A Māniatoto Marvel

1. Otago Central Rail Trail

It almost goes without saying that the Rail Trail is one of the top things to do in the region. Take time to explore the quirky art deco town of Ranfurly or the Interplanetary Ride on the cycle trail, before heading to Naseby.

From the old railway station in Ranfurly – which now serves as the isite visitor information centre – its 14km on quiet country roads to the centre of Naseby. An easy ride which takes 45 - 60 minutes for most people. Alternatively, shuttle buses can be arranged in advance with bike tour companies.

2. Naseby Forest Recreation Area (Ernslaw One Ltd)

Surrounding the town, the Naseby Forest Recreation Area consists historic goldmining sites, a huge network of walking & mountain biking tracks, swimming and fishing dams, plus picnic areas.

The network of mountain bike trails is particularly impressive with a variety of grades to suit beginners (grade 1-2) through to intermediate and advanced riders (grade 3-5 tracks). The bike tracks are well marked in the forest and a map can be download here or picked up from the Ernslaw One office in Naseby.

Naseby Forest is privately owned by Ernslaw One Limited, who are great supporters of the Naseby community and kindly provide access to over 500ha of forest for recreational use. Ernslaw One are also supporters of the Maniototo Adventure Park through the donation of the land for the indoor curling rink and permit the winter ice luge and summer goldrush luge to operate on their land.

Note: Please check at the main forest entrances, on this website or call the Forest Manager on 021 991 930 for closure notices, particularly during the summer when there is potential for high fire risk. Please respect any closures for your safety.

3. Gravel Biking

Gravel biking is the fastest growing discipline in the cycling industry and the quiet, undulating gravel roads of Central Otago, especially around Naseby, are perfect for gravel biking adventures.

From Naseby a spin up to the famous Danseys Pass Hotel for lunch makes a great day trip, or check out the Kyeburn Loop - a  new gravel route mapped out by Tiaki Maniatoto – a local community conservation group - which offers a chance to visit some of their amazing habitat restoration sites, including NZ’s first galaxiid sanctuary.

An essential lunch stop on any gravel ride in this area is at the Waipiata Hotel to sample their famous pies.

5. Stargazing and Night Sky Tours

Central Otago, and Naseby in particular, is one of the best places in New Zealand for stargazing. With a clear, clean atmosphere and internationally approved dark sky street lighting, Naseby provides an exceptional opportunity for stargazing. The town is also very close to achieving internationally recognised dark sky community status.  

Find out more about the Naseby night sky here.

6. History and Heritage

As you stroll or ride around Naseby the town’s heritage is obvious. For a greater insight into the region’s history a visit the Early Settlers Museum is a must. Here you can delve into the fascinating stories of the early settlers of the Māniatoto. The Jubilee Museum, just across the road from the Early Settlers Museum, boasts a fine selection of vintage vehicles and machinery.

For a more active history lesson, ride or walk a section of the Mount Ida Water Race which offers an excellent introduction to backcountry biking for beginners. The 108km Mount Ida Water Race began construction in 1873 to supply water to the Naseby gold mining area and still supplies water to Naseby township and farmers in the area today. You can access sections the water race from the Oteake Conservation Area, or from the Naseby Forest Recreation Area.

Naseby might just be a small town in the middle of the vast Māniatoto, but it’s a wee marvel that you’ll want to visit time and time again.