Good news: Otago Gold Rush run features navigation so simple, even I could pull it off!
Began with a foot in the Arrow River below the historic Chinese miner settlement and headed up the Arrowtown hill via Buckingham and Berkshire, turned onto Malaghans and took this stunning country road all the way to Queenstown (it changes names to Arthur’s Pt Road and Gorge Road but keeps rolling uninterrupted, following the old wagon trail). In final meters, turned onto Shotover Street and Beach Street onto Eichardt’s Private Hotel finish and a beautiful view of Queenstown Bay and Lake Wakatipu.
One special highlight was crossing Edith Cavell Bridge, named for the heroic English nurse who was executed during the first World War for helping allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium. Also enjoyed the historic plaques at the finish commemorating the repurposed wool shed.
Ran in my Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24’s and they handled paved and gravel shoulder with ease. Legs felt great though a stiff back wasn’t quite ideal. 10/10 recommend this route for folks looking for a scenic adventure on New Zealand’s south island!