Central Otago

 

First, an admission, I was born in Central Otago so am biased.  I didn't live there long – we left before I was out of nappies.  So I don't have any real recollections from that time.  But I've seen pictures and have visited quite a lot of times.

 

Central (as locals call it) is in the inland part of Otago in the South Island.  Its towns include Alexandra, Clyde and Cromwell.

 

The landscape is majestic.  The Clutha River, the Alps and the empty plains.

 

It is now also a wine growing region – mostly Riesling and Pinot Noir.

 

Grahame Sydney - New Zealand artist

This work is called Slow Sign – which is a work by Grahame Sydney – a New Zealand artist who did many works based on the landscape of Central Otago – a fabulous part of the country – and not just because I was born there!

It is of a railway sign that used to say 'Slow' but is now covered over  with the track looking to be disused.
 

And I like this painting of a country letterbox too.  It is called Private Bag.

All his landscapes are devoid of people but do contain man made objects.

Places in NZ I would like to visit Part IV: Otago Rail Trail

View from the Otago Rail Trail

Otago Rail Trail

I understand most people start at the Clyde end and head to Middlemarch – something to do with the that you finish downhill that way.  Cycling on gravel is a bit tricky.  It takes 3-4 days to do the whole thing.  Perhaps given my age and level of fitness (sub zero) I need to look into doing just a section of it.  Apparently it is really busy in the summer so maybe mid to late March would be a good time to do it.

This book has been published to provide information for prospective cyclists - GUIDE TO THE CENTRAL OTAGO RAIL TRAIL by Gerald Cunningham

Top Ten places I have visited in New Zealand

        

 

1      Central Otago.  The great empty majestic landscape.  What can beat it?  And it is still relatively unpopulated – except by those pesky rabbits.  It is very well represented in the art of Grahame Sydney.

2      Coromandel Peninsula.  The bush, the beaches, the fishing, the tranquillity.  The classic Kiwi favourite summer holiday spots.  I don’t mean the couple of places spoiled by too many tourists – Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach at low tide.  But just all sorts of interesting nooks and crannies on both sides of the Peninsula to explore.

3      Lake Manapouri and the Wilmot Pass.  For my money, a much nice place to visit than Milford Sound.  Not the tourists and tour buses.  But an absolutely stunning, majestic lake and the Wilmot Pass under snow in winter is a delight.  The Wilmot Pass is the road that runs between where the boats come in and Doubtful Sound.

4      Queenstown/Wanaka/Arrowtown Okay all these areas are a bit chocolate boxy but at the same time such spectacular settings, they have to be included.  A paradise for skiers in winter, golfers the rest of the time with lashings of water activities thrown in.  If you like touristy things there is the Gondola and bungy jumping etc – although why anyone would want to do that beats me.

5      Waiheke Island  Some of the great memories I have of lunch at Te Whau Lodge looking out at the Hauraki Gulf.  I’m not sure they are still operating as a function centre/restaurant as well as a lodge although the Te Whau Vineyard Restaurant is still I understand.

6      Sailing on the Waitemata Harbour.  I prefer the Waitemata but others can certainly argue the merits of the Bay of Islands.  Tootling about, doing a little fishing, preferably under sail.  Bliss.

7      Auckland It’s a great city.  Taken for granted by those who live there.  Beaches all over the place.  A great harbour.  Good cultural and popular events.  Parks of all shapes and sizes.  Driving through the Domain is one of the pleasures of being in Auckland.

8      Wellington.  A small city which is spectacular on a fine day.  A compact city centre where you get the feeling most people know each other.  A sort of super sized village.  We have to be thankful that they put up with having all the politicians and let Auckland get on with life.

9      The West Coast and Fox Glacier   I haven’t been there for years.  It was a sleepy backwater when I was there with a natural wonder in the glacier.  Very high rainfall so the vegetation is lush.

10     Rotovegas – included with some hesitation.  While I hate the more fake touristy bits, it is a place where you absorb the importance of local iwi.  I would go there more often but the duck egg smell gets to me.  The thermal springs and mud pools are great.