Central Otago Holiday 2012






Old Cromwell Historic Town is a darling area to visit in Central Otago, about a 45-minute drive from Queenstown, or Arrow Town, or Wanaka. It is considered to be the most inland town in New Zealand.

Classified as semi-desert, with improbable but possible temperatures ranging from – 26 ˚C to 38˚C, we had to pinch ourselves that we weren’t sitting drinking cappuccinos at the old Mudhouse in Barrydale (in the Little Karoo in South Africa).

Just like in Barrydale, many of the buildings in the Old Town are built from grey slate mined in the neighbouring hills and mountains.












White quartz crystal lies buried in the dusty roads and mountain tracks. Tiny-leafed wild thyme grows everywhere, and looks remarkably like some species of fynbos.








The only difference to a small Karoo town that we can see is the turquoise sparkle of Lake Dunstan. In South Africa, it would be a dark grey colour.

We’re enchanted by the Saturday morning farmers’ market, which seems to draw a steady stream of visitors and bikers from out of town.

The holiday feeling after visiting a place as exquisite as this lasts for many months after getting home.


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