Route confirmed for 2027 Central Machine Hire Otago Rally

Organisers of the 2027 Central Machine Hire Otago Rally have officially revealed the route and map for the 51st running of the southern hemisphere’s premier gravel event.

Serving as the highly anticipated first round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC), the 2027 itinerary promises a thrilling challenge. The route will feature 16 special stages covering 280 competitive kilometres, linked by 420 kilometres of touring.

This year’s rally route heads north of Dunedin and deep into the Berwick Forest. Competitors and fans will be thrilled to see the return of familiar favourites, including the spectacular Friday night ceremonial start in the Octagon, the tarmac Super Stage, and the iconic Waipori Gorge and Kuri Bush.

Adding to the challenge is a mammoth 30-kilometre test on the arterial roads of the Berwick Forest, which stands as the only repeated stage of the event, run once on Saturday and again on Sunday.

Sunday morning will wake crews up with the return of the popular 12-kilometre Whare Flat stage. Later in the day, competitors will tackle SS15 — the 26-kilometre Narrowdale stage in the Coast Forest, a long-time favourite that has been a staple over the event’s 51-year history.

To manage the logistics of the expansive route, the first service park on Saturday will be in Palmerston, before moving inland to Middlemarch for the afternoon. On Sunday, the service crews will base themselves at Lake Waihola.

Competitors will undertake a two-pass reconnaissance (recce) prior to the event. In a move to provide flexibility, crews will only be required to travel in convoy through the forestry areas, allowing them to set their own schedule for the remainder of the recce.

“Our route masters Garth, Norm and Cory have set a fantastic route that provides a classic Otago Rally challenge,” rally spokesperson Roger Oakley said.

“The roads are smooth and fast and in great condition. There are a multitude of spectator options, including at the ever-popular service parks. We can’t wait to host the fans, friends and the rally family from Otago, NZ and around the world.”

Competitors eager to join the 2027 field can now register their ‘Intention to Enter’ via the event website. These registrations are completely non-binding and are used by the organising team for early promotional purposes.

The full 2027 route map is now available for DOWNLOAD HERE. Please note that minor changes to the itinerary may still occur as final road use approvals are secured.

The Central Machine Hire Otago Rally extends its continued gratitude to the Dunedin City Council for their ongoing and invaluable support through the Premier Event funding program, which makes bringing this world-class event to the region possible.