Becks, Chatto Creek, Lauder, Moa Creek, Omakau, Ophir, Poolburn, St Bathans

The Manuherikia Valley rolls gently across green and gold highlands to far away horizons filled with mountains towering blue, and snow-dusted, into never-ending skies. Fluffy white clouds seem within reach above huge rocky outcrops and grazing farm stock while tiny pioneer settlements lay nestled and hidden within the grandeur.

Explore the roadways and discover old farm buildings and gold miners’ cottages made from local schist stone. The historic town of Cambrians has well preserved mud-brick buildings, and the former White Horse Hotel at Becks is made of stone and timber.

Visit Ophir and St Bathans, living townships of the Central Otago gold rush hey days. In St Bathans, both the post office and the reputedly haunted Vulcan Hotel, are still in business. Nearby Blue Lake resulted from the flooding of an enormous pit left by the world’s deepest hydraulic mining lift of gravel.

Admire the many historic buildings in Ophir, once the area’s most populous centre. It also has a spectacular suspension bridge with stone piers.

Enjoy local hospitality at the pubs and eateries dotted around the Manuherikia Valley, also renown for its arts and handicrafts.

Get active on the Chatto Creek to Lauder section of the Otago Central Rail Trail. Fish in the Manuherikia River or wallow in its many swimming holes.

OMAKAU Omakau offers a relaxed rural setting, interesting historic buildings and a friendly atmosphere set against a backdrop of the beautiful Dunstan Mountains. The Omakau Races draw large crowds during the Christmas and New Year period. Omakau’s Central Otago location provides an interesting, family-friendly stop. READ MORE	CHATTO CREEK Stroll beside the creek, spot trout from the old bridge, take a dip or picnic at Chatto Creek. New Zealand’s smallest Post Office sits alongside the historic mud brick and stacked stone Chatto Creek Tavern. The Otago Central Rail Trail’s sweeping S bend ascent of Tiger Hill begins here. READ MORE	OPHIR Ophir is one of Central Otago’s richest towns of historic buildings. The historic Daniel O’Connell suspension bridge and the post office are must sees. Ophir recorded New Zealand’s coldest winter temperature at -21C. It is the perfect spot for winter photography, fishing and picnicking in warmer weather. READ MORE

POOLBURN A rocky, tussock swept land, Poolburn evokes the imagination and lays claim to impressive engineering feats of the former railway line. Poolburn is situated in the Ida Valley inland from Omakau and Ophir, approximately 30 minutes from Alexandra. Access the Dunstan Trail at the Poolburn Dam, a popular recreation area for anglers. READ MORE	MOA CREEK Be awed by the vastness of the grasslands and rocky tors as you travel through Moa Creek. The now quiet settlement sprang up after the discovery of gold in 1863 and was once bursting with miners. During Peter Jackson’s filming of the Lord of the Rings, fishing huts at nearby Poolburn Dam were disguised as rocks and village houses. READ MORE	LAUDER Lauder is situated on the Otago Central Rail Trail between Omakau and Becks, approximately 45km from Alexandra. The air in Lauder is reputed to be some of the cleanest and most pollution-free in the world. The National Institute of Water and Atmosphere Research (NIWA) has a research facility based there. READ MORE

MATAKANUI Matakanui lies nested under the foothills of the Dunstan Mountains and offers a special glimpse into how life must have been during the rush for Central Otago gold. Look for the original school with its rare rooftop bell tower. Take in the relics from days long past and imagine those hardy souls who once brought Matakanui to life. READ MORE	DRYBREAD Nothing but a cemetery, a stand of ancient poplars and the distinct white tailings remain of the gold-mining township, Drybread, situated at the foot of the Dunstan Range near Omakau. Yet the history, landscape and its curious name are so wonderfully Central Otago, that Drybread continues to attract those seeking out authentic Central. READ MORE	CAMBRIANS Cambrians is a creative community in the heart of Central Otago’s Goldfields Heritage Trail. Sculptures and artistic expressions adorn the tidy main street, expressing the creativeness of the Cambrians community. Cambrians is a fascinating example of what Central Otago’s dry climatic extremes have helped to preserve. READ MORE

ST BATHANS Steeped in history with a dazzling landscape, St Bathans is famed for its startling Blue Lake and the Vulcan Hotel, said to be haunted. Nested under Mt St Bathans and surrounded by the spectacular Hawkdun Ranges and Dunstan Mountains, St Bathans is approximately 40 minutes drive northeast of Alexandra and 25 minutes from Ranfurly. READ MORE	BECKS The small Central Otago township of Becks is uniquely situated half way between the Equator and the South Pole on the 45th parallel. It is 25 minutes drive northeast of Alexandra and 20 minutes from Wedderburn in the Maniototo Plains. It has a war memorial, community hall and much evidence of a village from an earlier time. READ MORE