Ranfurly is a small, rural town that rests on the golden plains of the Maniototo amidst Otago’s “big sky country”. Picture a place with little traffic, crisp autumn mornings, and stunning mountain scenery in every direction. In Ranfurly town centre, wander the main street to admire art deco buildings, visit the museum, and have a relaxing cuppa. Or join the vibrant Art Deco Festival held annually in the warm summer. Tourists seeking adventure flock to the Otago Central Rail Trail which passes the local Railway station (now an I-Site), but if you fancy a walk or hike you’re in luck! Ranfurly is also a short drive away from several amazing walks in the region.

1. Blue Lake, St Bathans

Overview: an undulating, dirt walking trail around Blue Lake.

St Bathans is a treasured relic of the goldmining era, home to the historic Vulcan Hotel (apparently haunted by a ghost called Rose), and Blue Lake. The town was established in 1863 and was once a bustling hub for goldminers. Blue Lake is essentially a 62m pit that was carved out of Killdare Hill during the mining era. Visit Blue Lake and you’ll notice the unusual ghostly grey shoreline, made from a mix of Quartz gravel and greywacke, a type of sandstone. During summer, the lake is a popular destination for swimmers and jet-skiers.

There is a DOC signposted dirt loop track (2km, ~ 30mins) that encircles the lake and provides excellent views of the township. Some areas of the track (on the side furthest from town) veer close to cliff edges, so are unsuitable for unsupervised young children.

Directions to St Bathans

• ~30min drive from Ranfurly
• Take the St Bathans loop road off SH85
• Note: the road is predominantly gravel with some corrugations. If you are driving at night, watch out for deer and other animals.

2. Oteake Conservation Park

Overview: a mix of moderate and challenging hikes & overnight tramps through high country.

Oteake Conservation Park encompasses several mountain ranges north of Naseby and south of Omarama. Oteake (O: of, te: the, ake: short for akeake; place of the akeake) has a variety of tracks for walking, tramping, mountain biking, 4WDs, and horse riding. The landscapes are typical of Otago’s high country, featuring pristine lakes, sweeping tussock, and scree slopes. There are campsites and basic huts across the park, but you must bring your own firewood. Keep in mind the weather is unpredictable and it has been known to snow in summer.

Directions to Oteake

There are several gravel roads that reach Oteake. DOC provides a handy PDF pamphlet with the basic information you need.

3. Naseby Forest

Overview: a variety of dirt walking and biking trails through exotic trees and scrub.

During the 19th century goldrush, the population of Naseby (formerly called Hogburn) peaked at 5,000 and the town had no less than 22 hotels! Many historical buildings remain, although today the population numbers fewer than 200 residents. The top attractions of this charming town include an indoor curling rink, ice luge, museum, pub, and Naseby Forest.

The countryside around Naseby was once dominated by limitless tussock and matagouri scrub. From 1880, residents began planting fir, pine, and larch trees over the depleted Naseby goldfield, forming the forest visible today.

Naseby Forest has several walking and biking routes. Parking and toilets are available at Coal Pit Dam (great for fly-fishing and picnics) which is a good starting place for walks to Hoffman’s Dam (~1.5 hrs return) and the swimming dam closest to Naseby township (3.5hrs return).  

Directions to Naseby Forest

• ~11 minute drive from Ranfurly
• From Ranfurly, take SH85 heading north
• After ~8km, turn right onto the Ranfurly-Naseby Road
• Follow the signs to Naseby township, OR
• Turn left onto Coal Pit Road (a gravel road that will take you to Coal Pit Dam and Naseby Forest)

4. Sowburn Walkway & Dykes Dam

Overview: an easy gravel walking track along Sowburn Creek and goldrush relics.

This 2.5km walking trail is a hidden gem of Patearoa, a rural village 18km south of Ranfurly. The name Patearoa, (pā: fortification, tea: white, roa: long) is also often given to the Rock and Pillar Range.

The Eastside Sowburn Walkway is a gravel track that follows the historical water race along Sowburn Creek. It passes fascinating remnants of the goldmining era, like old tailings and the remains of Chinese miners’ huts. Keep an eye out for kāhu (harrier hawks) and the rarer kārerearea (New Zealand falcon). Dykes Dam is at the end of the trail.

Directions

• ~20 min drive from Ranfurly
• From the southbound SH85 in Ranfurly, turn onto Stuart Road
• Continue south- this road becomes Ranfurly-Patearoa Road
• Drive until you reach the Patearoa Pub on the left
• Turn onto Aitken Road (the 1^st left-hand turn after the pub)
• Continue on Aitken Rd until you reach the Sowburn Creek Bridge and picnic area
• Take the left-hand walking track to reach Dykes Dam
  
  

Note: you can also start this walk from Sowburn Bridge No. 2 (Bridge 148) on the Patearoa-Paerau Highway (directions here).

Interesting Facts about Ranfurly…

• In Scottish-Gaelic, ‘burn’ means stream (evident in local place names, e.g. Eweburn, Hogburn, Sowburn…)
• Over the centuries, visitors and artists have been inspired by the wrinkled ranges around Ranfurly. Perhaps the best description of these mountains comes from Paerau, a placename whose Te Reo Māori meaning is ‘one hundred ridges’ (Pae: range/series of mountains, rau: one hundred)
• The treeless landscape around Ranfurly imposed certain challenges for European settlers. Wood was such a rare commodity that fenceposts were often fashioned from slabs of schist, some of which can still be seen around paddocks today.
• If you are driving between Ranfurly and Dunedin via SH87, be sure to check out Middlemarch and the amazing short walk around Sutton Salt Lake.

Discover more…

• Who was Jack Tewa? A goldrush mystery
• The peculiar stories behind Dunedin’s oddest place-names
• Picton to Invercargill: a quick travel guide
• Packing list & tips for cycling the Otago Rail Trail
• Town Slogans of the South Island, NZ