Building boutique accommodation in the small Central Otago town of Ōmakau sounds like a risky venture but for former policeman Colin Stevenson it was a no-brainer. 

Riders embarking on New Zealand’s first Great Ride, the Otago Central Rail Trail, have increased markedly since it first opened 25 years ago. 

As a result, Colin and wife Mandy decided to cater for the rising demand for beds in the former gold mining town, which sits just 100m from the Great Ride. 

Colin is a fourth generation local. The couple and their young family moved back from Queenstown to take up a police post in Ōmakau before dabbling in the hospitality industry.

“Ōmakau is where we used to holiday when I was little. My grandad worked on the railway there, so did my uncle Keith (pictured right at Ōmakau station). Other family members went into the police.”

Over time Colin noticed a rising number of cars with bikes on the back passing through and saw the potential to tap into the market. 

Initially, the couple resurrected a dilapidated former draper shop just off the main street and transformed it into a group of ensuite studio units. 

Most recently, they’ve sliced up their .5ha land on the outskirts of town and built three architecturally-designed units, complete with private decks, mountain views and a bike shed with charging stations (pictured below).

And their business, Schist Rock Lodge, is thriving. 

“Tourism numbers have grown exponentially, and it’s meant people like us have had the confidence to build businesses like accommodation, pubs and cafes all along the trail. 

“Our towns are thriving. Ōmakau used to consist of five stock agents and a bank. There were empty shops and derelict buildings. 

“Now those buildings are being used to accommodate Otago Rail Trail riders. Others have been turned into cafes or pubs, and there are always bikes parked outside, it’s absolutely wonderful.” 

The latest Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand evaluation report shows Colin and Mandy’s business is one of more than 2900 that service the Great Rides. That’s up on the 1600 recorded in 2021.  

And like Colin and Mandy, about 20 percent of those businesses opened because of the Great Rides.

“We are definitely catering for a need. Our business would not have happened if it wasn’t for the Otago Rail Trail, there’s no doubt about that,” says Colin.

“The economic impact of the Great Rides is huge. It’s given our towns a new lease on life. Without the Great Rides businesses would not be there, there would be empty shops, and towns non-existent.” 

The beauty of living in a small town, Colin says, is that the community gets right behind the Otago Rail Trail too, be it planting natives, trapping pests or working in governance roles. 

Colin is manager of Otago Central Rail Trail Trust, which raises and invests money into developing, maintaining and improving the trail. 

He’s proud of their most recent community initiative, the Thomsons Creek catchment project, a 5ha wetland designed to improve water quality. 

It involved 17 of 19 farms in the area, with support from the wider community, including the local school, councils, environmental groups and small businesses.

Officially opened earlier this year, the wetland has already become a rich environment for animals, birds and native plantings, with volunteers including local tamariki involved in bird monitoring and predator control. 

“This Great Ride is building a legacy. It’s drawing domestic and international visitors of all ages and abilities to our region, and it’s bringing the community together – it's all about the people. 

“We are so grateful for our world-class scenery, and all the experiences people can enjoy off-trail like in nearby Naseby where you can go curling.  

“Having witnessed Great Rides like the Otago Central Rail Trail evolve, it has been an incredible journey and yet there’s so much more potential across the entire Great Rides network. 

“Our trail is 25 years old now, but I feel like we’ve only just begun.” 

See the best of New Zealand by bike.  Get off the beaten track and ride the Otago Central Rail Trail Great Ride