Hidden Gems
Going Off the Beaten Track
The Clutha Gold Trail highlights the diverse landscapes of the Teviot and Clutha regions. However, slightly off the trail, you will find some absolute gems that will make the Clutha Gold Trail a journey of discovery for you! Weaving through four wee towns across 73 kilometres, there are heaps of hidden gems along the way! Be sure to stop off, explore and relax as you meander next to the Clutha River.
Exploring Roxburgh
When you visit Roxburgh, you will see why its produce is world-class. With an incredible micro-climate, Roxburgh's hot summers, crisp winters and cool autumns create the perfect environment for fruit, vegetables, nuts, flowers, honey and more to thrive. Visit local orchards to pick your own delicious snack for after your bike ride.
Visit the Roxburgh Cinema, which is New Zealand's longest running cinema. Movies have been screened here since 1897. See what's on here.
Getting a sweet treat from Local & Friday is a must, complimented with a delicious coffee from 103 The Store, or the most divine tea from Teviot Tea Store.
If Art is more your thing, then do check out the Endemic Art Gallery on the main street. Filled with paintings and photography, this studio gallery is absolutely worth a browse. It would also be hard to miss the incredible mural on the main street which was a project by Flox, the Central Otago District Council and the Teviot Valley Community Development Group. Called 'The Arrival', this creative piece celebrates the cultural mixing pot of the Teviot Valley between its residents and migrant workers.
Exploring Millers Flat
Recharging with a hot coffee and a a fresh cheese scone from Faigan's Cafe is an absolute must when doing the Clutha Gold. Their open sandwiches are a game-changer, and they have lots of snacks so you can stock up on for the ride to Beaumont!
The Bakehouse Museum is the home to the oldest functional brick oven in the country! Run by a group of amazing local volunteers, you can book a tour and they will bake for your group where you can see the oven in action! Your souvenir will be a homemade loaf of fresh bread!
Between Millers Flat and Beaumont, the Horseshoe Bend Bridge is found. Horseshoe Bend Bridge Walk is worth the half hour detour! 70.2 metres long, this bridge remains one of the more substantial and impressive footbridges in the country. Built in 1913 to replace a very insecure wire + chair ensemble, the Horseshoe Bridge is a reminder of the community that once was.
Only a few kilometres from the Horseshoe Bend turnoff, you have the option to detour to the Lonely Graves. In 1865, Gold miner William Rigney became interested in the unmarked grave and wanted to find out who was buried there. There was a lot of speculation of who it could be, but unfortunately it was never verified. William Rigney erected a makeshift tombstone and carved 'Somebody's Darling Lies Buried Here'. In 1912, Rigney was buried next to the grave, as per his wishes. His headstone reads "Here lies the body of William Rigney, the man who buried Somebody's Darling.