TOUR DESCRIPTION

 

This full day expedition provides a wonderful opportunity to explore some of Central Otago’s best kept secrets, namely: historic Ophir township, Poolburn Dam, the Serpentine Road, one of New Zealand's most remote Churches and the Old Dunstan Road.

 

 

ITINERARY

 

From Queenstown we head to Central Otago, stopping at the historic Clyde township for a quick stroll and morning tea and then on to Ophir. Ophir,  originally known as Blacks, was a thriving gold mining town built on the back 1863 gold rush. During these years it became a commercial and social hub with a population of 1000, a far cry from its current population of 50! It is of historical interest due to the many original buildings including the restored Post and Telegraph Office, the 1895 Courthouse, and the 1870s Police Station. After a stop at Pitches Store, we travel to the Ida Valley and climb up to the Poolburn Dam to navigate our way through a very different and expansive Central Otago landscape. From here, we make our way towards the old gold mining township of Serpentine, named after the winding path of the nearby Waimonga Creek. Then, depending on conditions, we can either carry on along the Serpentine Road to exit the Serpentine Conservation area on the Upper Taieri Plain or travel to Lake Onslow and exit near Roxburgh township.

 

 

 

SERPENTINE TOWNSHIP AND CHURCH

 

Over 1,000 m above sea level, the Serpentine church was the most elevated in New Zealand when it opened in 1873. Today it is the only remnant of a once-bustling village. Much of the town’s rich heritage is hidden beneath the tussock: tailings, water races, dams, sod pits and the remains of buildings.

 

The area became known as the Serpentine after the discovery of gold in 1863 transformed this remote area into a vibrant gold-mining town. A settlement quickly sprang up, with two store-hotels, a church, blacksmiths, a cemetery, and huts of sod, wood and thatch with gardens and potato-storage pits. The formed road you come in on follows part of the original dray track used by miners. The Serpentine reached its peak population (150 Chinese and 80 Europeans) around 1873.

 

 

POOLBURN RESERVOIR

 

Built in the early 1930s for irrigation and a great depression employment initiative, the Poolburn Reservoir (also known as Poolburn Dam) and its striking scenery has been popularised by being used as a location in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

 

 

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

 

• Available on our guided tour or tag along or passenger tour
• Serpentine Road
• Remote 1873 Church
• Poolburn Reservoir
• Original Dunstan Road
• Historic Clyde
• Historic Ophir
• Pitches Store, Ophir
• 1878 stamping battery

 

TRIP REQUIREMENTS

 

Vehicle requirements

• Four wheel drive
• All terrain tyres preferred with minimum 60% tread
• Road tyres can be used on dry days but will need to be deflated to a lower pressure
• Hi/low ratio

 

 

DATES AVAILABLE

Trips are run on demand

 

 

​ REQUEST MOREINFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARLY IMAGES

click on image to view

Poolburn Dam and Serpentine short video