Waitaki Valley

Follow the river up the Waitaki Valley to find historic towns, beautiful lakes, massive hydro dams and legendary trout fishing.

On the journey along the Waitaki Valley you'll notice the transition from green pastures to the characteristic dry inland landscape of Central Otago. Snow-capped peaks and beautiful lakes contrast with the bare brown hills that rise up from the valley floor.

Driving east to west, Duntroon is the first place of interest. Named by an early Scottish runholder, this farming village has an authentic blacksmith's shop. Behind Duntroon you can see the Earthquakes, an impressive formation of limestone cliffs. Maori rock drawings can also be found in the area - one site is 400 metres up Dansey's Pass Road; the other is under the cliffs of Takiroa. The drawings - from rough sketches to beautifully stylised pieces of art - were created with fat, charcoal and red ochre.

Further along the highway is Kurow, a farming town with many historically important limestone buildings. Fishing and hunting are popular pastimes here. Kurow's also a great place for a spin in a jet boat.

There are three hydro-electricity dams along the Waitaki River - Waitaki, Aviemore and Benmore. The Waitaki Dam was built with picks and shovels in the 1930s; Benmore is one of the largest earth dams in the southern hemisphere, and the only dam open for viewing; Aviemore is the newest and is memorable for its fish spawning race, which allows trout to migrate upstream from Lake Waitaki.

There are many pleasant walks in the Otematata area. Most will take around an hour to walk - more if you linger to enjoy the views or watch the bird life. Longer hikes include the Benmore Peninsula and Deep Stream Tracks.

Omarama marks the western end of the Waitaki Valley. This town has a passion for gliding. The nor'wester blows steady and warm off the Southern Alps to form the famous Northwest Arch, a thermal that can take an intrepid glider pilot to 10,000 metres.