Central Otago Touring Route

More than 150 years ago, people from all over the world flocked to Central Otago in search of gold. These days, it’s the historic mining towns left behind that are the region’s greatest treasure.

Many of these towns can be found along the Central Otago Touring Route(opens in new window), which takes you from Dunedin to Queenstown, via the Straith Taieri and Māniatoto Plains—one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most distinctive landscapes.

Although short, at just over 340 kilometres, this road trip rewards the slow traveller with intriguing detours, award-winning restaurants, and the friendliest people you’ll ever met.

You’ll begin this road trip in Ōtepoti Dunedin(opens in new window), Otago’s principal city. Today, Dunedin is a hub for education, manufacturing, and agriculture, but it's the city’s unique history that gives it its character. More than any other New Zealand city, Dunedin’s history charts the highs and lows of the early pioneers. It was a key player in the whaling industry in the 1840s and was at the heart of the gold rush during the 1860s – both of which lasted for little more than a decade at their height. This history is evident in the city’s heritage architecture. Prime examples are St Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin Railway Station, and the Dunedin Courthouse. To learn more, take the Old Town Walk tour.

For one Dunedin’s most distinctive landmarks, visit Larnach Castle. Like all great buildings, the castle has an interesting past but one that is more impressive with a detailed retelling. For this reason, the guided tour is highly recommended.

If you’re interested in the region’s Māori and European history, visit Toitū Otago Settlers Museum and Otago Museum. Highlights for the latter, which is the only world’s only bicultural science centre, include a replica Māori coastal village and articulated Moa skeletons. (Moa was the world’s largest flightless bird, now extinct.)

If history isn't your thing, explore Dunedin’s quaint seaside towns. Portobello is a great place to start: the coffee is connoisseur-grade and at low tide you can walk out to Pudding Island. If you fancy a bit of solitude, hunt out Dunedin’s hidden beach. Located just outside Dunedin’s CBD, tunnel beach is a secluded bay that is only accessible by a hand-dug tunnel. A word of caution: only visit at low tide and don’t be tempted to go swimming—the sea can be rough and has a large rip tide.

Come afternoon, it's time to hit the road. The Otago Touring Route takes you the scenic route to Queenstown, along SH87 (not to be mistaken for SH8) towards the Māniatoto Plains.

Along the way, explore charming rural towns like Naseby, the curling capital of New Zealand. Naseby also offers luging and more than 100 km of scenic mountain bike trails. The Waipiata Pie Co. in Waipiata(opens in new window) is also a popular pitstop. 

Ranfurly will be your final stop. Thanks to a period of expansion in the 1930s, Ranfurly is a trove of colourful art deco buildings. Many of which have been carefully restored, including the Centennial Milk Bar—the home of the Art Deco Museum and a must-see for art deco fans.

Next morning, explore the historic town of St Bathans. Comprising a single street and only ten permanent residents, St Bathans is better known for its unofficial residents—ghosts. For a small town, St Bathans has a surprising number of supernatural inhabitants, with the most sighted ghost residing at the Vulcan Hotel(opens in new window).

The town also has a beautiful turquoise lake, notable for its origins as much as its colour. By the 1930s miners had flattened the local Kildare Hill, which had originally stood at 120 metres, to create a deep mining pit. When the sides of the pit started to encroach on the town, the pit was abandoned and left to fill with water, which mixed with minerals in the rock to create a vivid emerald lake.

After St Bathans, take time to explore Otago’s high country. Backcountry Saddle Expeditions provide two-hour horse treks across Earnscleugh Station, a large 10,000-hectare farm. Highlights include mining ruins in Gold Mining Valley, the vast riverbeds of the Clutha River, and the 1682-metre summit of the Old Man Range, a slumping hulk of schist that has eroded into enormous wind-scaped tors. If you’re a little horse shy, you’ll be pleased to learn they use Appaloosa horses, a breed that is known for its calm temperament and sure-footedness in mountain conditions.

By early afternoon, you’ll make your way to Clyde, one of the region’s most picturesque towns and your home for the night. At the height of the gold rush, Clyde was the most populated town in New Zealand, a fact that has left an imprint on the town’s architecture. Over the past few years, these once-crumbling stone buildings have been diligently restored and transformed into top-notch eateries and accommodation, making Clyde one of the country’s most up-and-coming locations.

Central Otago is renowned for its exceptional wines. The region's continental climate, characterised by hot summers and cold winters, creates ideal conditions for producing high-quality wines, especially Pinot Noir, which has gained international acclaim. And with more than 50 cellar doors, it can be hard to know where to begin. Here are a few options to get you started.

If you’re serious about wine, try a private tour of boutique wineries with Queenstown Wine Trail (the tour covers Cromwell). Or if you simply fancy a bit of fun, try Cromwell Classic Car Wine Tours. For a self-guided adventure, explore Felton Road(opens in new window) by bike. Or head into the centre of Cromwell for Misha’s Vineyard Tasting Room, Pisa Range and Wild Earth Wines(opens in new window) – these tasting rooms are next door to each other. Experience the region's exceptional winery restaurants, including Mt Difficulty, Carrick, Cloudy Bay Shed(opens in new window) and Monte Christo(opens in new window). 

Cromwell will be your home for the night. A must-do attraction is the Cromwell Heritage Precinct, where meticulously preserved and reconstructed buildings line the lakefront, offering a glimpse into the town’s rich gold rush history. However, it’s the more recent history of these buildings that truly sets them apart. Following the construction of the controversial Clyde Dam in the 1990s, the Cromwell basin, including the old town centre, was flooded to create Lake Dunstan. The monumental task of relocating the historic buildings fell to dedicated volunteers, who often had to reconstruct them by hand. Today, the Cromwell Heritage Precinct is home to vibrant cafés, art galleries, and a weekly farmers' market—a testament to the unyielding spirit of this remarkable community.

Start the day with a visit to Arrowtown. One of New Zealand’s oldest settlements, this charming town has a rich gold mining history dating back to 1862. You can still try your luck at gold panning, with several spots offering lessons.

Arrowtown punches above its weight when it comes to restaurants, attracting some of New Zealand’s hottest chefs. Check out Amisfield Bistro(opens in new window), the Fork and Tap(opens in new window), and Aosta. (opens in new window)

After lunch, take a jet boat trip up the Dart River into Mount Aspiring National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Dart River Adventures. Much of the excitement of this journey comes from the ever-present risk of running aground.

Then head to Queenstown, where you’ll stay for the night. Known as the adventure capital of the country, Queenstown offers more than 200 adrenaline-pumping activities, including skiing, bungy jumping, and white-water rafting. Visit QueenstownNZ(opens in new window) for the full list of what is on offer. Also, check out the Queenstown Trail Great Ride(opens in new window), it is great way to take in Queenstown’s spectacular scenery.

Beyond the adrenaline rush, Queenstown boasts a vibrant food and wine scene, with world-class restaurants and wineries showcasing the best of local produce. Check out The Bunker(opens in new window), The Sherwood(opens in new window), Rātā(opens in new window), and Fergburger(opens in new window).