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otago goldfields park
Take a journey back through time
to a golden era in New Zealand’s history. Follow the Otago
Goldfields Heritage Trail through golden brown tussock hills, and
rock-studded ranges, discovering the relics of old mining sites.
The Otago Goldfields Park brings together over 20 widely
scattered mining locations dating from the 1860’s onwards,
which are now managed and preserved by the Department of
Conservation. The sites cover a diverse range of mining
operations, and clear signage and displays at each site portray
aspects of life on the gold fields.
The park trail starts at Dunedin and takes the most direct route
to Queenstown, a journey of 4 hours. Along the way, you take
detours on secondary roads to view mining sites, so this part of
the route can easily take 2 days. Highlights are; Gabriel’s
Gully (the site of the first discovery of gold). Roxburgh (where
20 gold dredges once worked the Clutha River). Fruitlands (where
you view the lovingly restored Mitchell’s Cottage). Cromwell
(where the old town site is drowned under Lake Dunstan) and
Queenstown (with the stupendous Skippers Gorge, Shotover River
and lovely Arrowtown).
The next stage of the journey takes you back to Alexandra and
along S.H.85 and S.H.87 to Dunedin. Highlights are; Ophir (with
many original buildings). St Bathans (with the old Vulcan Hotel
and Blue Lake) and Oturehua (with the only mineshaft pulley wheel
system still standing).
Walking around the ghost towns and mine relics, it is possible to
recapture the adventure and romance of those heady gold rush
days. By 1867, 2 million ounces of gold had been won from these
sites. Today only the colour of golden tussock, pink and purple
lupin and briar roses save the scene from total desolation.
By the end of your Otago Goldfields Park tour the enchanting,
timeless landscape of "Central’ will have etched its
image on your mind forever.
The magnetism of those rock-studded, golden hills will continue
to draw you back.
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