Otago
On a late autumn evening in 1861, a lone Australian prospector by the name of Gabriel Read dug a hole in the gravel banks of the Tuapeka River and found "gold shining like the stars of Orion on a dark, frosty night".
Dunedin, as port of entry, saw its population double to 5,850 in six months, then treble again within three years. By 1870, it was unchallenged as New Zealand's largest and richest city. Today it retains much of its gold-built historic charm, and is believed to have one of the best collections of Edwardian and Victorian architecture in the southern hemisphere.
The southern part of New Zealand has a rugged and unspoilt landscape; it is a fertile place of green farmland and forest, laced with sparkling clean waters and small towns. Dunedin is the capital of a sparsely settled region that once swarmed with gold prospectors. From the mountains to the sea, Waitaki is rich in natural beauty. The east coast at Moeraki is teeming with wildlife including penguins, seals, fish and dolphins. The Clutha River has great fishing and boating; Balclutha is the main town of this productive agricultural area of South Otago.
Source: AA Travel
Photo: "Waitaki Bridge, Otago"
More information
See our guides section for information on skifields, wineries, art galleries and more.
