A bit of background
Ok so if you don’t know much about the Goldfields Cavalcade, or you want to know how it went in 2026 you have come to the right place. If you want to skip reading a blog the main info is on the Goldfields Heritage Trust website.
The first Cavalcade was in 1993 with a couple of horse trails following the old goldminers trails. That’s pretty much all the history I am going to give as I will probably get it wrong. Just one more important point. The first walking trail was in 1996 so this year was super special as it was the 30 year anniversary. At the end we were joined by some of the early supporters and walkers.
A few quick points:
- Held once a year (only missed one year in COVID times)
- Multiple trails from large wagons, through horses to walking, running ,biking and tramping
- Each trail has a trail boss and helpers and catering organized.
- There are only two paid staff to run it the rest are all volunteers. Many of whom support it year after year
- It moves around the Central Otago/Mackenzie region. A host town takes on the organizing of the finish with a huge parade, market day, meal and hoe down
- It is a paid activity, as you can imagine, this year it was $695
What I did in 2026
VERY IMPORTANT – this is my experience only, if you do a Cavalcade in the future only take advice from the Goldfields Trust and your trail boss!
So this was not my first Cavalcade 15 years ago I did one that finished in Oamaru. It was a pretty emotional one for me as it was only a few weeks after the devastating earthquakes in Christchurch where I lived. I had been keen to cancel my booking but went along as I was doing it with my mum and my brother is the main organizer of it. It took me a few days to settle in but by the time it finished I was very happy I went.
15 years flies by with a family and work so I hadn’t got back to another one. When I found out this one was around Middlemarch I had to go. This is my turangawaiwai – the place I call home. I grew up as a child just a few kilometers away in Hyde.
It’s a pretty unforgiving landscape of beautiful rocks and dry ground with little to no shelter. I knew it would not be easy but there was plenty of motivation. My brother still organizing it. My 84 yr old father being our ‘gofer’ and my 83 yr old mother also joining the walk in some parts and helping Dad the rest.
Out came the walking shoes, the prep began. Maybe not enough in hindsight but I make up for fitness with real grunt and stamina!
A quick look at the Cavalcade
A few background bits before we get into the trail
- You only carry a day pack – your bedding and pack are transported each day to the next nights accommodation. You are provided with a packing list.
- You only need take snacks as catering for breakfast, lunch (usually taken with you) and dinner are provided
- There is a bar tab each night for alcoholic and no alcoholic drinks
- You have a Trail Boss ours (Moira) was amazing. They get you up and going and look after you on the trail.
- You have a gofer who sorts things after you leave and moves things to the next stop. Also this trip occasionally picks up people, where possible, who are straggling
- Everyone should aim to finish the flat 5k walk in about an hour. It helps us keep up and stick together as a group. This is not a solo activity.
- This is not an individual event. We all stayed in sight of each other and waited if we needed to. It created a huge sense of community.
- Portaloo’s came with us everywhere
Sleeping
Ok this requires its own section. If you are anything like me noise that either you or others create can be a challenge. Take ear plugs there will always be a snorer, this time I was identified as one.
Accommodation can vary greatly. We stayed in a community hall the first night. We laid our sleeping mats out in a cozy but manageable way. Some brought tents, either sophisticated or just pop ups, so they were away from the noise. However, there were some good tent snorers as well!
Most of our accommodation was in woolsheds and working woolsheds at that. So think narrow step access, plenty of sheep poop and very basic facilities if any. As a farm girl I loved it but a few did find it a bit smelly.
I am a bit of a night waker and wanderer. So on the last two nights I moved my bedding out to sleep in the horse float that took our gear each day. It caused a bit of hilarity but was as comfy as. I could sleep or watch the stars from inside.
Day 1 – Macraes
We all had to arrive in Middlemarch by 3pm with our gear, ready to head to the first stop. We left our cars here as we would end up back here in Middlemarch.
Thirty-five keen walkers on the Goldfields Cavalcade, our trail boss (Moira) and off sider and our gofer (Jack or Dad to me). Two portaloo’s on a trailer and a horse float full of packs and bedding. Some were total newbies and some were old hands.
They transported us to Macraes Flat for the night in the local hall. After a few set up their tents, we went to explore the old town (about 10 buildings).
We were treated to the wagon trail coming through. That was just the perfect start to the Cavalcade. The horses are the stars, and the wagons are the super stars. Macraes is a beautiful place to explore with some good walks and history. A bonus was seeing Cooks Transport come through, this was who Dad sold his transport to 50 years ago – its still the same colours but a lot bigger.
Dinner arrived and we dined out in the field in front of the accommodation. There was a fun quiz that night just to warm us all up. The main excitement overnight was the full eclipse of the moon. When you don’t sleep that well its very easy to see in the early hours in the perfectly clear sky.
The evening talk set up the expectations for the next day. 20-25km walk, possibly seeing some rare skinks (foot long) and away at 8:45 after breakfast was delivered. It was a bit futher than we were expecting but we were up for it.
Day 2 – Nenthorn Valley
Getting going
We left from Macraes, walked up Red Bank Road before turning off into Ross Rd towards the Nenthorn Conservation area. We were lucky Goldfields Cavalcade had both doc concessions and also the support of local farmers. Today one transported a few people to the top of a hill and showed us a slightly shorter way to our end point.
Our stop for lunch, and it was like a café meal with fried chicken, noodles and salad all in a container, was perched on the side of the road. To be fair some liked lunch and some were less keen hoping for a sandwich. I certainly thought it was very flash sitting up on the top of the hills, seeing for miles with a yummy cafe lunch.
We got to walk in some beautiful areas you would never usually have access to, this land is hot and dry though and shade was hard to find.
By the time we were heading out of Nenthorn conservation area we were hot and tired being 25km down, so the vans were there to pick us up. They us the boring 3km along the road to our farm and woolshed for the night. There were no complaints about that as we all had to get through tomorrow as well.
Cooling off
After picking a spot inside the woolshed to sleep a van load went to the local ford for a swim. Well swim would be an over statement. There was not much water, but we did not care . I hadn’t thought to bring togs, so it was bra and knickers for me, we were all basically family by this time and 80% women. There was a farmer trying to fill his sprayer from the river and it certainly was his amusement for the day ‘I wish I could take a photo they won’t believe me down at the pub’
No entertainment this night except for an informative talk by the farmer that was hosting us and who’s land we would be walking on tomorrow. Then we were all in bed super early.
The instructions for the next day. We would be up and away with our gear in the horse float by 7:30. Breakfast would be on the road later. It was shorter but with some serious climb. An option for people get a ride to the top after breakfast if they wanted to miss that bit.
Day 3 – Taieri Ridge
Getting going
Everyone was up and ready to go early and with breakfast later it was a bit easier. I think we left our gofer with a big job of getting all the drinks and food from the night before down those narrow woolshed stairs and then have time to go and get breakfast!
Today’s walk was up and over the Taieri Ridge through Moonlight flat . Our end point was a farm on Hartfield Road (Strathhaven) close to the Taieri river.
The first hill was fine, nice view from the top and with the day still cool not too much bother. This got us to our breakfast spot (always cereals and a cooked breakfast) before we headed up the real hill! This was the sort of hill that needs a zig zag track, but we headed straight up. The sun was starting to come out as well making it quite the challenge. Not super long though and stunning views across both ways once you got to the top. We were also now fully in the beautiful rocky landscape of the Strath Taieri which I love so much.
Lunch was dropped off to us at the top along with water and the walkers that decided to skip the hill. We wondered on a little bit longer with Terry (brother and Cavalcade organizer) showing us the way. The only trouble following Terry is he is a mountain runner. He did slow the pace for us thank goodness. Lunch, for those happy to climb, was on the edge of a crater. Who knew such an amazing cater was up here, Just an incredible landscape. While up there mum told us all about the history of our family that came here 60 years ago to start a transport before heading to Cromwell to farm.
Afternoon
We were then met by the farmer, Bevan, who walked us through high tussocks, open land, a few creeks up and downs and all the way through to Nenthorn Conservation area. His estimate of about 4-6km was just a little out so when we got to close to the end there were a couple of vehicles with water and rides for those who had had enough of the sun.
Along they way you all get to chat finding new buddies to walk beside and new conversations to be had. The fist question is usually ‘have you done this before’ but with some wearing a hat full of cavalcade badges you could skip that particular question.
I had managed to roll on my ankle about three times so while it was ok I decided that meant I was clearly tired so skipped the last 3 kms. Mum had walked out this whole way as well, so we jumped in with Dad to thewoolshed for the night.
We arrived the woolshed on Strathhaven farm and promptly were transported to the Taieri for a swim. Much more water than yesterday and very very refreshing.
Tonight was a fun Mexican night with food and dress ups, though our entertainment was the farmers son on the bagpipes, we were very impressed.
The instructions for the next day were a promise of a much shorter walk, be up and ready by 7:30.
I had a bit of an unsettled night, wanting to get up and down a bit but not disturb people. So I made the call to go and sleep in the horse float our gear travelled in. I was cozy as and it caused a bit of amusement the next day when people came to throw their gear in.
Day 4 – Middlemarch and 30th Goldfields Cavalcade Celebrations
Another 7:30am start for breakfast and to get us out before the heat. We started with a ride to the beginning instead of walking along a sealed road. We started at the obvious landmark of one tree hill – the sapling was planted after the first world war and is quite the statement now. This was another farmer who led the walk and she shared lots of interesting information about the area. The commitment from the local community to this event is huge and they are hoping to cover over a local swimming pool with the money made from visitors to the area.
We walked across a couple of farmers land looking at old stone cottages, huge numbers of shist rocks and insane views. A much more undulating walk today . While no shade again the plan was to finish at the river for a swim and lunch, so we knew it was not going to be another 5pm finish. We were right in among the rocks today and came across a nest, we assume was a hawk or falcon, full of rabbit or small bird skeletons.
Getting to the river was great but crossing it was where the fun began. Yet again another example of the locals getting in behind the cavalcade as we were transported across on a tractor and trailer. The campground was a private one belonging to the farmer. It was also the base for one of the horse trails so was full of floats and a few horses.
Visiting the land of skinks
Another swim was had as well as lunch before we were driven up to the property called ‘Elsewhere’ named because the weather always ends with ‘elsewhere fine’ and they really wanted to live in that place! This was home to a very interesting talk on the local skink – a foot long and striped on its back. We didn’t see any as it was a windy day and they are not keen on wind but was super interesting. A few very hardy souls went on for a walk to the salt lake but with high heat and 3pm in the afternoon the rest of us were transported back to our accommodation for the night . Another woolshed but this one very close to Middlemarch for our walk in tomorrow.
30th Celebrations
It was a pretty special walk this one as it was the 30th walking trail. Some of the early folk that got the Cavalcade going and have kept it going were there to join us as well as the tramping and running trails. A band turned up and we were all thinking this would not end well with everyone exhausted but instead we had just the most amazing evening dancing. There is nothing like a woolshed party.
Back to my horse float for a final night of sleep.
Day 5 – Grand Parade
Our last morning and final clean up before a short(ish) walk into town to get ready for the parade. It was a misty but pretty start after all our blue-sky sunny days.
We arrived back at our cars in time to get dressed up in our 1800’s outfits to join the parade through town. But not before a coffee at the local café and getting our gear out of the horse float one final time. Some of those that had been before had some great outfits, but we didn’t do too badly.
We headed off through town to join the parade or walkers, runners, trampers, bikers, riders and wagons. It was huge fun with everyone lining the streets and waving and calling to people they new, you really felt part of something much bigger than just our amazing walk. The parade finishes with a full circuit of the show grounds. Luckily, we were at the front of the parade (to avoid horse poop!) so we got to watch all the horses come through at the end.
I grew up with horses around and can ride a horse, but it has never been a great love of mine but I sure love watching these amazing animals with the Clydesdales top of my list.
Farwell’s and hugs all around having spent that much time in such close contact you do create great connections, even if just for a few days. Car packed, back in modern day cloths and the 5 hour journey home started.
Next year?
Did I love it, YES, Did I manage better than I thought I would, YES, Was it hard, YES, would I do it again? ask me next week but I think my answer would be YES
What would I do different:
- Probably take a tent . While a pain to dry and pitch each day I would feel less like I was disturbing others
- Pack differently, I had mostly the right things but just not well organized
- Have gaiters for my gym shoes – I forgot how bad the barley grass is
- Take togs!
Till next time….
