Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MAORI NZ: OTAGO
The early Maori history of Otago echoes that of Canterbury (
Click here
)
, with Ngai Tahu the dominant tribe at the
time the British arrived. One of the first parcels of land that Ngai Tahu sold was called the Otago block, a
1618-sq-km parcel of land which changed hands in 1844 for £2400. The name Otago reflects the Ngai Tahu pro-
nunciation of Otakou, a small village on the far reaches of the Otago Peninsula, where there's still a
marae
(Maori meeting place).
Dunedin's Otago Museum (
Click here
) has the finest Maori exhibition in the South Island, including an or-
nately carved
waka taua
(war canoe) and finely crafted
pounamu
(greenstone). Maori rock art can still be seen in
situ in the Waitaki Valley.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Waitaki Valley
Wine, waterskiing and salmon-fishing are just some of the treats on offer along this little-
travelled route. Coming from Omarama, SH83 passes an array of arrestingly blue lakes,
each abutted by a hydroelectric power station. For a scenic detour along the north bank,
leave the highway at Otematata and cross over the huge Benmore Dam, then cross over
Aviemore Dam to rejoin the highway.
A succession of sleepy little heartland towns line the highway, peppered with rustic her-
itage bank buildings and pubs. One of the most appealing is tiny lost-in-time
Kurow
(popu-
lation 302), the home town of World Cup-winning All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.
From almost-as-cute
Duntroon
(population 90), adventurous (and appropriately insured)
drivers can take the unsealed road over Danseys Pass to Naseby.
Although they've got a long way to go to attain the global reputation that their col-
leagues on the other side of the mountains in Central Otago enjoy, a few winemaking pi-
oneers in Waitaki Valley are making wine that international experts are taking notice of.
Sights
Kurow
Kurow Heritage & Information Centre
MUSEUM
