Naseby
About Naseby
"2000 feet above worry level"
The idyllic small town of Naseby was born in 1863 soon after gold was discovered in the area. After the glory of the gold days, Naseby was forgotten for a time. Without the pressures of growth and thanks to the preservative nature of the climate, many of the original buildings remain today.
Naseby township rests against the foothills of the Mt Ida Range on the edge of the stunning Maniototo Plain, 2000 ft above sea level. It is cocooned by a dark green Oregon forest and bordered by the Hawkden Mountains to the northwest and the Kakanui Mountains to the east.
The magical beauty of the Maniototo is a common subject for artists and is captured beautifully in the paintings of Graeme Sydney - www.grahamesydney.com
In summer, Naseby enjoys baking temperatures in excess of 30° Celsius (85° Fahrenheit). While winter delivers glorious snowfalls and sparkling white frosts. The township is sheltered from the wind and its clear sky lends itself to beautiful clear starry nights.
Naseby has a permanent population of only 240 and attracts people that want to escape the hustle and bustle of more populated areas. In many ways, life in Naseby is less complicated and people value the special charm of the place. Naseby has undergone a renaissance in recent years and the locals are thriving on the influx of visitors. The people are genuinely friendly and welcoming.
If you are traveling by car and you pass a complete stranger on the road, don't be surprised to receive a big friendly wave.
The main sport in Naseby is "curling". A pastime that is similar to lawn bowls but played on ice using a "stone". Once a year - if conditions are right - a Bonspiel is held nearby at neighboring village Oturehua. The event involves teams from throughout New Zealand and is a spectacular sight to behold.
You may want to join some of the locals for a "curl". This activity used to be restricted to a short period when natural ice was available but this inconvenience has now been solved by the construction of a multi-million dollar indoor curling facility. There is also an outdoor artificial rink for other ice sports and skating.
The other great passions in Naseby are walking and mountain biking. The Naseby forest can be enjoyed all-year round. You may want to walk to one of the small dams, following the Mt Ida water race through the forest, or just walk in your own time and pace around the various forest tracks.
Mountain bikes and equipment can be hired in town. And guides are available to help you get the most out of you time in Naseby.
The town is about 11km away from the hugely popular Central Otago central rail trail (www.otagocentralrailtrail.co.nz), which can be cycled or walked. It runs for 150km through some extraordinary country.
There are also public tennis courts, a bowling green and a nine-hole golf course on offer in Naseby.
And at the end of the day, choose between one of two pubs and a café/restaurant offering outside dinning and good coffee.
Where is Naseby?
Situated in the heart of Central Otago, South-Island, New Zealand.
You can fly into either Dunedin or Queenstown airports. A two hour drive from either centre will get you to Naseby. Both trips are beautiful.
Dunedin airport to Naseby takes you across the Rock and Pillar ranges, through the barren landscape around Middlemarch, scattered with massive rocks and the odd farm house.
There is also an alternative Dunedin-Naseby route, which involves driving an hour up the breathtaking Otago coastline before turning inland and driving the "Pig Root" highway - an hour-long mountain pass which is simply a pleasure to drive.
From Queenstown, the road takes you through classic Lord or the Rings scenery, the impressive Kawarau Gorge, through half a dozen one-horse and one-pub towns, into the Maniototo and Naseby.
At Naseby there is a convenience store, two hotels, a café and a restaurant. In nearby Ranfurly, there are more services including a service station, bank, doctor and supermarket.
Printable Directions
You can print driving directions to get to Naseby from Dunedin airport to Naseby direct, Dunedin airport to Naseby via Dunedin, and Queenstown airport to Naseby.
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Naseby