The green rolling hills and plains of South Otago are covered by luxurious
pasture and native and exotic forests. Townships such as Waihola, Milton,
Lawrence, Balclutha, Clinton and Owaka are settled within their small
communities and have, over time, adapted and developed to meet their community’s
needs while retaining their unique past.
Waihola’s past is linked to the goldminers as they travelled to the gold
fields of Central Otago. Today its lake offers visitors
recreational opportunities.
Milton, known in the past for its woollen textiles and farming now has a
number of sawmills drawing timber from the extensive exotic forests of the area.
This township is the gateway to the Central Otago highway
Lawrence, a town along that highway, was the location of a gold rush at
Gabriel’s Gully in the 1860’s. It’s well preserved historic buildings,
Gold Heritage Trail and Museum have ensured that its past is the
"treasure" of its future.
The great Clutha River rolls through the townships of Balclutha and
Kaitangata and their productive agricultural areas. Its waters generate
hydroelectricity and provide for recreational fishing and boating . Upstream at
Clydevale, Blue Mountain Jet offers scenic or fishing trips and at Tuapeka the
old river ferry is still at work.
Balclutha is the largest township is the area and gateway to the Catlins area
where native forest, walkways, beaches, waterfalls and caves abound. Owaka lies
within the Catlins.
The lands of South Otago lie within a temperate climate. Their luxurious
pastures and forests form a common feature but its small towns are as unique as
their history and purpose of today.
