Dunedin - Cromwell

Central Otago is an area rich in the scenic, the stunning and the stupendous. It is a special place, where nature's most powerful elements combine to create a unique and wholly enchanting environment. With everything on offer from some of the country's best fishing to world-class vineyards, outdoor pursuits and much more.

Think Central Otago and images of rusty coloured cliffs, dry amber pastures, burnt orange hills and ripe apricots spring to mind. Everything about this region seems to radiate a golden glow – and we're not just talking about the scenery.

Central Otago from the 1860s was the scene of a busy gold rush, miners and prospectors digging, panning and sluicing for gold in the hills and rivers of this golden countryside.

See for yourself the sliced hillsides and stark landscape of Bannockburn Sluicings Historic Reserve on a two-hour round walk, complete with information panels explaining the various interesting features.

These include rock shelters, stone-lined dams, water races, mud-brick buildings, an ancient orchard and a blacksmith's – all of which offer invaluable insight into Central Otago's rich gold mining history.

Venture through the tunnels of Bannockburn and Stewart Town armed with a trusty torch. These tunnels were built as an alternative for finding gold when water for sluicing ran short. Just make sure you stick to the track – there are still deep mine shafts in this reserve that you wouldn't want to come across by surprise!

Yes, the ancient sport of curling is still alive and well. Head to Naseby in beautiful Central Otago, New Zealand's home of curling, and try this time-honoured game.

If you've never played before, think 'lawn bowls on ice' and you've got the general idea. Anyone can experience curling – all you need is good sportsmanship.
To play, you take your shot by sliding a 20kg granite stone towards a target at the other end of the ice, and your teammates will help you out by sweeping the ice in front of your stone to help it slide further. Points are scored depending on which team's stones end up closest to the target.

The sport of curling is fiercely competitive and friendly at the same time. Have fun trying to sweep your teammate's stone to victory, or sweeping your opponent's stone over the back line and out of play.

Come on, rug up and give it a go!

A brewery tour has to be one of life's great inventions. Not only does it allow for the sampling of that fantastic product we call beer, but it also provides a valuable history lesson, which legitimately qualifies a traveller to say they have 'partaken in local culture'.

With that in mind, a trip to the Deep South is not complete until you have visited the Speight's Brewery, in the heart of Dunedin, where tastings and tours are held daily.

With an entertaining guide leading the way, the tour will not only allow a thorough insight into the history and workings of the brewery – and beer in general – but also provide some quirky facts about Dunedin too.

Learn about the origins of Speight's – the pride of the south – the difficulties the brewery has overcome and its rise to become one of the leaders in its field.

Before you even know it your tour will, sadly, come to an end, and there's only one thing left to do: your guide will lead you into the tasting room where you can put theory into practice and sample some beer. Now there's an ideal finish to any lesson!

Dunedin's spectacular Otago Peninsula is a definite highlight of the region – you don't want to miss this, especially if you're a wildlife and nature lover. It's one of the few places in the world to boast such a diverse range of wildlife all within easy reach of the city.

And for an unrivalled viewing of these fascinating creatures, you can cruise the Otago Harbour, one of the most picturesque in the country. A tour will take you to the wildlife 'hotspots' and provide informative commentary, ensuring you get the most from a visit here.

Among the birdlife and wildlife you may encounter are northern royal albatross – with their up-to-three-metres wingspan – yellow-eyed penguins, New Zealand fur seals, sea lions, dolphins and plenty of ocean birds, including some that are rarely sighted.

With its striking design and imposing size, Dunedin Railway Station is said to be New Zealand’s most photographed building. While such a claim is hard to substantiate (who can measure such things?), if you have a camera handy, it’s almost certain you will want to snap away at this grand building.

Opened in 1906, the railway station’s sheer size, grandiose style and rich embellishments earned architect George A. Troup the nickname of 'Gingerbread George'. Troup designed the Dunedin station in the Flemish Renaissance style, similar to that of Otago University and the nearby Law Courts.

It is built of Kokonga basalt with Oamaru limestone facings and incorporates a variety of shapes, textures and materials. The building went through a major restoration in 1999 to bring it back to its former glory.

While here, take a peek at the upper level art gallery and sports hall of fame.

Think Central Otago and images of rusty coloured cliffs, dry amber pastures, burnt orange hills and ripe apricots spring to mind. Everything about this region seems to radiate a golden glow – and we're not just talking about the scenery.

Central Otago from the 1860s was the scene of a busy gold rush, miners and prospectors digging, panning and sluicing for gold in the hills and rivers of this golden countryside.

See for yourself the sliced hillsides and stark landscape of Bannockburn Sluicings Historic Reserve on a two-hour round walk, complete with information panels explaining the various interesting features.

These include rock shelters, stone-lined dams, water races, mud-brick buildings, an ancient orchard and a blacksmith's – all of which offer invaluable insight into Central Otago's rich gold mining history.

Venture through the tunnels of Bannockburn and Stewart Town armed with a trusty torch. These tunnels were built as an alternative for finding gold when water for sluicing ran short. Just make sure you stick to the track – there are still deep mine shafts in this reserve that you wouldn't want to come across by surprise!