The 2022/2023 Otago Daily Times Summer Holiday Guide

gaze at or climb, andthe same friendly welcome from all of us locals who love calling this place home.

Many of youwill be here reuniting with family and friends, perhaps forthe first time in alongwhile. I’m delighted you’ve chosen our district to shareyour memories andcreatenew ones

In Queenstownyou’ll notice the town centre streets arehaving amakeover! This hasbeen a huge investment,much ofit underground to keep thecables and pipes we rely on in tip-top shape. But we’reequally proud of newsharedspaces,street lighting and paving to make shopping andsocialising more fun than ever

Over in Wānaka, makesureyou check out thelateststage of the lakefront developmentinfront of PembrokePark. We’vecreated along, lush green strip complete with picnic tables, sun loungers and anew shared pathway.

And don’t forget to explore our smallercommunities each with somethingunique to offer.

From Kingstoninthe south to Makarora in thenorth, Glenorchy out west to Luggateheading east, ourdistrictoffersahuge variety of places and experiences to discover.

Wherever you’re heading and whoeveryou’respendingyour summerwithI wish youa safe and happy holiday.

Thanksagainfor spending time in theQueenstownLakes District.

Welcome to summerin Central Otago, our World of Difference, wherethe sun neverstops shining andthe people neverstop smiling.

Andisitany wonder this piece of paradise makes people happy? We have so much to offeryou this summer from high octaneevents at Highlands to the ultimate chill of sitting by the lakewith abook and aglass of one of our Rieslings. Didyou knowthat some of the world’sbestRieslings

For the more active,wehaveour incredible biketrails,fromthe granddaddy of them allonthe Rail Trail to the absolute stunner that is the Lake Dunstan Trail, through to meandering alongside LakeRoxburgh on the Roxburgh Gorge Trail. Allofthese are greatfor aride or awalk, but if youreally want to getyour wheels spinning, check outMatangi Station MTB behindthe iconic AlexandraClock.

Don’t forget our greatcafes, restaurants shops andgalleries. Trythe curling rink in Naseby,gotothe OmakauRaces, the Cromwell Wine andFood Festival, check out theEdenHorephoto exhibition.

Forall the info, have alook at www centralotagonz.com/events

Whateveritisyou choose to do whileyou visit us,I wishyou ahappy time and a safe trip home.

Witha rich historydatingback to the 1860s,the town is the gatewaytoCentral Otago’s walkingtrails andPinot Noirvineyards. Andnow more than150 yearssince itsfoundation, it is afastgrowinghub for mountain biking andcycling.That makessense, becauseasall roadslead to Rome, allcycle trails seem to leadto Alexandra.

Among them arethe Otago Central Rail Trail, RoxburghGorge Trail,and the 150th AnniversaryTrack,all of which have entrypointsin the township Withinthe weatheredrocklandscape of Central Otago,Alexandra is an attractive oasis of trees andcivilisation.

Thetownboomedduring the late 1800s,when gold dredges worked theClutha River.The most successful dredge wasthe Dunedin,which extracted anestimated 528kg of gold Today, Alexandraowes itsprosperityto farming, orchardistsand wine makers. There is somethingfor everyonein Alexandra. Onfoot or on amountain bike,you can follow gold miners’ trailsin thehills to appreciate the unique beauty of the area.You can also visitPinot Noir vineyardsand discover gold mining historyatthe museum.Insummer and autumn, enjoy local apricots,peaches, cherries and apples. In winter,youcan go ice skating on Manorburn Dam with its30haofnatural ice.

Alexandra is considered one of the hottestplacesinNew Zealandoverthe summer months,makingitthe perfect place to enjoythe outdoors, whether that be on oneof the many walkingand cycling tracks,orcoolingoff in ariver or lake. Justdon’t forget totake your sunscreen,water bottleand hat.

Inthe shadow of the Clyde Dam, the historic township is located at the foot of ariver gorge, surrounded by rounded hills of schist.

Schist is gold bearingrock andsubstantial strikes in the rivers near Clyde sparked agoldrush in the late 1800s.

Fromits beginnings as a‘‘tent town’’ofsimple miners’ dwellings,itiseasy to seewhy some of the first Europeans to enter the region chosethissite as aplace to settle. The micro-climateoffershot, drysummers,with mild springs andautumns that arefullof nature’s colours Today, Clydeis agreat place to enjoythe cafe

lifestyle in ascenicsetting that’srichinhistory. There areexcellent restaurants, barsand cafes, offering everything from simple tucker to award-winning fine diningexperiences Boutique shopping, artisan crafts and one-off handmade items can also be found.

Don’t forget to enjoy regional wine andbeeras well as non-alcoholic items such as locally produced juices andcordials.

Thereare also outdoor pursuits including golf, bowls and tennis, or you can getout on thewater forfishing, rowingand water sports Or youcan simply enjoya picnicalong the banks of the awesome Clutha River

TheLakeDunstan Trail flauntsthe best ofCentral Otago’s naturalbeauty andbegins fromClyde (or Cromwell).

The trail is full of history from the bygone goldrush days, and as youcycle or walk the easy 55km ride (Grade 1-2)alongside the beautiful tealwatersof LakeDunstan, the Kawarau River,and the Clutha River it willbecomeclear to see why manyearlysettlers chosetoreside in this region.

Sample cherries and nectarinesduring the summerand spring monthsand enjoy some locally produced Central Otagowines.

LAKE DUNSTANTRAIL

Clyde Dam.

Photos: AlliedPress

Lake Dunstan

CYCLING SAFELY

Withmorethan 300km of trails throughout Central Otago

—some offering spectacular, but challenging terrain people of variousriding and walking abilities aredonning theiractivewear and hitting theoutdoors

As thousands ofvisitorsmake their waytothe regions it’s importanttrail usersmake suretokeep themselvesand otherssafe

Bothridersand walkers should be considerate of one another during the busy summerperiod

Tourism Central Otago generalmanager Dylan Rushbrook saidkeeping safe on the trails wasnot just about having an awareness of otherusers, but alsoof people’s ownlimitations “I have heardofinstances where people maybe overestimatingtheir own abilities,orunderestimating the difficulty of the trails.”

Each trailwas graded, letting people judge their ownexperience andfitness against whatwas required.

“Doyourresearch, understand whatthe trip will

entail andbe prepared. You’re going into the outdoors;take the right gear with youand makesureyourequipmentis up to the challenge ahead,” hesaid

St John hademergency access response plansfor the many walking and mountain biketrails across region and dispatched the appropriate resourcesaccordingly in the event someonerequired emergencycare.

St John Central Otago territorymanager David Baillie said it was important people took steps to protect themselves when heading out on the trails

“People can protect their ownsafety beforesetting off on atrail by not attempting anything beyond their physicalcapability,telling someone wherethey’re going, and carryingacellphone with GPS capability,ora locator beacon if cellphone coverage is poor,”hesaid.

“In addition, theyshould also alwaystakeplenty of water, sunscreen and afirst aidkit with themasweheadinto summerand the trailsare likely to get busieroverthe coming months.”

If you’re planning on hitting the cycle trails this summer,takedue precautions.

(Photo:James Jubb)

Safe boating this summer

Heading to the Otago lakes this holidayseason to partakeinthe great Kiwi traditionoffalling over behind aboat(otherwise known as waterskiing)? Make sureyou say, ‘Ahoythere!’ to ORC’sHarbourmaster team, who willbebased in Central Otago this summerwiththe vessel Kaitiaki.

“Lake Dunstan is abusy area forlotsofdifferentwater activities andattractspeople from allover the region,” says Harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook. “We’llbeout and about again this season to keep an eyeonthings andto makesurepeopleare sticking to the safer boating code.”

One waythe Harbourmaster’s team will be checking in on this aroundthe region is through MaritimeNew Zealand’sNoExcuses campaign. This is the fifth year ORCwill be taking part They’ll be checking to make sureboaties arefollowing the boat code safety rules and localbylaws,including

wearing alifejacket and safe speed

“Last year,wesurveyed 128 peopleand hadsome really positive interactions. We’re hoping to seeeveryone keeping up the good work again this summer,” says the Harbourmaster. The team will also be hitting up hot spots around the regionand attending events to spread the safety message

The Queenstown Lakes area has its own Harbourmaster team,but wherever youare thissummer,ifyou’rein Central Otago and laking it alot,the safer boating code always applies.The safer boatingcodehighlights five

keythings to staysafeonthe water:

•Wear your lifejacket

•Taketwo waterproofways to call forhelp

•Check the marineweather forecast

•Avoid alcohol

•Bea responsible skipper

Youcan findmore information on safer boating and OtagoNavigation SafetyBylaws on ORC’s website at www.orc.govt. nz/harbourmaster and keep up to date with all Harbourmasternews by following their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ orcharbourmaster

Swimming thissummer?

Before you swim, check the weekly water quality results at the mostpopular swimmingspots aroundthe country by visiting lawa.org.nz/swim Remember to stay out of the water for 48 hours after heavyrain,because urban and rural runoff can be washed into waterways.

STOP THE SPREADOFPESTS IN OTAGOWATERWAYS

We all need to do ourbit to protect New Zealand’swaterways.

When you’reout onthe water this summer boating,paddle boarding,kayaking,orswimming, make surethat if youmovebetween waterways, youalwaysCheck,Clean and Dryall clothing and equipment to stop the spread of freshwater pests.

Didymo,lagarosiphonand lake snow arethe three majorfreshwater pests in Otago,and they areall easy to spread. Left unchecked,these pests canchokeand clog up waterwaysand their ecosystems andmakerecreational activities difficult,ifnot impossible

Youmust Check,Clean and Dryall equipment that comes in contact with water.When you’re leaving awaterway,check to see that youhave no plant material attachedtoyourboatand/or trailer or your clothes and footwear.Evenifyou can’t see it,itcould be there in microscopic form, so always clean your gear.Then let it drybefore heading to the next waterway

TheSouth Island is acontrolledareafor didymo, and it’s present in many Otago waterways.

It’sa legal requirementtoCheck,Clean and Dry your gear if you’reusing multiple waterways.If youcan’t,stick to one waterway this summer

Formoreinfo about CHECK,CLEAN and DRY, check out the Ministryfor PrimaryIndustrieswebsite www.mpi.govt.nzorthe ORC website www.orc.govt.nz/pesthub

Deputy Harbourmaster Pete Dryden (left) and HarbourmasterSteve Rushbrook(right)

Kaitiaki willbeout on LakeDunstan this summer, helping to keep boatiesand other waterusers safe.

Establishedby gold miners, thetownnow increasingly findsits treasureisingrapesand its legendarystonefruit. Explore the nearbyghost towns and soak up the tranquillakeside scenery.

Youcan visit one of the local cellardoors to tasteand purchase afavouriteCentral Otagowine orwalk the wine trail, picking fresh seasonal fruit straight from the tree or from the nearest fruitstall There’salso fishingonLake Dunstan, aroundofgolfon NewZealand’s most inland links course or ajet boat tripinto the Kawaraugorge —thereisa choice of pace foreveryone Cromwellrecently claimed the title of the largest town in Central Otago. It is also, technically,the newest town, afterthe original old town hadto be movedwhen the Clyde Dam wasbuilt and Cromwell’s main street wasfloodedtocreate LakeDunstan Located on the shores of the lake it hasthe appearance of amodern town, but itshistory stretches backtothe gold rush days of the 1800s.

Thishistoryisbestexperienced in OldCromwellTown, afeature attraction forvisitors.

In the 1980s and 1990s Cromwellunderwent amajor transformation with the construction of the Clyde Dam powerstation.Whenthe dam wascompletedin1992,the valleybehind it wasflooded to create LakeDunstan.

As aresult, theoriginalsite of

Cromwell’shistoric business district at the junction of the Kawarauand Clutha Riversnow lies at the bottom of the lake. Before the lakewas created, many of thetowncentre’s historic buildingswere painstakingly removedtohigher ground, othersthatcould not be movedwerefaithfully reconstructed.

Stone-by-stone andplank-byplank, local craftsmen made sure thatOld Cromwelltownwould live on Visitorscan wander through the historic precinct to inspect buildingsfrom1860 to 1900 thatreflectthe town’s pioneeringpast.

These buildings include the London House Stables,Captain Barry’scottage, the Cobb &Co Store, BelfastStoreand Jolly’s Seed &Grain Store.Infront of the restored town centre,a wharf provides aconvenient departurepoint fortoursofLake Dunstan aboarda beautifully restored 1929 wooden motor launch.

Old gold-mining sites in the area include Bannockburnand Bendigo, whereyou’ll find ruins of miners’cottages.

Today, Cromwell’smajorindustry is fruit growing —ifyou’rehere over summer,roadsidefruit stallsare adelicious temptation. And of course, the Highlands MotorsportPark is ahuge attraction. Aworld class motorsport facility,itoffers arange of experiencesand attractions, including the Supercar Fast Dash, Highlands Museum, andmore.

Photos: Allied Press, Central OtagoTourism, GettyImages/EyeEm.

Across the KawarauRiver from Cromwellonthe road to Nevis Valley, the small historic miningtownoffers afascinating journeyinto the past.

Bannockburnwas asuccessful mining settlement that managed to avoid becoming aghost town oncethe gold wasgone.Buildings from the early times remain today, including abeautiful hotel,apost office, Stewart’s storeand family homes.

Adjacent to the town is the BannockburnSluicingHistoric Reserve,whichismanagedbythe DepartmentofConservation.

Thereserve offersa chance to explore an intriguing landscape createdbyindustrial-scale earthmoving operations from 1865 to 1910 by fortuneseekersinsearch of gold.

Discoverevidenceofwater races, dams, tunnelsand shafts,aswell as crumbling mud-brick and stone buildingsinthe old orchards at Stewart Town.

Stewart Town in Pipe ClayGully shows whatlifewas likelivingin simplestone huts, and the adjoining Menzies Dam offersa glimpse

into howminers used water to cut through hillsides to prospect for gold.

From thereserve,a four-hour return walkway headsuphill behind Stewart Town to afarm access track in the gully, up asteepspur and eventually to theconservation area boundary.

Youcan enjoydramatic rock bluff landscapes andviews of the Clutha Valley, LakeDunstan, and Pisa Range.

Treasures of adifferentkind can alsobefound as manytalented artisanscall Bannockburn home, from painters to pottersand photographers

Treatyoursenses to amazingmeals at local cafesand restaurants, or take to the hills on awalkingor cyclingtrail. Thewalkway passes overKawerau andMountDifficulty farmingstations, so is closed forlambing during Octoberand November

To the northofthe town, the Bannockburn Creek area wasonce an extensive coalmining area which supplied coal foruse on gold dredges working the Kawarauand CluthaRivers.

Thegreen of vineyardspunctuates theharsh landscape around Bannockburnwheretracesof the gold rushcan be explored on foot or bike.

BannockburnCamp.

FeltonRoadWinery.

AkaruaVineyard

Photos: AlliedPress Files, supplied.

BL UE SK Y dr eam in g

Thevastlandscapes andopen skiesofthe Maniototo have inspired

WEDDERBURN

NASEBY

An easy detour off State Highway85, Naseby is knownfor iceskating, heritage hotels, and hiking around theold goldfields.Originally a goldmining settlement namedParkers,historic Nasebyishot in summer, but inwinter it’sthe iceskatingand curling capitalofNew Zealand.All-yearroundice canbefound at the indoor curling rink. Take awalking tour of the historic town andadmirethe perfectly preserved Victorian shops and buildings. Anddon’t forget to look up at night;you’ll be blown away by the pristine clarity of the starryskies

Located15kmnorthwest of Ranfurly, this wasonceclose to thecentre of athriving goldand coalminingarea. Beside theroadcrossing you will find theWedderburn Tavern —this community originated fromahotel built herein1862 forcoach travellers. GrahameSydney made the Wedderburn railway goods shed famous in his 1975 painting.

OTUREHUA

Set in the IdaValley, Oturehua andwas originally calledRoughRidge.Itwas changed back to itsMaori name with the introduction of the railway in 1907.Itis hometoHayes Engineering Works, establishedin 1895 by Ernest Hayes. This historic site is still in original condition, and is open to the public during thesummer

ST BATHANS

In 1887, St Bathans was abustling town with about 2000 miners living in the immediate vicinity.Someofthe buildingsfromthatera remain today and little else hasbeenadded since, so it’sveryeasy to imagine the town as it wasduring the gold rush.The Vulcan Hotel, builtin1882,is afineexample of mudbrickconstruction. Close tothe town, the Blue Lakewas created by extensivemining activity,beginning in 1864.Miningwas halted in 1934because the sides of the pitwere gettingtoo close tothe town.The hugehole wasallowedtofillwith water to create today’s lake

RANFURLY

Thefarming centre of the Maniototoisalsoa place where youcan discover acafeortwo,a pub, a museum, abookshop, even asecond-hand shop.A stop on theOtago Central Rail Trail,the Art Deco town of Ranfurly wasestablished in 1898 as arailheadfor the CentralOtago railway line Hiking,mountainbiking, 4WDtours, horsetreks huntingand fishing areall accessible.

WAIPIATA

Aquiet country township with one pub,the awardwinning Waipiata Country Hotel, Waipiatamean ‘‘clear water’’and owes its origins to the railway— then rabbits and tuberculosis. Arailway construction campwas based there,thenrailway ‘‘gangers’’ (workmen) continuedtoliveinWaipiata. Arabbit-processing factory provided jobsfor yearsuntil 1930 andrailtransported the producetoDunedin

filmmaker Jane Campion, artist Grahame Sydney, andpoetBrian Turner.The area has plentytoexplore.

Vulcan Hotel, St Bathans

Naseby swimmingdam

Photos: Allied Press Files, supplied.

POOLB URN DA M

Hidden away in the Ida Valley, Poolburn is the place to go if you’re lookingtoget away from it all andrelaxunder theCentral Otagosun Poolburn Dam,also known as Poolburn Reservoir,isa popular area foranglers,boaties, picnickers or anyone else wanting to escapeand enjoy the solitudesurroundedbythe beautiful CentralOtago scenery The reservoir is located onthe

Old Dunstan Rd and theflooded areawas oncethe site of five hotels. Thearea’sgold mining historycan stillbefound around thelandscape.

Accesstothe dam is easiest from the site of the former Poolburn Pubonthe Ida Valley Rd.Turn left on to MoaCreek Rd thenturnleftinto WebsterLane justpastthe old school. The dam is signposted past the oldMoa Creek Hotel, where a right turn is made

OMAKAU

The formermining town ofOmakauisaquaint little settlement thathas held onto itscharm. Locatedonthe famousOtago Central Rail Trail betweenAlexandra and Ranfurly, it’s agreat placeto stopby. Stroll past historic buildingsincluding the Old StoneStable at the back of the Omakau Commercial Hotel which wasoriginally the first homestead,built in 1898 andlearn afew thingsabout the old gold mining days Be suretostop and have an interestingyarn or twowith the friendlylocals too.

Hop off thebikeorsettle in after your fishingtrip for awell-earned glass of wine orcraft beer and afeed,or there’sanicepicnic spot at Thomson’s CreekBridge Check out the grand StPeter’s Catholic Church on the hilltop tothe north of the town. Enjoy agameofgolfatthe 9-hole golf coursewith beautiful views,orthere’s abowling green andtennis courtsfor the sporty.

If you’re visiting overthe Christmasand NewYear period,don’t missthe Omakau races.The event drawslarge crowdsand is asuperb family dayout with on andoff track entertainment, food,drink and lots of merriment.

OPHIR

Likesomany of Central Otago’s heartland towns, Ophiris richin charm andsteeped in gold mining history

Locatedonthe eastern banks of the Manuherikia River, between Alexandra and Ranfurly,Ophir wasfoundedin1863. It grew to become the biggest town in the Manuherikia Valleyduringthe gold rush, until therailwaybypassedit.

Previously knownasBlacks, after CharlesBlack —a landowner who camegood whengold was discoveredinhis back yard.The name of the town waschanged to Ophir in 1875 after the biblical land where theQueen of Shebagave goldtoKing Solomon.

The postofficeopened in 1886 and is NewZealand’soldest continually operatedpost office. Send a postcardfromhereand it’ll get rubber stampedwitha gold miner’s pickand shovel.

Admirethe attractiveschist structure and engineering of one ofCentral Otago’sfew remaining suspensionbridges thatspans the Manuherikia RiveratOphir. Built in 1880and named afterDaniel O’Connell, an Irishhero(the area washeavily populated by Irish Catholic immigrantsatthe time), the bridge wasoriginally made from wood then rebuilt with prefabricated steelshipped out from the UK.The one-lane bridge has one endextending through solidrock.

Photo:Allied PressFiles

The towns ofOmakau and Ophirare both rich in history —and they’reseparated by just 2km and the Manuherikia River.

Omakau Trots.

Located halfway betweenDunedin and Queenstown, Roxburgh sits onthe banksofthe Clutha River

Ahub duringthe Central Otago goldrush of the 1860s,inmore recent times Roxburghhas reliedona mixtureoflivestock andstone fruit production forits economic survival.

Theregion’s hot summers and cold wintersare ideal forgrowing

summer fruit. Stonefruits, strawberries, apples, raspberries and pearsare allgrownhere. The famous Roxburgh Redapricot wasfirst planted in 1866by Joseph Tamblyn, who bought a fewfruittrees from apassing swagman.

The town is only a30-minute drivefromAlexandra,with Ettrickand Millers Flatanother 10 to 15 minutes further on. It isalso astarting point to the

Forthe cycling enthusiasts there is the Roxburgh GorgeTrail from Alexandra to Roxburgh. And you can continue on to Lawrence on the linking Clutha Gold Trail

There areseveral places to fish fortrout or salmon, including PindersPond,LakeOnslow, and in the Clutha River.The Clutha River is notsuitable for swimming in.

West Otago towns of Heriot and Tapanui.

Roxburgh fruit

Roxburgh.

Photos: AlliedPress Files.

forfishingand also popularfor boating,jet-skiing, and kayaking. There arewalksincluding Bullock Track, alongthe riveron the Town River Walk, Grovers HillTrack, LadysmithWalk, Commissioners Walk, Horseshoe Bend andthe Millennium Track. The LakeRoxburgh Walk through the gorge hasviews of theold Chinese miners’ rock shelters andotherrelics.

IN THE AREA

The scaleofsheep farmingoperations in the Teviot Valley morethan 130 yearsago is surprising. The remains of the 1870 Teviot Woolshedmarkwhatwas oncethe largestwoolshed in the southern hemisphere At 6480sq mitcould hold morethan 8000 sheep. In 1924 much of the shedwas destroyedbyfire, however the stone walls with arched windows remain.

Nearby,atthe Horseshoe Benddiggings on the banksofthe CluthaRiver, twomuch smaller stone structurestell adifferent tale.Two gravestones lie side-byside, one for William Rigney, the other for‘‘Somebody’sDarling’’ Legend hasitin1865 Mr

Rigneydiscovered the body of a youngman on the riverbankfollowing aflood.He arranged aburial forthe unknown man, erecting aheadstone with thewords ‘‘Somebody’s Darling Lies Buried Here’’.WhenMr Rigneydiedin January1912, he wasburiedbeside the anonymous grave as requested

Teviot Valley

LakeRoxburghisalsogood

Itisaplace to embrace outdoor adventurebeforewining and dining at Wānaka’sworld-class restaurants. This alpine resort town hasthe same adventurous vibeasQueenstown, but maintains amorerelaxed vibe

LakeWānaka, at 45km longand encompassing193sq km, is perfect forkayakers, sailorsand jetboaters to explore.

Located in the spectacularalp regionofthe South Island,visitors from everywhereare drawntothe Wānakaregion by its outstanding beauty

The mountain andlakesidesetting is truly stunning and its proximity to Mt Aspiring National Park, classed as aUnesco World HeritageArea, makes it the ultimatebasefor outdoor activities.

The Wānakaand Upper Clutha regionisone of thefew places in NewZealand to experience four distinct seasons,and this makes it a ayear-round destination.

The summers arehot and dry— perfect forwater sports, hiking and biking.

Withmorethan750km of trails thereissomething foreveryone, whetheryou arelookingfor afamilyfriendly wander or aheart-pumping expedition

Get dropped into an alpine

adventure on an amazing helibiking trip, or uncoverthe rich historyof the hillsonaguided walk.

Take to the skies with paragliding, tackle the slopes on amountain climb or descend undergroundona mysterious deepcanyon trip.

If the crystal-clearwatersofLake Wānakabeckon, trystand-up paddleboarding, pedal boats fortwo or aluxurious lakecruise

Set your heartracing withathrilling jet-boat ride,ortakecontrol with a wildjet-ski tour

Feel the freedom of theskiesin a vintagebiplane or uncoverthe wonders of the mountainsona helicopterflight

At night, marvelatthe wonders of the galaxy with an amazing stargazingexperience.

It is not just theoutdoor enthusiasts who have plenty to do, strollthe streets and be inspiredbygalleries, stylish shops and be spoilt for choice with agreat selectionofcool cafes, excellent restaurants, craft breweries,award-winningwineries and an artisan distillery.

Wānakaisalso hometoa plethora of world-class events, from international triathlons to musicand arts festivals.WheelsatWānaka, Warbirds overWānaka, the Festival of Colour,and Rhythm &Alps to name just afew

Rhythm &Alps.Photos: Allied Pressfiles, supplied.

1. THEOUTLET TRACK

This popular tracklinksthe Lake WānakaOutlet andAlbertTown. The top endstarts at OutletRd andfollows theClutha River Mata-Au. Thesign-posted Deans Bank section is fly fishing only. Elsewhere,spin fishing is permitted.The upper Clutha holds healthystocks of rainbow and browntrout

Dam.Anovernight detour to Nasebyoffersfishing at Coal Pit andHoffman’s dams. Below Waipiata, thetrail crosses the Taieri River. Daisybankisa good spot on the Kokonga to Hyde stretch in the UpperTaieri Gorge.Between Hyde and Middlemarch, side roadsfrom State Highway87leadtothe river

2.

UPPERCLUTHA RIVER TRACK

Thistrack followsthe riverbank between AlbertTownand Luggate. Thetrack crossesthe Cardrona RiverbelowAlbert Town.Thereare entrancepoints at AlbertTown, Cardrona River, Stevensons Rd,Reko’sPoint, Shortcut Rd andLuggate

3.

HAWEARIVER TRACK

This 14km tracklinks Haweaand Albert Town. The HaweaRiver is controlledbya dam and fishes well whenflows aremoderate to low. The lowerend startsat Albert Town campground.Above theswing bridge, thetrack winds away beforerejoining the river.Access at the Haweaend is via DomainRd.

5. LAKE DUNSTANTRAIL

TheLakeDunstan Trailbetween Clydeand Cromwelljourneys for55km along the lake edge

Thetop of thetrail is from SmithsWay to Cromwell.It follows the Kawarauarm to theBannockburn bridge, and thenalong thetrue left of Lake Dunstan. Therecently opened trail between Cromwell andClyde hasopenedfishing opportunitiesonsouth bankof thelake. Concentrateonstream mouths andalong weed beds

6. CLUTHA GOLD TRAIL

4.

CENTRAL OTAGORAIL TRAIL

Severalparts of the152kmtrail from Clyde to Middlemarch offer fishing spots on rivers and dams. TheManuherikiaRiver can be accessed near Alexandra, Chatto Creek, Omakauand Lauder.A shortdetourleads to LowerManorBurn Dam. Thetrail also passes Idaburn

This trailfollows the CluthaRiver Mata-Au between Roxburgh andLawrence. Thejourneyfrom Roxburgh DamtoBeaumont neverstraysfar from the Clutha butwillows canmakeaccess tricky.Look forside channels, gravel bars and backwaters. Pinders Pond,near Roxburgh, is stocked withrainbowtrout.The trailparts wayswiththe Clutha at Beaumont. FISHINGLICENCE:

PA RADI SE O FF TH E BE AT EN

Unlike itsmorefamous neighbour— Wānaka —Hawea still hasanelement of feeling undiscovered.

An easy,scenic15minute drivefromWanaka andonthe road to Makarora andthe West Coast,isLakeHawea

NewZealand’sninth largestlakecovers 141sq km andreaches 392m deep and stretches35kmfromnorth to south NearbyLakeWānakaliesina parallelglacial valley8km to thewest. At their closestpoint, arocky ridgecalledThe Neck,the lakes are only 1km apart

YetLakeHawea is unique and aplace of vividbeauty,mountainous extremes and legendaryfishing spots.

If youare lookingto find off-the-beaten trackhikes, explorethe trailsaroundLake Hawea, which featurebothpeacefullakeside walksand steep and craggy climbs LakeHawea is aparadiseforoutdoor adventurersand agreat place to boat,swim,

kite surf,kayak,ride, walk or just laze about on the beach

From Lake Hawea township youcan find an excellentwalkby following Timaru River Rd to Timaru Creek, a picnic andcamping area.

Thetrail that beginshere leads through avalley of beechforestuntilit flattensonto abraided river bed.

With magnificent views of the surrounding peaks,and alaketocool off,LakeHawea offers awelcome respitefrom thelonghot months of summer Wanaka’spremiumarchitecturaldesign andbuild company.

LakeHaweaisanoutdooradventurers’paradise,withitsintensebeautyandmountainousextremes.

LakeHawea.Photo:GettyImages

Queenstown is knownas one of NewZealand’s mostexciting destinations.

Surrounded by towering mountains and positionedonthe edge of Lake Wakatipu it is the hubfor adrenalinefuelled

road rides to heli-biking and the southern hemisphere’sonly gondola-accesseddownhill mountain biking. Ride the Skyline Gondola to

Apopular holidayspot at any timeofthe year,Queenstown is renownedfor its four distinctive seasons.

Winter bringscrisp, blue-sky

There aremanyactivities in Queenstown that aresuitable foryounger family members

Summer brings water fun.Try jetboating,paddleboarding or kayaking in aquiet cove or embarkona family rafting adventure withoptionsfor all ages.

Afamilycycling trip is abreeze with more than 100kmof easy family biking andbike hire available rightonthe Queenstown Trail, eitherin centralQueenstown, Kelvin Heights or Arrowtown.

Thereisplenty of familyfun that is free and makes for perfectsummerdaysexploring with thekids.

VisitnearbyArrowtownand wander throughthe historic Chinesesettlement or panfor

gold on the Arrow River; it is a favourite spot forlocal kids, with swimming holesand agreat rope swing Hang outatQueenstown’s new, lakefrontplayground—it’sso good you’ll wish youwerea kid again!

Theplaygroundisa greatspot forfeedingthe ducksand the Queenstown Gardens are wonderful funtoexplorewitha frisbee golf course, skateboard halfpipe and the Queenstown Ice Arena on site.

Fordowntimeorrainy days there’splentyofindoor fun including cinema, swimming pools, go karting, indoor skydivingand trampolines to keep everyone occupiedand happy.

MOKE LAKE:

Greatfor paddling, bikeriding and walking.You can even bringthe tent and camp overnight forasmallfee.

FRANKTON BEACH: It’sshallowand warm, making it oneofthe safest and moreappealing LakeWakatipu swimming beaches

THEARROW RIVER: There’sawalking/biking trackalongside andalmost anywhereiswonderful forcooling down andsplashing around

QUEENSTOWNLAKEFRONT BEACH: There’slots to see anddoherewithcafesand adventureplayground right on the beach, plus kayak, paddleboardand aqua bikehireavailable in summer with Paddle Queenstown

Photos:

Photos: Destination Queenstown

ON THE TOWN

Samplelocal

ABOUT OUTAN D

HEAD FOR HEIGHTS

Queenstown’s Skyline

sweeping 500m

is amust-do. Staggering lake and mountainviews arethe entree in abuffet of alfresco adventure that includes theadrenaline pumping luge, first-class mountain bike trails, zip-lines and tandem paragliding flights through beautiful blueskies

RIVER RUN

Experience twoofthe country’s most famousrivers. Conquer the

SADDLE UP With

Mildmornings cangiveway to hotdays, so wherebetter to whileawaya hot daythan out on the watersofLakeWakatipu. As well as jet-boating, options include sailing above the water whileparasailing, kayaking, or taking alakecruise

TO MARKET

The Wakatipu Basin becomes acornucopia of fruit, vegetablesand produceinthe warmer months,and markets sell locally produced art, crafts and souvenirs,to complementthe fresh fruit and produce. On Saturdays there’s the Remarkables Market and the Creative Queenstown Market for ceramics, homeware produceand art craftedby locals.

ROADTRIP!

Lookingnorth, Glenorchy sitsatthe headwatersof LakeWakatipu andishighly regarded as agateway to someofthe Southern Lakes’ best walks. Heading south from Queenstown is thesmall settlement of Kingston, a town knownfor its salmon fishing —and apub to linger at and have amealinifthe fish arenot biting

EATUP

Sampleworld-class pinot noir,craft beer and luscious aromatic winesamongst the rugged landscapeofthe GibbstonValley. Self-drive, join aguided tour, or cycle around the vineyardstoget a tasteofthe terroir and indulge in delicious food alfresco.

With the array of inspiring activities on offer, Queenstownisthe perfect placetoimmerse yourselfinthe greatoutdoors.

food and wine in sophisticated restaurants, then head out forlive music and dancinginone of Queenstown’s many friendly pubs and bars

Gondola,

above thetown

Shotover’sgrade 3-5 drops and shoots in thehistoric Skippers Canyon,orcruise themore sedate, grade2-3 Kawarau, finishing with the DogLeg,one of thelongestrapids in New Zealand.

abackdropofdramatic peaks,pristine lakes and rivers, thecountryside, farmsand stations across theQueenstown Lakes District provide the perfectsetting forajourney on horseback. Horseridingis

theideal waytoexperience rural Queenstown and see the heartlandand its peoplefirst hand WATERSPORTS

on avintage steamship,state-of-the-art catamaran,orluxuryyacht.

Mountainbiking,Coronet Peak.

Ka wa ra uR iv er ra ft in g.

GibbstonValley. Queenstown nightlife

Photos: Destination Queenstown

FUN IN THE

The region comes alivethis summerwith araftofgreat events to keep yourocking into the NewYear.

Rhythm& Alps 2022 Robrosa Station, Cardrona Valley,Wanaka December 29-31

Along with some of the bestsound and lighting around, thefestival returns with another outstandingline-up, includingAndy C, Chase and Status, andDJMarky

NewYear’s EveOctagon concert

The Octagon, Dunedin 6pm,December31

There’llbeagreat night’s fun in Dunedin on NewYear’s Eve, with entertainment from Loose and Colourful, Bulletproof Convertible, LesMarionettes and others, as well as food trucksand alaser light show.

NewYear’s EvePartyatthe Gardens

OamaruPublic Gardens, Oamaru 6pm, December 31

Oamaruwill ring in the New Year with aline-up of family friendly entertainment, with MCsMulletman andMim, musicfromDiamond Blue andThe Heavy Feathers, variouskids’activities, and food vendors.

ASummer’sDay Live

Queenstown Polo Fields, 659Malaghans Road, Queenstown 4.30pm,January7

With stunning viewsjust15 minutes from Queenstown, thehits will keep coming allday long, thankstothe line-upofUB40, Jefferson Starship,and NZ’sown Dragon

Lake HayesA&P Show

Lake HayesPavilion, 719 Gibbston Hwy,Queenstown 8am, January14

Held on the secondSaturday of the year,the Lake Hayes Show is fun forall, from families,competitors,and exhibitors. The 2023edition willbethe 107thshow, with show jumping, dog trials, shearing, andmuch more entertainment on offer

Sarah Millican DunedinTownHall, MorayPlace,Dunedin 8pm, January 23

It’safeastofBritish comedy,with Jimmy Carr on January18, followed by Sarah Millican’s Bobby Dazzler tour.For her sixth internationaltour,she can’t wait to getback on the road to makeyou laugh.

RedHot Chilli Peppers Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin 7pm, January26

Nowwithguitarist John Frusciante back in the fold, RHCP will blowthe mothballs away as the Stadiumcomes back to life after thepandemic And Post Malone’s also coming in support

Gibbston Valley Winery Summer Concert

Gibbston ValleyWinery, 1820 State Highway 6, Queenstown 11am,February11

It’sanother unbelievable line-up forthissummer’s big GibbstonValley show, with ZZ Top, PatBenatar andNeil Giraldo,Stone TemplePilots, and The Angels all appearing.

Lake HayesA&P Show

Gibbston Valley

Rhythm&Alps.

RedHot ChilliPeppers

Adelightful gold rush village dating back to the 1860s nestled below the beautiful peaksthat surround the sparkling Arrow River.It’sclassywith an international reputation but feels milesfrom anywhere.And it’sagreat place for families to enjoythe river,walks, cycling and for childrentotry their hand at gold panning. For asummer swim choosefrom the Arrowtown Public Pool, the Arrow River,ornearby Lake Hayes just 5minutes away.

The village’shistoric heart is charming Buckingham Street, with small-town heritagebuildings stretching into atreelined avenue of tiny miner’scottages.This lovely precinct houses shops,art galleries, bars and restaurants, with dining options for everyone Soak up Arrowtown’s lively heritagestartingwith the memorable LakesDistrict Museum’s exhibition of life in a goldfields town. This is the town’sinformationcentreand a “first stop” formaps and guidance and to hire agold pan.

Tryaself-guidedheritagetown walk exploring two of New Zealand’ssignificantTohuWhenua network of sites that connects New Zealanders with their heritage and the defining stories of their country. The stunningMiners Cottages are among over 70 historically listed buildings, features and trees which date back to the 1860sgold mining days. The historicChinese MiningSettlement is just two minutes fromthe centre of town

The village sits at the heart of the 100km Queenstown Bike Trail and hosts several picturesque Arrowtown walking and cycling trails,many suitable forbeginners.The most popular is the Arrow BridgesTrail, an easy 16km from town to the Gibbston wineries and restaurants.

Arrowtown was named New Zealand’smost beautifulsmall town in the 2020 Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards and Autumn’sthe best of all the stunning seasons to enjoy the beauty.The renownedAutumnFestival over 5days from 20th-25th Aprilnot only showcases the spectacular autumn colour but also the grassroots community focus. It creates aplatform forlocal artists and musicians and ascenic backdrop to thefamilymarket day and parade,and the Pie, Pint and Pinot event. You’ll be spoiltfor choice for things to do.Many are complimentary

Three top golfcourseslie within3 minutes of Arrowtown –the famous Millbrook Resort, home of the NZ Open, The Hills and TheArrowtown Golf Club

In winterthe alpine setting is apopular home for ski teams in training and is ideal as nestled between local ski fields Coronet Peak, The Remarkablesand Cardrona Ski Resort plus 20 minutes from Queenstown Airport

TIPSFOR SUCCESSFUL BOAT ANGLING

TheSouthern Lakes offer fishing opportunities forrainbowand brown troutand landlocked salmon.

BoatanglersinOtago arespoiled for choice with hotspots including lakes Wakatipu, Wanaka,Hawea,and Dunstan. LakeHawea is fishing especiallywell forsalmon, which often prefer brightly coloured lures.

Troutcondition in Poolburn Dam has been extraordinary early this season Other options areUpper Manorburn Dam forrainbows,orLakeOnslow, which hasthe highestbag limitfor browntrout in the South Island.

The goldenrule forboatfishing is the lureneeds to be within 1-2m of the bottom. Select the depth youwant to target and trollalong the lake drop-off following this depth contour Usinga sounderishelpful to stayon course atthe desireddepth.

The trolling speed affects the lureaction and its depth. Trybetween 1-4kmh,or about walkingspeed. Towing your lure alongsidethe boattogiveyou an idea of howdifferent speeds affect the action

C O MM ON BO AT FI SHING MET H OD S

DOWNRIGGER: Aweighted ballislowered on acable to the desired trolling depth. The fishingline is attached with aclipthat releases whenafishstrikes

JIGGING: Use alight,fastaction rodand reel with3-4kg line. Lower your weight or lure to the bottom and move it gentlyup anddown. Bites maybesubtle, so strikesharplyifyou sense something.

LakeHawea salmon

LAKE WAKATIPUIS AFISHINGGEM.

Photos: BruceQuirey OtagoFish &Game

OFF TO THE RACES

NARELLAN POOLS OMAKAU TROTS

Monday, January2,Omakau Racecourse

Oneofthe biggest events of the Central Otago summer, the Narellan Pools OmakauTrots, is on again so pencil in Monday, January2,for a greatday out.

TheCentral OtagoTrotting Club excel at providinganexcitingday for the entirefamily so pack your deckchairs and headalong fora day of topclass racing,entertainment, competitions andprizesin whathas become an iconic event

Thefeaturerace of theday is the Group3 Ranfurly Transport/RD Petroleum MobileFFA Pace over 2000metresfor astake of $30,000, partofa fullday of racing.

Therewill be plenty more however LadiesFashion In The Fieldisalways popular and isfor entrants18-years and over. As alwaystherewillbe a greatprize pool. Be on course early toget your entryintobea part of it all.

Thekids willneverhavehad it so good with the usual massive entertainmentprogramme such as minijeeps, aqua bubbles,face painting and more. Best of allit is all free! Whilethere is entertainment for everyone, there will be food and beverage forall tastes.The gates open at 10am with the first race at around noon.

ROXBURGH TROTTING

CLUB

Wednesday, January4, Roxburgh Racecourse

The Central Otago harness racing circuit travels to RoxburghonWednesday, January 4, when the Roxburgh Trots takeplace.

The featureracewill be the Peters GeneticsRoxburghCup raced over2700m fora stake of $20,000.Thatisjust part of a full programme of racing which begins at 1pm.

FashionInThe Field is back in 2023 and features four categories –Ladies,Mens, Boys, andGirls. Entries, which are free, will be takenonthe dayprior to 2pm at the Fashion Marquee There are somegreat prizesto be had so come along and enjoy!

The kidswillnot be forgottenwithplenty of free entertainment including Mini Jeeps, Aqua Bubbles, Bouncy Castles, and Sumo Suits, while therewillbegiveaways and prizes as part of theSummer Of Harness Promotion

There willbeplenty of food options available plus real fruit icecream,coffee, and candy floss.

There will benopublic bar operating,soBYO Christmas Hamper.

CROMWELLTROTS WYNDHAM HARNESS RACING

CLUB

Friday, January 6, Cromwell

Racecourse

The Wyndham Harness Racing Club will host aday of harness racingand entertainment at the Cromwell Racecourse.

The first race is scheduledfor 3pm so it is an idealopportunity to relaxand catcha good number of races laterinthe afternoon.Gates willopen from 1pm.

The Golden View Care & Lifestyle Village/Anderson ParkMotel Cromwell Cup and theCromwell &DistrictBusinessesCup arethe featureraces, supported by a top classracecard throughout the afternoon andearly evening.

As alwaysthere willbefree entertainment for thechildren with mini jeeps, a bouncycastle, alolly scramble andcompetitions to keep theyoung ones occupied.

The fullentertainment programmewas still being finalised, butFashion In The Field anda BestPicnicCompetition are normalactivities at this meeting so stay tuned to the Southern Harness Racing Facebook page forupdates.

There will benopublic bar operating on the course at this meeting.

Omakau Trots

A PLACE TO TREASURE

Soon to becomeNew Zealand’sfirst UNESCOGlobal Geopark, Duntroon, andWaitakiValleyhavemanytreasures to sharewithvisitors.

There is no better place to begin exploringthe Geopark than paying avisit to Duntroon,inthe WaitakiValleyalong Highway 83.

If youare passing through Duntroon by car, or cycling the A2O Cycle Trail,besureto inspect the newpublic toilets, take acoffeebreak,and wanderaround thevillage You’ll be surprised at what youfind.

If youare visiting Ōamaru, then aday excursionto Duntroon is amust. The village is about half anhour’s drivefromŌamaru along Highway 83.

Hereyou willdiscoveraslice of authentic NewZealand withcountryhospitality and excitingattractions to explore, including Māori rock artand theElephant Rocks. The historic Blacksmith

Shop will openyour eyesto an earlier farmingera.The Duntroon Wetlands are wortha wander aftera picnic lunch, andbesuretovisit therenownedVanished World FossilCentrewhere youcan dig your ownmarine fossil from 25 millionyear oldlimestone. Local farmers createdthis Fossil Centreto tell the story of fossilsfound on their farms overmany yearsby researchers from the UniversityofOtago Geology Department

Thecommunityhas erected anumber of interpretation panels around thevillage tellingvisitorsaboutlocal stories.Ahotel,café,and camping ground will help make your stay memorable. Formoreinformation,just drop into Vanished World, whichisopendaily from 9.30am to 5pm.

BE IMMERS ED IN AS TUN NING LA ND SCAP E

AORAKI/MTCOOK

Set under thetallest mountain in the land, Aoraki/MountCook village is surrounded by soaringpeaks andglaciers. It's theperfect place from which to explorethis majestic area. There is plenty of qualityaccommodation on offer, from camping, backpacking,motels, andinternational standardhotels. Naturally there area multitudeofadventure activities to getinvolved in – the best waytobetruly immersedin the stunning landscape. Thereare walksand hikes for allages and abilities,fishing, boating on theglacier lakes,4WD safaris, and amazing scenic flights with snow landings.

OMARAMA

At the southern end of the Mackenzie Basin, Omarama means‘‘theplace of light''.It'sa greatplace to stopifyou'retravelling from Queenstown or Christchurch– or if you're taking on the Alps2 Ocean cycle trail.Aswell as fishing and gliding, andother adventure activities,Omaramaishometo Hot Tubs Omarama, the idealplacetohavea relaxing soak in aprivatehot tub filled with puremountain water,under theperfectly clear,starryskies.

TEKAPO

Aspectacular backdrop at anytimeofthe year, LakeTekapoisset in theglorious expanses of the Mackenzie Country. With amaximum depth of 710m, the lake gains its distinctivehue from the mineral deposits in theglacialmeltwater fromthe surrounding mountains. But Tekapo also hassome of New Zealand's highest sunshine hours, lowest averagewind speeds, and minimal rain,making it a greatbet forsummer fun. Visit the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd on the lakefront, builtin1935, andadjacent to the bronze sheepdog monument. Tekapo is theideal place to stargaze,withthe area being part of Dark SkyReserve,and astrotourism is increasingly popular.Ifyou're lookingfor adventure, there's kayaking, airsafaris, jetboating,hunting, mountain biking, and Tekapo also offersa range of walkingopportunities.

TWIZEL

Built in the 1960sto house hydroelectric scheme workers, Twizelremains home to more than1000 people,whichswells to threetimes thatsize during the summerholidays.Thetownisthe perfect base for adventure-related activities in the region during the summer

The lakesand mountains offer abroad array of adventures, including fishing, boating,climbing, tramping, horse trekking and mountainbiking. Being on therouteofthe Alps 2Oceancycle trail, Twizelis also apopular stopover. During the summer months thereisplenty to do withouthaving to go far; there's mini golf,great cafes, the beautiful TwizelRiver Trail, andLakeRuataniwhafor kayaking or paddle-boarding

ThevastMackenzie Basin is an amazing landscape and averypopularholiday destinationallyearround.

Mackenzie Churchofthe Good ShepherdAtNight -Photo: Rachel Gillespie

Alps 2Ocean cycle trail

Photo:

Photo: Tourism Waitaki.

HISTORY HERITAG

With greatfood, top-notchcraft beer and wine, historic charm, inventiveart, geological wonders, spectacular scenery, beaches, lakes and nativewildlife– you can’t beata weekend in Waitakithis Summer.

CULTURE AND HERITAGE

Waitaki offersanexperience rich in historyand heritage, from the landforms formed millionsofyearsago and ancient Māori rock art to Ōamaru’s amazingVictorian precinct, with NewZealand's most completecollectionof Victorian buildings The historicbuildings, made from locally quarried limestone, are atestament to Ōamaru’s boom era, whenitwas an importantport town. Today, they arefilled with galleries, shops, artisans, and places to eatand drink. The area is also where you’ll find Whitestone City, an interactiveand handson historyexperience, and SteampunkHQ, agatewayto otherdimensions

The Forrester Gallery and Waitaki Museum in Ōamaru’s

mainstreet, also provide a wonderful opportunityto connect with the district’s art, history andculture

EATAND DRINK

Award-winning eateries areadding big flavour to Ōamaru.The town is now overflowing withtop-class dining destinations,including Riverstone Kitchen and Cucina Ōamaru is alsohome totwo award-winning breweries, Scotts Brewing Co and Craftwork Brewery, and a new cocktail bar, Victoria Lounge, aunique venue in the heart of historic Ōamaru serving a range of cocktails and food.

If wine is moretoyour taste, headupthe Waitaki Valleyto Kurow’s River-TEstate, and enjoylocalwines amongst the vines.

ENATURE AND WILDLIFE

If youknowŌamaru,it’smore thanlikely youknowitthanks to thelittle penguin/kororā.

The ŌamaruBlue Penguin Colony providesvisitorswith an opportunity to see the world’ssmallestpenguins in their naturalenvironment –you’ll be totally captivated watching their nightly arrival. Therareyellow-eyedpenguin/ hoiho canalso be foundin Waitaki, andŌamaru Harbour is home to thelargest colony of Otago Shags

The coastlinebetween Ōamaru and Palmerston offerslong beach walksand uninterruptedocean views Dip your toes in thewatersat Kakanui– youhaveAll DayBay and CampbellsBay to choose from –beforecontinuing further south to reachthe amazing geological phenomenon that is the MoerakiBouldersonKoekohe Beach.

Then there’sthe Waitaki Valley, hometosome of thedistrict’s mostimpressive natural

wonders–includingElephant Rocksand theClayCliffs–and thebeautifullakes Waitaki, Aviemore,and Benmore.

WALKING AND BIKING

Whetheryou have aspare hour or aspare few days in Waitaki, thereare some greatbiking andwalkingtrails to choose from The 316kmAlps2Ocean CycleTrail is NewZealand’s longest cycle trail andis described by many as the ‘‘jewelinthe crown’’ofthe country’s greatrides. The adventure begins at the foot of Aoraki Mt Cook, NewZealand’s largest peak, then meanders itsway past greatlakes and rivers,and down to the ocean, finishing at thepicturesqueŌamaruHarbour

Discovermoreaboutthe diversityofthis district at waitakinz.com

Ōamaru BluePenguin Colony

Omaramaclaycliffs

Photos: Cindy Mottelet, Tourism Waitaki. Kakanui

With arts, entertainment, shopping, architecture, historyand much moreon offer,Dunedin is theperfect destination foraweekend or longer visit.

Before European settlers arrived in theearly 1800,the Dunedin area wasinhabited by Maori forhundreds of years. TheOtago Gold Rush of the1860ssaw Dunedin rapidly grow,becoming New Zealand’s first city in 1865. History is ahugepartofthe Dunedin’s appeal,which is representedthroughthe city’samazing concentration of built heritage. Afew prominentexamples are theneo-gothic glory of the RailwayStation, the UniversityRegistry building, thenewly refurbished Dunedin Courthouse and Robert Lawson’s stunning FirstChurch. Meanwhile Olveston Historic Home offersa taste of howthe city’sVictorian residents aspiredtolive.

Butwhile Dunedin maybe acity withheavy historical weight,italso offersagood dose of fun, with families well cateredfor.There areplenty of playgrounds, pools, parks, beaches and other outdoorspaces where excess energy can be burnt Theminigolf, maze, andmini trains at Wal’sPlantland, inMosgiel, willfillafun afternoon.

Thereare also greatindoor attractions,including Otago Museum. The kids will love AnimalAttic,atreasure troveofmorethan 2000 taxidermiedcreatures of all descriptions. And the Museum’s Tūhura Otago Community TrustScience Centre is thebiggestofits kind in NewZealand, with aTropical Forest,the Beautiful Science Gallery, and Perpetual Guardian Planetarium. Toitū Otago SettlersMuseumisanother must-visit, telling thestory of thepeople of Dunedin andthe surrounding area Thereare 14 galleries, with

many interactivedisplays

Over thedecades,Dunedin hasbeena breedingground forgenerations of creative talent, right across the artistic spectrum. The city boastsa rich heritagein literature, visualart,music, architecture,fashion, and beyond. From the University of Otago arts fellowships, to theundergroundfringes and everything in between, Dunedinisfertile ground for those driven to create. Check outthe the Otago Art Society at DunedinRailway Station, the Dunedin Public Art Gallery,and themanydealer galleries.

In recent years, Dunedin hasjoined theinternational street art movement, and

there is an establishedstreet art trail in the centralcity to meander around and enjoy both the art and theunique ambience of NewZealand’s first city Ajewel of Dunedin tourism is the Otago Peninsula World-famous forits easily accessible wildlifereserves, the 20kmlong peninsula includesthe only mainland NorthernRoyal Albatross colony on Earth. It is also hometothe yellow-eyed penguin (the world’s rarest), little bluepenguins, sea lions, and furseals. Otago Peninsula alsofeatures picturesque Macandrew Bayand Portobello.And HighcliffRd, which offers commandingviews of the

city,harbour,and beyond, will leadyou to the country’sonly castle.Larnach Castlehas beenone family’s ambitious restoration project for morethan50yearsand is surroundedbyaGarden of International Significance.

On theother sideofthe harbour you’ll findthe Orokonui Ecosanctuary, which opened in 2007 Its307 hectares of forest providessanctuary to a multitude of speciesofplants and animals,includingnative birds, bats, and tuatara.

TheDunedin i-SiteVisitor Centreinthe Octagon has more information about what’sonoffer around the city

Toitū Otago SettlersMuseum

Dunedin Railway StationLarnach Castle

OUT ON THE STREETS

Takeamagical mysterytourof Dunedin’s inner-city streets and alleyways with the captivatingStreetArt Trail

Here you’ll find the creations ofboth local and international artists exploding across the facadesofmanybuildings in an eye-popping display of colour and texture. To beginyour DunedinStreet Art Trail walk,use the online map at dunedinstreetart.co.nz

Number oneonthe map is also the first streetartwork thatwas commissioned by the DunedinStreetArt charitable trust in 2014.Belgian artistROA’s giant tuataraonBathStreetcaptured the population’s imagination,and more streetart wasdemanded. Nowthereare well over 30 works around the inner-city,and evenmore to be seen out aroundthe suburbs.The

In recentyearsthe innercity of Dunedin has become acanvasfor world class streetart. Explorethe colourand vibrancy that’s on offerwith the Dunedin Street Art Trail.

majority of theworksonthe Dunedin Street Art Trail areonthe southern side ofthe city centre,with many to be seen around theWarehouse Precinct -arejuvenatedareawheredevelopers committed to preserving heritage buildingshavealso sponsoredthis creativity

The StreetArt Trail reflects many of Dunedin’s connections with the world, both historicaland contemporary. Phlegmfromthe UK has createda mythical creatureresembling akakapo, and agiant fishswallowing aspects of the city’spast- Māori waka,and European sailing ships.

OtherinternationalartistincludePixel Pancho (UK),Dal East (China),Natalia Rak(Poland),and Hyuro(Argentina), while localsincludeSean Duffle,Emma Francesca,Stickum,and SamOvens.

Hugo vanDorsser

SophiePhotographe

Phlegm

Wildlife

Cloud Forest Walks Café