Find things to do in Otago and Southern Lakes

The incredible Clay Cliffs at Ōmarama in Otago.

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Tohu Whenua: Bannockburn Sluicings

Located a short drive from Cromwell, the sculpted clay cliffs and pinnacles at Bannockburn Sluicings are the result of a five-decade-long gold mining era that began in the 1860s. Read the story . . . 

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15 intriguing things to discover in Otago's Waitaki District

Stretching inland from the North Otago coastline, the Waitaki District is rich in heritage and internationally significant geology. From Victorian architecture to fresh seafood, hot tubs, cycle trails and cheese, we’ve picked 15 unique things to discover.  Read the story . . . 

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Must-Do's: Lower South Island Travel Guide

From the Southern Lakes and Fiordland, to Otago, Clutha and Southland, our full digital Must-Do's guide provides all the details you'll need to find accommodation, activities and attractions on your next road trip. Read it here for free! Read the story . . . 

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Activities

Queenstown: the sky’s the limit

You feel pretty brave, standing there on the edge, your toes dangling in the void, the river moving lazily 100 metres below. Read the story . . . 

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Otago Rail Experience

Take a spectacular day-trip by train up the Taieri Gorge, or use the Taieri Gorge Railway to transport you to the start of the Central Otago Rail Trail. Read the story . . . 

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Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw

Cruise Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown aboard the elegant ‘Lady of the Lake’, the last remaining coal-fired steamship operating in the southern hemisphere. Read the story . . . 

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Central Otago: good curling to ye

No one really knows where the peculiar sport of curling originated, but there’s no doubt it was the Scots who took it to heart. Read the story . . . 

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Adventure time: hitting the slopes in Wānaka

Tumbling ridgelines drop steeply to tawny valleys. Spring blossoms along the roadside contrast with the snow covered mountains, glowing like beacons at the head of the valley.  Read the story . . . 

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Tohu Whenua: Totara Estate

Totara Estate is probably the most important farm in the history of Aotearoa. It was from here that the first shipment of frozen mutton was sent to England in 1882, marking the start of an export industry that has underpinned our nation’s economic prosperity. Read the story . . . 

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Activities

Float above Queenstown in a hot air balloon

With Sunrise Balloons, you can experience hot air ballooning while drinking in bird’s eye views over some of New Zealand’s most dramatic landscapes. Read the story . . . 

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Moeraki Boulders: clamber over them for the ultimate selfie

Make the most of the photo op with these huge, marble-like boulders strewn along windswept Koekohe Beach. Read the story . . . 

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Activities

Night skiing at Coronet Peak

Few people find themselves out in the mountains at night, so quite apart from the skiing, just being on the slopes under the stars is an unusual and affecting experience. Read the story . . . 

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