Central Otago

Otago stretches from the rolling countryside of the east coast around Dunedin, west across the dry interior of Central Otago, to the alpine regions around Wanaka and Queenstown (which is situated by Lake Wakatipu). The vegetation on the barren schist hillsides consists of sparse grass, some scrub, and some exotic weeds such as the very common pink-flowered wild briar roses. Summer temperatures are very high, while winters usually see heavy falls of snow in the mountains and heavy frosts below.

It was one of the first areas to be settled in New Zealand, as a result of the gold rush. Today the old gold fields have turned into farmland, and the Central Otago region is renowned for the apricots, peaches, cherries and other fruits which flourish in the crisp winters and long hot summers. A bag of fresh cherries purchased at a roadside stand makes a refreshing diversion on a hot day when travelling to the southern Otago lakes.

Central Otago’s alpine regions attract large numbers of skiers during the winter, especially around Queenstown; and the lakes are equally popular with campers, boaters and holidaymakers in the summer. In summer the hillsides are covered with swathes of flowers, but of European weeds, like the pink Briar rose and blue Echiums.

The east coast city of Dunedin is well worth a visit; it’s a port and University of Otago town, with lots of student-centred night life. Architecturally the centre is red-brick English Victorian/Edwardian, with pretty suburbs along the hills of the volcanic peninsula. A ‘greener’ city than Christchurch, due to the higher rainfall and the native Bush of the surrounding countryside. During the days of the gold rush last century, Dunedin was the largest city in the country.