Introduction

The real Central Otago is referred to as ‘A World of Difference’. Here you leave behind the spectacular lakes, mountains and commercialism of Queenstown and Wanaka and enter a world dominated by the big sky and exquisite natural light; by unique mountain ranges, rocky tors and high tussock grasslands; and by scenes evoking the history of the 19th century sheep runs and relics of the search for gold. Take time out and experience this unique part of New Zealand.

The hot dry climate of Cromwell and Bannockburn makes for the picking of golden fruit and award winning pinot noir grapes. Wildflowers are abundant and the powerful waters of the Kawarau and Clutha rivers meet here.

The autumn glow of the trees that line the Clutha between Clyde and Alexandra are as striking as the gold that was dredged from its banks. The gold was also at the heart of the Earnscleugh Flat where the ‘new gold’, the pinot noir vines, now flourish.

The Manuherikia Valley is dominated by the spectacular Dunstan Range covered in superb golden tussock grasslands and often sprinkled with a covering of snow. At its head is dramatic St Bathans and in between, stock graze amongst old farm buildings and goldminers’ cottages made from the local schist.

Naseby, The Jewel of the Maniototo, sits ‘2000 feet above Worry Level!’. The Maniototo Plain, now mainly pastoral land, is surrounded by mountain ranges including the iconic Hawkdun Range. Throughout lie the remnants of the prosperous gold mining past, mud brick buildings and lonely cemeteries that record the stories of the early settlers. And the Taieri River adds a special charm as its headwaters meander lazily across the plain before entering the gorge further south below Middlemarch.

The Experiences listed on the menu are an outline only of what you can do with your time in Central. You decide how long you want to spend here and what you want to do and we’ll tailor-make an Experience to suit you.