Central Otago, New Zealand

A landscape that tells the stories of times gone by

Central Otago is a region touched by history, with a powerful landscape of ancient mountains, weathered rock formations, alpine herb fields and fast rivers.

In ancient times, Maori travelled through Central Otago on their way to the pounamu rivers of the west coast. Hunting parties also visited the region – they built rafts and used the Clutha River to transport moa and other game back to the east coast.

More recently, in the 1860s, Central Otago was the scene of a gold rush. Trails used by miners can still be seen winding over the hills. Stone cottages, a haunted hotel, cleverly engineered water channels, mines and machinery are other relics to discover. You can still try your luck with a gold pan, or be satisfied with the golden sweetness of a Roxburgh apricot.

A dusting of icing sugar, or the first fall of autumn snow? The scenery of the Lindis Pass makes the road between Tarras and Omarama a motorist’s dream. The pass follows an old Maori trail that was used by the Ngai Tahu tribe during summer expeditions to Central Otago and the west coast. (ID: 493) Photo by Peter Morath (peter.morath@xtra.co.nz) Click on the image for larger version

Nowadays, Central Otago is the scene of a ‘wine rush’. Pinot Noir has become one of the region’s newest treasures, and many of the wineries welcome visitors for tours and tastings.

Key Features

Gold history. Retrace the steps of the hardy gold miners who carved their living from the harsh and often unforgiving environment. Relive their experiences in the museums and historic sites throughout the region.

Premium Pinot Noir. The mountain valley vineyards of the world’s most southerly wine region have excelled in recent years. In particular, the vibrant, spicy flavour and velvety texture of Central Otago Pinot Noir has earned wide acclaim.

Colin McCahon, considered New Zealand’s greatest contemporary artist, found his inspiration in the otherworldly landscapes of Central Otago. Fast rivers, big skies and round, brown hills make this region a wonderful place for hiking and fishing. Quaint, historic towns offer a range of character accommodation. Photo by Gilbert van Reenen (www.cleangreen.co.nz) Click on the image for larger version

Tracks and trails. Around the hills of Central Otago, the hiking tracks are almost endless. Many were created by miners during the gold rush; others lead to alpine herb meadows, secret valleys and strange rock formations.