Central Otago

We recently traveled down to Central Otago for the weekend. This was the first weekend in June at the start of winter. As we wanted to be there by lunchtime an early departure was called for. Not far out of town we were treated to a colourful sunrise.

Pleasant Point sunrise

The Lindis Pass rises to 971m and winter conditions can be expected between say May and October. A snowfall a few days before had been cleared and the road clear of ice, (during the day at least) when we passed through. Plenty more of snow can be expected through here for the next 4- 5 months.

Lindis Pass. Looking back towards Omarama. 

The south facing slopes in the above shot still have snow on them whereas looking in the other direction, the snow sunny side has mostly melted.

Towards the summit of the Lindis Pass.

On the way back home we took another route home from Alexandra, State Highway 85 ("The Pigroot")

At Omakau there is a turnoff to the Ida Valley which we hadn't taken before.

Omakau on the other side of the river.

Before we drove up this hill we took a short detour into the small town of Ophir.

In 1863 gold was discovered in the Manuherikia River and the small town called Blacks sprang up overnight. This town was later renamed Ophir.

One of Ophir’s claims to fame was that it had been recognised as having recorded the coldest temperature in New Zealand of -21.6°C on 3 July 1993. However when records were being digitised from paper records, a temperature of -25.6°C had been recorded at Ranfurly, 60km away, on 17 July 1903. Ranfurly thus holds the record for being the coldest in the South-West Pacific and Ophir the second place. (Colder temperatures will of course occur high up in the mountains.)

Great use was made of the local rocks such as schist in constructing more permanent buildings, some of which have been lovingly restored.

Ophir's historic Post Office and Peace Memorial Hall (1926)

Although not open when we were there, The Post Office retains its original features inside and incorporates a small shop and postal facilities. Well worth a visit.

The Police lockup is not the place to be in the middle of winter.

A few metres away from the Post Office but I didn't find out its purpose.

On the other side of the street is the old Drapery Store which has seen better days.

The Drapery Store, main street Ophir

900m out of town is one of Central Otago's engineering masterpieces. Considering it was opened in 1880 and that the railway didn't reach Omakau until 1904, transporting the materials to build a bridge would have been a mammoth task.

The bridge over the Manuherikia river at Ophir.

A well maintained historic structure.

Large holes would have been dug by hand to provide places top anchor the suspension cables.

Shepherd's Hut? made from schist.

My navigator spotted this hut on the way up the hill before dropping down into the snowy Ida Valley on the way home. Going the other way it would be easy to see.