Exploring Aotearoa’s great outdoors is even better when your dog can come along for the ride. For active dog owners, adventures don’t stop at the trailhead — they simply become shared experiences. When Team Pawsome set their sights on completing the iconic Otago Rail Trail, one thing was certain: Madrone was coming too. With the right preparation, thoughtful pacing, and reliable gear, this 155km cycling adventure turned into an unforgettable experience for both humans and dog alike.
Here’s how they made it work — and what they learned along the way.
Arctic Sammy: Tell us a bit about yourselves
Sarah: Team Pawsome is myself (Sarah), my fiancé Melissa, and our fur baby Madrone — an 18-month-old staffy cross rescue pup, professional love bug, and all-round good girl.
Melissa and I are both very active, with waka ama being our main passion. When we’re not on the water, you’ll usually find us hiking, biking, at the beach, car camping, or exploring different corners of Aotearoa. From the moment we talked about getting a dog, we knew they’d be fully integrated into our lifestyle. That meant wherever we go, they go — and we’ve fully embraced that since adopting Madrone about 15 months ago.
Madrone is the ultimate adventure buddy: confident, outgoing, highly adaptable, and extremely fit and athletic. She’s equally happy running trails, snoozing in the car, or charming strangers at a pub garden.
Arctic Sammy: What inspired you to complete the Otago Rail Trail with a dog?
Sarah: We’re always up for a challenge and love pushing ourselves a little outside our comfort zone. With my Dad (aka Mr T), an avid cyclist, visiting us from the UK, it felt like the paw-fect opportunity for a family adventure.
We already owned a bike trailer and had cycled with Madrone along the Taranaki Coastal Walkway and on local Wellington trails, so it was never really a question of if she’d come — it was always how.
The 155km Otago Rail Trail is graded “Easiest” (Grade 1) in the Ngā Haerenga / New Zealand Great Rides system, thanks to its flat, gentle gradients and wide, smooth surface. We knew people regularly ride it with kids in trailers, so we figured with the right planning, it would be totally doable with a dog too.
Arctic Sammy: How did the trip go — and how dog-friendly did you find the trail?
Sarah: We completed the trail from Middlemarch to Clyde over three nights and four days. Day one was a big one at 53km, with the remaining days more evenly split at around 31–35km per day.
One of our biggest challenges before the trip was finding reliable advice about doing the Rail Trail with a dog. Despite posting in several NZ Facebook groups, we didn’t get much useful guidance. After a lot of Googling, we pieced together dog-friendly accommodation options — a mix of camping and cabins — which was our top priority. We stayed at Middlemarch Campground, Behind the Bike Sheds Waipiata, Crows Nest Oturehua, and Ōmakau Domain Camp ground. To keep things light, we carried a backpacking tent and only needed it for one night. It was also important that my Dad had a proper bed each night, which we managed at every stop. Everywhere we stayed was genuinely welcoming of dogs, and we’d happily recommend them all. Bonus: the country taverns along the trail were consistently dog-friendly, with great outdoor areas.
Arctic Sammy: How did Madrone keep up with you on the trail?
Sarah: Madrone ended up running around 36km of the total distance — 20km on day one, 15km on day two, and a cruisy 1km on day four. The rest of the time, I was her personal chauffeur in the bike trailer. One of our biggest learnings was that Madrone will absolutely keep going if we let her. We kept a close eye on her paw pads, hydration, and overall energy levels throughout the trip, and adjusted plans as needed. We also tracked our pace on our watches, which gave us a really clear indication of when she was starting to slow — a sure sign it was time for a trailer break.
In hindsight, we’d recommend shorter running stints spread more evenly across all four days, with plenty of rest time built in.
Arctic Sammy: How was the trail itself? Is it "paw-friendly'?
Sarah: The trail surface varies — some sections are more paw-friendly than others — but there are plenty of smooth, runnable stretches. There’s livestock in adjoining paddocks along much of the trail, all well fenced, and it barely distracted Madrone. We did notice a lot of rabbits on day four between Ōmakau and Clyde, which reinforced our decision to keep her safely in the trailer for that section. Dogs must be on leash for all sections of the trail.
Arctic Sammy: What was your personal highlight of the trip?
Sarah: One of our favourite moments from the whole trip was watching Madrone run alongside the bikes with the biggest smile on her face, regularly checking in on each member of Team Pawsome with caring little side glances. And then — the moment she was popped back into the trailer — the indignant chattering protests would start. We tried very hard not to crack up laughing every single time.
Arctic Sammy: Which gear did you bring along for Madrone?
Sarah: A few key pieces of gear made this trip achievable. First up: the bike trailer. This allowed Madrone to rest when needed and provided shade during the hotter parts of the day. Our trailer weighs around 16kg and carries up to 45kg. Madrone sits at about 21.5kg and had plenty of room to lie down comfortably.
Next was her Arctic Sammy Adventure Dog Harness and Trail Runner Handsfree Leash. She’s been wearing the harness since she was around six months old and it’s still in perfect condition despite serious stress-testing — including plenty of river and sea swims. The harness meant there was no pressure on her neck while running alongside the bike, and the handsfree leash (clipped around my waist) gave me stability and control. We also used it to secure her inside the trailer and as a regular leash for evening pub strolls, so it definitely earned its keep.
We packed booties just in case the trail was too hot or stony, but didn’t end up using them — still glad we had them. A long line was handy at campsites, and a jacket kept her warm in the trailer during chilly Central Otago mornings.
Arctic Sammy: What should others know if they’re considering this trip with a dog?
Sarah: Start early. We were rolling by around 7.30am each day, which meant cooler riding conditions and plenty of time to relax once we reached our accommodation. Most afternoons were spent under a tree, splashing in rivers, or enjoying a cold drink in a pub garden — highly recommend.
Because the trail is one-way, most shuttle companies won’t take dogs. We used Central Cycle Trails’ car relocation service, which worked perfectly. It cost only $15 more than a shuttle (plus petrol) and meant our car was waiting for us in Clyde at the end — honestly ideal.
Pack plenty of water. We each wore hydration packs, which made it easy to drink on the go and offer Madrone water whenever she needed it. A clip-on, no-spill bowl for the trailer would have been amazing — maybe a future product idea Arctic Sammy?
Overall, how achievable the trail is will depend on a range of factors, including your dog’s fitness, temperament, and comfort around bikes, trailers, livestock, and new environments. For a dog like Madrone — short-haired, sun-loving, and endlessly energetic — it was an absolute dream trip.
Arctic Sammy: Anything else you would like to share with us?
With thoughtful planning, the right gear, and a dog who genuinely loves being part of the action, the Otago Rail Trail is an unforgettable way to experience one of Aotearoa’s great rides — paws, wheels, smiles, and all.
