ROAD TRIP: A journey from Wanaka to Dunedin

Wanaka to Cromwell via SH 6 40min, 54.1km

Cromwell to Clyde via SH 8 17min, 23.2km

SIDE TRIP: Central Otago Rail Trail via Clyde, Ōmakau, St Bathans, Ranfurly & Middlemarch 150km

Clyde to Alexandra via Sunderland St & SH 8 6min 7.3km

Alexandra to Milton via SH 8 1hr 44min, 138km

Milton to Dunedin via SH 1 40min, 54.2km

Surfing in Blackhead, Dunedin © DunedinNZ

Wave goodbye to Wanaka and head to Dunedin, a city at the head of Otago Harbour on the southeast coast.

As you make your way inland down SH 8, you’ll pass stone fruit orchards and rolling farmland heading towards Cromwell. You’ll want to lap up the lakeside scenery at the treasure trove of activities and attractions in Cromwell, the farthest inland town in New Zealand.

Next, you’ll make your way to the historic township of Clyde on the banks of the Clutha River, to marvel at the rugged landscape decorated with dark schist rocks and wild tussocks. Then it’s a very short trek to sunny,welcoming Alexandra.

Head towards Milton which lies on the flood plain of the Tokomairiro River. From there you’re on the home stretch to Dunedin, following SH 1 across the farmland of the Taieri Plains.

Sweetening the deal on this already sweet route is a side trip to Otago Central Rail Trail.

CENTRAL OTAGO RAIL TRAIL

CLYDE, ŌMAKAU, ST BATHANS, RANFURLY, MIDDLEMARCH – 152KM, THREE DAYS CYCLING

New Zealand’s original ‘Great Ride’, this is a 152km walking, cycling and horse riding track through the valleys between Middle march and Clyde. A pioneering project for New Zealand, the trail is all offroad, no traffic, so you can enjoy the peace and quiet of a route through historic gold-mining villages, rugged scenery and distinctive landscapes.

Cycling © Miles Holden

There are river gorges, tunnels, viaducts, rocky landscapes and towering mountains along the way, as well as historic townships and settlements. Wholesome fare and great local vintages will ensure you remain well fed and watered.

St Bathans is a highlight. Located in the northern reaches of the Manuherikia Valley, St Bathans’ pretty Blue Lake is famous, as is the haunted Vulcan Hotel and the town’s quaint post office, bank, constable’s cottage and jail. St Alban’s Church is one of the first prefabricated buildings in the country.

On the trail, you’ll also get to check out historic Clyde; Ōmakau, on the northwest bank of the Manuherikia River; Ranfurly, which is famous for its art deco architecture; and Middlemarch’s moon-like landscape.

Clyde • Peonies : © Central Otago Tourism

HIGHLIGHTS

ARAMOANA BEACH AND THE MOLE

This is a boardwalk and salt marsh experience on the edge of Otago Harbour that suits all ages and abilities – big tick! Watch the albatross frolicking in their natural habitat on Taiaroa Head before you follow the track and boardwalk to a giant sandhill.

MOSGIEL

Mosgiel is part of Dunedin, separated by hills, but it could be many miles away. It’s a rural town, important to the Taieri Plains farming community, and is a delightful place to visit for its quiet streets, its walking paths and its pretty parks and gardens.

RANFURLY

Ranfurly is a bustling place celebrated as an excellent example of an art deco town, Particularly attractive is the former Centennial Milk Bar. Visit the Rural Art Deco Gallery and refurbished railway station which houses displays and an audio-visual presentation revealing the town’s stories.

NASEBY

If you’re intrigued by the sport of curling, this is your town. Naseby, resplendent in Victorian architecture, is also home to a snow and ice luge track. It’s also a great place for walking and mountain biking adventures.

Forest walk in Naseby © Central Otago Tourism

MIDDLEMARCH

An hour’s drive from Dunedin and on the route of the Taieri Gorge Railway journey and the Otago gallery and museum, or enjoy the quiet rural backroads on foot or by push bike.

TAPANUI

Between Dunedin and Gore, Tapanui is surrounded by rolling green hills, farmland, forestry and mountains. It’s a laid-back little town with walks, fishing, golf and a Vintage Machinery Museum.

LARNACH CASTLE

The castle, on Otago Peninsula, was built in 1871 by William Larnach, merchant and politician. It’s open to visitors to enjoy its splendid interior; the castle’s gardens have been rated as a Garden of International Significance.

ST CLAIR BEACH

Very close to Dunedin city, this long surf beach is known for walking and swimming, good cafés, bars and a year-round heated Lido pool.

St Clair Hot Salt Water Pool, South Dunedin

DESTINATION BREWERIES

Descend on one of Dunedin’s excellent breweries such as Speight’s, Emerson’s, Arc Brewery and New New New (the latter also has Yum Cat Asian food stall). Speight’s and Emerson’s both run tours.

HIGHLANDS

Highlands is already home to all manner of exceptional motoring experiences but now you can also experience the VR room. Choose your driver and take a virtual lap of the track.

CENTRAL OTAGO SIBLINGS

You’ll pass through several towns born in the gold-rush era, each one with its own character.

CLYDE

Clyde is an historic township beside the Clutha River and marks the official start – or end – of the Otago Central Rail Trail. Producing some of New Zealand’s superior wines and fresh fruits, Clyde is quite the legend in these parts for its superlative produce. Once home to a booming gold rush, there’s a sweet vintage vibe in the form of a quaint and intact historic precinct, Sunderland St. Here you can explore original stone walls and curbsides, along with a collective of buildings that have proudly survived the test of time such as the post office, courthouse and Clyde Railway Station. Clyde is also home to a hydro-electric dam; you can see it aboard a jet ski and then give jet boating, water skiing and boating a whirl on Lake Dunstan.

Shaky Bridge, Alexandra © Central Otago Tourism

MILTON

Milton wears its pledge to be ‘the town of opportunities’ as a badge of honour. Like Clyde, there is a robust historic heartbeat here with some significant buildings including The Old Sod Cottage that originated in the 1860s as a sanctuary for miners on their way to the Tuapeka goldfields. McGill’s Flour Mill, Tokomairiro Church and the Bruce Woollen Mill are also worth a look.

ROXBURGH

Between Alexandra and Milton in the Teviot Valley is famous for its orchards. When you’ve enjoyed your fill of sweet summer fruits, you can earn some action and adventure stripes on the scenic trails navigating craggy mountain ranges and perfecting your kayaking stroke on Lake Roxburgh, which reaches almost 30km towards Alexandra.

LAWRENCE

Soak up the rich heritage in the lovely town of Lawrence, where one of the world’s largest gold rushes took place. The Clutha Gold Cycle Trail, one of the New Zealand Great Rides, starts (or concludes) in this pretty town. The 73km bike trail embraces Otago’s rich heritage and stunning scenery and is set to get bigger and better, with the route being extended all the way to Lake Waihola.

While the quota of gold has decreased, Lawrence’s ambitious spirit lives on. Take a spin on the mighty Clutha River in a jet boat, visit the historic site of the largest Chinese gold-mining camp in New Zealand, 1km north of town, or take a self-guided walking tour through Gabriel Gully historic reserve. Quirky shops, a vibrant café culture and quality accommodation are also all part of this community’s charm.

Ice Cream Stop in Ōmakau © Central Otago Tourism

ALEXANDRA

Attractive ALEXANDRA first made a name for itself in the 1800s when the CLUTHA RIVER revealed a bounty of gold. Discover more about its gold mining at THE CENTRAL STORIES MUSEUM, then take a cruise on the Clutha River or climb up to the town’s enormous iconic clockface via historic SHAKY BRIDGE, an early suspension bridge made of gorgeous stacked stone.

Clyde Historic Precinct © Central Otago Tourism

Alexandra’s striking CLOCK ON THE HILL is over 50 years old and its extra large face (11m in diameter) sits prominently on Knobby Range. It is the largest of its kind in New Zealand.

The region specialises in pinot noir and cellar doors are numerous. In summer, local apricots, peaches, cherries and apples fill the orchards and when the winter brings sub-zero temperatures, MANORBURN DAM transforms into an ice rink.

DUNEDIN CITY

Larnach Castle, Dunedin © DunedinNZ

Dunedin’s appeal is not all about heritage architecture; its art and literary scenes and its contemporary culture also score well.

HISTORY, ART & CULTURE

Heritage is well looked after in these parts, with protected historic buildings, museums, restored vintage homes and a general appreciation of the region’s rich history.

PORT CHALMERS A small historic town with plenty of artists and musicians in residence, Port Chalmers has a good mix of galleries, cafés and heritage attractions. Visit the Port Chalmers Regional Maritime Museum; it’s housed in an original 1877 stone post office building. It tells the stories of early pioneers and port characters who influenced and inspired the area over the years. Port Chalmers is about 15 minutes drive from Dunedin.

OLVESTON Designed by acclaimed English architect Sir Ernest George, this historic home is open 364 days of the year. Six guided tours are offered daily, so you can peruse the former family home of philanthropist David Theomin, his wife and children. Furnished with fine art, furniture and artefacts from all around the world, this precious time capsule is an authentic depiction of the life of a wealthy merchant family in the early part of the 20th century.

TOITU OTAGO SETTLERS MUSEUM This beautifully designed building houses one of the finest social history collections in the country. Its innovative and interactive displays take visitors on a journey from the arrival of the first tribes and settlers up to the present day.

DUNEDIN RAILWAY STATION The most photographed building in New Zealand and one of Dunedin’s most prominent architectural landmarks, the striking bluestone station was built sometime between 1903 and 1906. Featuring mosaic tile floors and gorgeous stained-glass windows, it has lots of nooks and crannies to explore. On Saturday mornings, the famously good Otago Farmers’ Market is held down by the Dunedin Railway Station.

St Clair Hot Salt Water Pool, South Dunedin

Dunedin is home to one of the country’s leading universities and a strong Scottish heritage. Explore Edwardian and Victorian architecture as well as hiking, biking, posh nosh, sandy white beaches, blooming gardens and rare wildlife – this is a ‘cherry on top’ kind of city.

Go to THE OCTAGON which is the centre of the city’s shopping precinct. Several significant buildings are right here, including St Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin Town Hall and Regent Theatre.

Shopping in Dunedin city © DunedinNZ

Visit DUNEDIN PUBLIC ART GALLERY also in The Octagon before walking 15-minutes to OCHO chocolatier for tours and sinfully delicious tastings.

DUNEDIN’S GARDENS are lovely. Pack a picnic and head to Dunedin Botanic Garden or the Dunedin Chinese Garden.

STREET ART Dozens of walls feature colourful artworks by leading artists. Pick up a map from an information centre.

TUNNEL BEACH is only accessible via a short, narrow tunnel. Visit at low tide only.

SANDYMOUNT TRACK 30-minutes from Dunedin, the track and platform have been upgraded. Panoramic views over the hidden reaches of the Otago Peninsula can be found on this one-hour loop walk.

OTAGO PENINSULA

WILDLIFE

Otago Peninsula is home to the rare yellow-eyed penguin and New Zealand Hooker sea lions and is the mainland breeding colony of the royal albatross.

Royal albatross, Taiaroa Head Lighthouse© Stephen Jaquiery

You have a unique opportunity to see royal albatross here, as Otago Peninsula has the only mainland breeding colony in the world.

The observatory at the Royal Albatross Centre is a good place to start exploring and to watch adult birds return from fishing at sea. Also out this way, is Penguin Place home to the yellow-eyed penguin with a network of tunnels, hides and tracks.

You’ll see New Zealand fur seals, sea lions and little blue penguins on the peninsula, too. Ideally, join a guided tour, to ensure you don’t intrude on the lives of these creatures. Plus you’ll learn as you go.

Yellow-eyed penguin © Elm Wildlife

Main Image: Yellow-eyed penguin © Elm Wildlife