Historic Clyde
There are few places in the world which will leave you with a lasting sense of difference. Central Otago is undoubtedly one of them from its landscapes, its seasons, its people, its products and experiences.
Clyde has its roots in gold, fruit orchards and has the start (or finish) of the Otago Central Rail Trail. The towns reputation has grown thanks to its old-world charm, historic buildings, boutique shops and cafes. And with world class vineyards in every direction, you can take your palate somewhere it hasn’t been before. Moment by moment it will quietly reveal its differences to you in
subtle and unexpected ways.
It’s easy to see why some of the first Europeans to enter the region chose this site as a place to settle. The micro-climate offers hot, dry summers, with mild springs and autumns that are full of nature’s colours. Today, Clyde is a great place to enjoy the cafe lifestyle in a scenic setting that’s rich in history.
This historic town is located at the foot of a river gorge and is surrounded by rounded hills of schist punctuated with large craggy standing rocks. Schist is gold bearing rock and substantial strikes in the rivers near Clyde sparked a gold rush in the late 1800s. Clyde is at the head of a well-known cycling route called the Otago Central Rail Trail, so there are plenty of mountain bikes for hire. A ride to the Clyde Lookout offers spectacular views of the town and beyond. Bike It Now offers self-guided bike tours including Otago Rail Trail, Lake Dunstan, Clutha Gold & Roxburgh Gorge trails.
From Clyde, you can also take a tour of local orchards, vineyards and farms. Explore the side roads, enjoy their small historic gold mining towns and discover the hidden talent living there. Painters, potters, jewellers, print makers, bead workers and sculptors are dotted throughout the area. Nearby is the impressive Clyde Dam, New Zealand’s largest concrete gravity dam. Its height is 100m, width at base is 70m, width at crest 10m and length at crest 490m. Controversy surrounded the building of the dam, which saw a number of orchards and houses removed from the Cromwell Gorge to allow the flooding of the river valley.
The lake formed by the dam, Lake Dunstan, is 26.4 square kilometres in size. It is a popular spot for water-skiing, boating, canoeing, jet boating, boat cruises and eco-tours of the abundant fish and bird life. The lake extends from the historical township of Clyde through the Cromwell Gorge to Cromwell township.
