Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ROXBURGH
Heading south from Alexandra, SH8 winds along rugged, rock-strewn hills above
the Clutha River as it passes Central Otago's famous orchards. In season, roadside
fruit stalls sell just-picked stone fruit, cherries and berries. En route are a scatter-
ing of small towns, many dating from gold-rush days.
Thirteen kilometres south of Alexandra,
Speargrass Inn
( 03-449 2192;
www.speargrassinn.co.nz
; 1300 Fruitlands-Roxburgh Rd (SH8), Fruitlands; d $180; )
has three
units in attractive gardens. The original 1869 building houses a charming
cafe
(lunch
$18-21, dinner $20-31; 9am-4pm Mon & Thu, 9am-7pm Fri-Sun)
. It's a good place to stop for
coffee and cake, and stock up on tasty homemade preserves and chutneys.
Further south, the Clutha broadens into
Lake Roxburgh
, with a large hydroelec-
tric power station at its terminus, before rushing past Roxburgh itself (population
522). Call into the friendly
Visitor Information Centre
( 03-446 8920;
www.centralotagonz.com
;
120 Scotland St; 9am-5pm daily Nov-Mar, Mon-Fri Apr-Oct)
for informa-
tion on mountain biking, water sports and seasonal fruit-picking work in the sur-
rounding apple and stone-fruit orchards.
Another source of fruit-picking contacts is
Villa Rose Backpackers
( 03-446 8761;
www.villarose.co.nz
; 79 Scotland St; dm $30, d with/without bathroom $105/80; )
. This lovely old
bungalow has spacious dorm rooms, comfortable self-contained units and a huge
modern kitchen.
Before you leave Roxburgh, drop into
Jimmy's Pies
( 03-444-8596; 143 Scotland St;
pies $4-6; 7.30am-5pm Mon-Fri)
, renowned across the South Island since 1959. If
you're at a loss as to which meaty pastry to choose, try the apricot chicken -
you're in orchard country after all.
Continuing south from Roxburgh, the road passes through Lawrence and the
Manuka Gorge Scenic Reserve, a scenic route through wooded hills and gullies.
SH8 joins SH1 near Milton.
Eating
Tin Goose Cafe
CAFE $
(
www.thetingoosecafe.com
;
22 Centennial Ave; $8-16; 6am-5pm)
Start the day with a cooked
breakfast and then return for home-style baking and superior counter food, including in-
teresting salads.
Red Brick
EUROPEAN $$$
$$$
