Oturehua
Destination
Oturehua is one of the missed gems on the Otago Rail Trail. Riders somehow seem to often miss the town instead riding through from Lauder or Omakau to Wedderburn and Ranfurly. Maybe because they are distracted by the wonderful scenery of the area.
Translated Oteruhua is The Sun God and there is a lot of farming in the region. Up until 1907 however Oturehua was known as Rough Ridge after the range of hills the town is nestled below. Just across from the Oturehua Rail Station is New Zealand’s oldest continuously operating general store, Gilchrist's Store. This is a perfect place to stock up everything you need to continuing riding plus have a look around at the many shelves displaying nostalgic ‘Kiwi’ products of long-forgotten brands.
Oturehua is also the home of one of the most importane contributions to New Zealand's farming. Hayes Engineering Works, on the outskirts of town, was the birthplace of the internationally acclaimed Hayes Permanent Wire Strainer in 1927. Ernest Hayes invented the internationally acclaimed wire strainer, as well as pulley blocks, cattle stops and windmills from inside the historic mud-brick buildings of Hayes Engineering. Today the mud-brick villa, grounds and workshop are open to the public between 9am to 5pm daily December through April where there is a café and shop selling a wide range of merchandise.
At the other end of town on the way to Wedderburn is a very short detour up Reef Road to the historic Golden Progress Mine. Golden Progress Mine displays Central Otago’s last poppet head straddling one of the numerous shafts burrowing deep underground in search of gold-bearing quartz rock.
Oturehua is a good step off point for a visit the amazing historic town of St Bathans, 25km by road.
