South from Dunedin to Invercargill on State Highway One through beautiful country – a journey not to be missed

Dorothy - 22/12/06

Too many travellers drive to North Otago or Dunedin and then head inland and miss the beautiful and interesting country to the south. There are two options when you plan your route – direct to Invercargill via Gore or along the coast road to Balclutha and then through the Catlins. In this article I shall cover the direct route past Lake Waihola, through Milton, Clarksville, Balclutha, Clinton, Gore, and Mataura and on to Invercargill. There is so much of interest in both journeys that to describe them will take two articles.

Heading south from Dunedin to Balclutha
Leaving Dunedin you head south through Caversham and over the hill to Green Island and Mosgiel, 12km south-west of Dunedin. Once its name was associated with its woollen mill, well known for its high quality woollen goods. Now the mill is closed and Mosgiel is popular with people who want to live in a small town while still being close to the attractions of Dunedin.

Twenty five kilometres further on you come quite unexpectedly to Lake Waihola, a peaceful stretch of water famous for its reflections. It is popular for boating and offers a rowing course of international standard. Often when you drive by, the water will be disturbed only by the black swans on the lake, but at regatta time in February thousands of people gather at the lake. There are wetlands around the lake – an area where birdwatchers will have a chance to watch many species of wading birds.

Lake Waihola Photographer Julie Mathison Click here to view a larger version

There are now about 200 people living in the village at Waihola, but in the gold rush days many people took a steamer from Dunedin to the mouth of the Taieri River, went by boat up the river to Lake Waihola and across the lake to the inland side and then walked or travelled by coach to Gabriels Gully in Central Otago where the gold had been found.

The next small settlement is at Milton, 16km further on. This was originally called Milltown because a flour mill had been established there in 1957, but the name was shortened to Milton. Residents later thought the name of their town referred to the English poet so named some of their streets after famous English writers.

Shortly after leaving Milton you come to Clarksville Junction. To travel to Gore and Invercargill take the road straight ahead. The road to the right is to Central Otago.

Travelling another 21km on a clearly signposted road brings you to the town of Balclutha.

Balclutha
Most people remember the town especially because of the impressive arched concrete bridge across the Clutha River. This bridge, the third to be built here to cross the Clutha, was opened in 1935. It won’t be easily swept away as happened to the first bridge built here because it was designed to resist the power of floods in the river and it should withstand earthquakes also as it was specially designed to be earthquake-resistant.

The reinforced concrete bowstring arch design was chosen for reasons of cost and its aesthetic appeal. The total length is 244.1 m between the abutments with six spans of 36.6 m. The roadway is 6.7 m wide and there are 1.4 m footpaths on both sides.

Balclutha bridge over the Clutha River Click here to view a larger version

The town has spread out on both sides of the river but the town centre is on the south side.

An ideal place for fishing
Balclutha was built where the Matau and Koau Rivers which are tributaries of the Clutha join the main flow. This makes it an ideal place to go fishing.

Clinton
This looks just a small place, but it has one significant feature which attracts those passing through. The three Clydesdales in the centre of Clinton represent the district's agricultural history.

The three Clydesdales at Clinton Click here to view a larger version

The town is set in the middle of a lowland area which is intensively farmed with sheep, deer and dairying. Further away the tussock covered hill country is well suited to sheep and cattle farming.

The Clinton area offers some of the best fly fishing in New Zealand.

Gore – allow time in your schedule to explore this interesting town
40km further on you come to Gore, the second largest centre in Southland after Invercargill.

Reasons to visit Gore – a unique blend of attractions

Fishing
Trout fishing in the Mataura River draws visitors from around the world in the trout fishing season – October to April.

Country music festival
An audience of over 5,000 is attracted to Gore in the winter for the country music festival in which over 700 performers compete for the Gold Guitar awards. The festival was first held in 1973 and was so popular that it has been held every year since then in the week leading up to Queen’s Birthday weekend. If you want to attend don’t delay. Tickets are first offered for sale in April and they sell out fast.

Eastern Southland Gallery
The quality of the permanent exhibitions of works by notable national and international artists frequently surprises visitors to this regional public art museum.

The John Money Collection was gifted to the museum in 2003 by New Zealand expatriate academic Dr John Money living in Baltimore. He had been collecting art works for over fifty years. The collection includes New Zealand, Australian, African and American works of art. The Art Gallery was previously housed in the historic Carnegie Library built in 1910. John Money gave funds for the redevelopment of the gallery into a modern facility. Be sure to view the paintings by Rita Angus and Theo Schoon (NZ), Lowell Nesbitt (USA), Bambarra, Dogon and Baga carvings from West Africa.

The Ralph Hotere Gallery displays graphic works and paintings by major NZ paintings and carvings from Elcho Island (Aust).contemporary artist Ralph Hotere. This is one of the largest Hotere collections in the country, so the gallery offers a programme of rotational exhibitions.

The Eastern Southland Gallery organises performances, workshops, travelling shows and visiting-artist programmes.

The Hokonui Moonshine Museum
In the era of prohibition in the Gore district which lasted from 1902 for over half a century, Gore was well known for the production of illicit whiskey in the Hokonui Hills. The Hokonui Moonshine Museum celebrates the history of this illicit whiskey-making. This illicit moonshining resulted in over thirty prosecutions. The museum tells the story through recreating scenes from that era, audio-visuals and original artefacts. “Old Hokonui” whiskey, made to the original local recipe, is available from the centre and is a popular product.

Croydon Aviation Heritage Trust
The Croydon Aircraft Company workshops and The Moth restaurant are another attraction for visitors to the region and a charter and joy-ride service is currently available. The aviation museum at the Old Mandeville Airfield will hold a collection of nationally and internationally significant vintage aircraft, mainly de Havilland.

On to Invercargill – an hour’s journey
Once you have explored the attractions of the area around Gore an hour’s travel will take you to Invercargill, but on the way you will pass through Mataura.

Mataura Paper Mill
Many Kiwis have been concerned about the negative effect on rural areas of recent changes in economic policy and the increase in the use of imported products. Until 2000 the name Mataura to most Kiwis meant the place where there was a paper mill. In August 2000 Carter Holt closed the Paper mill, much to the regret of the local people. The late Rod Donald MP Green Party Co-leader voiced his sorrow that the closure meant that New Zealand - a country which has world experts in plantation forestry – would from then on have to import all its photocopying paper. The mill had been the main purchaser of waste paper, so the closure was also a blow to recycling in the South Island.

Soon you will reach Southland’s largest city – Invercargill, a town renowned for its citizens’ loyalty to their city and the welcome given to visitors.

Photos for this article were supplied by the Gore District Council.