over the next few days. I cycled A2O over New Year 2023, peak holiday season. These are not really tent campsites though, far more common were huge trailers with accompanying multi-room tents, many of which were surrounded by temporary fencing. People come to places like these every year for decades, arriving early to nap their favourite spots. While I enjoy camping I’d prefer somewhere with a little more solitude…

The wildflowers were in full bloom, though most of these while attractive are introduced pests, rather than native plants.

Heading up toward Translator Saddle there were great views across the lake.

The track gets more technical from here, with narrow paths and steep drop offs. Thankfully I cycled it relatively early in the day and there were surprisingly few people around. It is a popular section to cycle, with people tackling it in both directions, and there were many blind corners, so care needs to be taken.

Unfortunately for photography the clouds arrived but the scenery was pretty impressive.

There was only hanging section of track, far less than the more challenging Lake Dunstan Trail.

It can be a little tricky concentrating on the track when the views are like this…

My favourite views though were at the end when Benmore Dam, the largest earth filled dam in New Zealand, came into sight.

Possibly the steep descent of the trail followed, though on sealed road, reaching 60kph coming down from the dam toward Otematata. The trail passes by the pleasant Otematata Wetlands.