Alexandra

Continuing along SH85 from Ranfurly it is another 54 miles (88km) to Alexandra. Located in what is now a rich fruit growing region, Alexandra was also a mecca for those smitten by gold fever. Thousands of diggers flocked to work the nearby Dunstan Fields but this rush proved short lived and it was not until the gold dredging boom of the 1890’s that the town was really able to prosper. More information on gold dredging is available at the Sir William Bodkin Museum on the corner of Thompson and Walton streets.

An excellent viewpoint over Alexandra, from where the old dredge tailings are clearly visible, can be reached by turning off Tarbert Street at the north-east end of town and then following Little Valley Road to the top of Tucker Hill. It is also worth stopping in at the Information Centre as they have plenty of tips on other things to see and do in the region.

You can they take a four-wheel-drive safaris into the Dunstan Mountains and Old Man Range, trips definitely worth considering if you want see the more remote areas of Central Otago. They also have an excellent collection of brochures detailing walks or cycle tours for those who prefer to explore under their own steam.