Alexandra Attractions
Alexandra (pop. 5,000), the largest town in Central Otago, lies on the Clutha River, 200km northwest of Dunedin and 100km southeast of Queenstown.
Alexandria grew up during the gold rush of the 1860s and was originally called Lower Dunstan. It was later renamed in honor of the Danish princess Alexandra, who married the Prince of Wales in 1863.
The alluvial gold in the surrounding area was soon exhausted, but there was a second gold rush in the 1890s when the river beds were dredged out in a search for further deposits. There are now few reminders of the gold-mining days in Alexandra. The construction of reservoirs and irrigation channels has promoted the development of flourishing fruit plantations (stone fruit, particularly apricots). The expanses of green in the valley are in sharp contrast to the bare arid hillsides.
Alexandria grew up during the gold rush of the 1860s and was originally called Lower Dunstan. It was later renamed in honor of the Danish princess Alexandra, who married the Prince of Wales in 1863.
The alluvial gold in the surrounding area was soon exhausted, but there was a second gold rush in the 1890s when the river beds were dredged out in a search for further deposits. There are now few reminders of the gold-mining days in Alexandra. The construction of reservoirs and irrigation channels has promoted the development of flourishing fruit plantations (stone fruit, particularly apricots). The expanses of green in the valley are in sharp contrast to the bare arid hillsides.
Old Gold-mining Settlements
Old gold-mining settlements (round trip 180km).
Alexandra is a good base for a tour of gold-mining settlements in Central Otago. The tour begins on Highway 85, which runs north to Omakau (pop. 200), then northwest to Matakanui, now almost a ghost town, at the foot of the Dunstan Range. The route continues to Drybread, the decayed gold-mining town of St Bathans and Hills Creek, and then returns through the Ida valley to the old gold-mining town of Oturehua, now occupied by farmers. The old Golden Progress workings and the Hayes Engineering Works have been partly preserved or restored. Then go by way of Lake Idaburn (curling and skating in winter) to Ophir, where the finding of gold in 1863 attracted thousands of prospectors. The old courthouse and post office here have been preserved. An old suspension bridge then crosses the Manuherikia River to return to Alexandra.
Alexandra is a good base for a tour of gold-mining settlements in Central Otago. The tour begins on Highway 85, which runs north to Omakau (pop. 200), then northwest to Matakanui, now almost a ghost town, at the foot of the Dunstan Range. The route continues to Drybread, the decayed gold-mining town of St Bathans and Hills Creek, and then returns through the Ida valley to the old gold-mining town of Oturehua, now occupied by farmers. The old Golden Progress workings and the Hayes Engineering Works have been partly preserved or restored. Then go by way of Lake Idaburn (curling and skating in winter) to Ophir, where the finding of gold in 1863 attracted thousands of prospectors. The old courthouse and post office here have been preserved. An old suspension bridge then crosses the Manuherikia River to return to Alexandra.
Sir William Bodkin Museum
The Sir William Bodkin Museum illustrates the methods used for working gold in this area. Old photographs show, for example, the dredging of river beds and the large numbers of Chinese who came here to try their luck.
Hours
January 1 to January 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | Closed | Closed |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Tucker Hill Lookout
From bare Tucker Hill, northeast of Alexandra, there are good views of the little town in its setting of fruit plantations and of the junction of the Clutha River (dredged out in the quest for gold) and the winding Manuherikia River. The peaks of the Remarkables outside Queenstown can sometimes be seen in the distance.
