Explore charming gold mining villages, take a family steamship cruise, go cycling, check out an eclectic inventor's workshop, have high tea at a castle.
The 341-kilometre Central Otago Road Trip follows scenic highways from the Pacific Ocean to the foot of the Southern Alps via the beautiful Strath Taieri and Maniototo Plains.
Leaving Dunedin, it winds through the heart of Central Otago taking in characterful settlements such as Middlemarch, Ranfurly, Oturehua and Clyde, as well as the larger towns of Alexandra, Cromwell, Arrowtown and Queenstown.
Soak up the scenery, see the sights, and enjoy all sorts of activities at a relaxed pace by taking 3–5 days – longer if you can.
There are tips, experiences, highlights, routes and maps. Check out Matt Chisholm's video about the trip courtesy of Tourism Central Otago.
Go to Otago Tohu Whenua for a complete list of itineraries.
The first jail in Arrowtown was simply a log. You were chained up to it. The later stone jail still exists and is in Cardigan Street. It is New Zealand’s 4th oldest jail.
In the 1950’s many New Zealander’s built cribs ( holiday houses) in Arrowtown and came here for their summer holidays.
The Chinese Settlement was established in 1867-8 and was in existence until the mid 1930’s. The site underwent an archaeological excavation in 1984.
Australia’s first saint, Sister Mary MacKillop visited Arrowtown in 1897 and set up a Catholic School. Part of this school can still be visited today.
The trees in Arrowtown’s beautiful avenues are Sycamore, Ash, Oak, Elm, and Rowan. The first avenue was planted in 1867.
The discoverer of gold in the Arrow river was a shepherd named Jack Tewa or Maori Jack. He also won the Royal Humane medal for saving a man from drowning in Lake Wakatipu.
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