Ophir
Destination
The short 2km detour to Ophir is highly recommended. Alongside St Bathans and Clyde, Ophir has some of the most historic building in Central Otago.
The Ophir Post Office for example was opened for business in 1886 and through loving care taken by the local community little has changed from the original construction. The Post Office is open 3 hours every week day. The original the Post and Telegraph Office sits proudly at the end of the town and the jail behind the courthouse can be explored.
Ophir was the main population centre of the Manuherikia River area with a population of around 1,000 until the Otago CentralRailway bypassed the township in favour of Omakau. Along the main street the policeman’s house and gaol, hospital, bank, dress shop, and bakery can all still be seen.
Ophir was originally known as Blacks, after Charles Black, the original gold prospector. The name was changed to Ophir in 1875 after the biblical land where the Queen of Sheba obtained gold for King Solomon.
Return to Omakau via a magnificent suspension bridge. Built in 1880 the Daniel O’Connell Suspension Bridge (named after it’s Irish patron) was the only way across the Manuherikia River. One end is bedded directly into the solid rock and the original wood was rebuilt with steel prefabricated and shipped out from the United Kingdom.
In total the ride up the Omakau-Ida Valley Rd to Ophir and back via the suspension bridge to Omakau is 5km.
