Cromwell is less than an hour from both Queenstown and Wanaka and is a quiet alternative to those busy tourist towns. Cromwell’s main claim to fame is its brilliantly restored old town featuring many buildings from the 1800s. Another reason to visit Cromwell is to explore the many bays and beaches of Lake Dunstan, a … Read more
Sutton Salt Lake, the only inland Salt Lake in New Zealand, can be found a few minutes outside of Middlemarch, around an hour from Dunedin. It’s an interesting spot to explore and the walk is easy – it’s the perfect way to kill an hour or so! Getting to Sutton Salt Lake Middlemarch is on … Read more
St Bathans is a tiny former gold mining town in Central Otago which is now all but abandoned. There a several historic buildings to explore, including the Vulcan Hotel, regarded as one of New Zealand’s most haunted places. If you’re looking for a ghost experience and can’t find that 80s Patrick Swayze movie “Ghost” to … Read more
Central Otago is famous for its barren, rocky hills and seemingly never-ending landscapes. It’s a unique part of New Zealand and is easy to visit, considering its close proximity to tourism heavyweights Queenstown, Wanaka and Dunedin. Poolburn Dam is a prime example of what Central Otago has to offer – the landscapes are as good … Read more
If you want to see some typical Central Otago scenery (think massive rocks, barren landscapes and wide-open spaces) the drive to Fraser Dam is a great option. You’ll head into the hills above Alexandra to Fraser Dam, a manmade lake created in the 1930s which provides water for irrigating the farms and properties in the … Read more
The tiny, historic town of St Bathans was a lot more bustling during goldrush times. Now it’s a peaceful place to visit on the Central Otago tourist trail (apart from all the ghosts, but more on that later). The man-made Blue Lake sits beside the main street in town and it’s an easy 60 – … Read more
Central Otago, during the goldrush times, was the most economically important region of New Zealand. Towns swelled with prospectors looking to get rich and faded as soon as it became apparent the good times were over. There are many ruins scattered around Central Otago which date back to this interesting point in history, and some … Read more
The journey between Queenstown and Mount Cook is a scenic one, and one of the most impressive stretches takes you through the Lindis Pass. It takes around an hour to drive and there are several places to stop along the way. It’s a great place to drive, especially in winter, but make sure to check … Read more
Despite only being an hour or so from tourism heavyweights Wanaka and Queenstown, Central Otago is a place where you can easily escape the crowds. We only saw one other person while walking the Conroys Dam Track (located in the Aldinga Conservation Area) — if you want to do a walk not many others have … Read more
Why Walk From Alexandra to Clyde? Maybe you don’t have a car, or you ate too much Christmas dinner and need to burn some calories. Or maybe you heard that the river walk from Alexandra to Clyde is one of the top things to do in Central Otago. Whatever the reason, the Millennium Track between … Read more