Five lazy days exploring Mosgiel, Dunedin and catching up with friends had come to an end, and it was time to move on. We travelled along SH87 through the Strath Taieri region into what as known as the Maniototo. (Strath is a Scottish word meaning “valley across” and Taieri is Maori for “shining river”. The scenery was spectacular, far open spaces as far as the eye could see, enclosed by a far off ring of mountains. The land was strewn with schist rocks, huge mighty outcrops making a statement as we whizzed by, with thousands of smaller pieces studding the ground like many pieces of bone piercing the tussock covered paddocks.
We stopped at Middlemarch, reputably named after a George Eliot novel. Middlemarch is famous these days as the starting point of the Rail Trail, where cyclists ride the disused rail bed between Middlemarch and Clyde. But the town has a well kept secret, it possess it’s very own submarine, on display in the museum grounds. The submarine was launched in Otago Harbour in 1874. What happened after that, and how it ended up in Middlemarch, I never did find out.
Travelling up hill and down dale, we stopped for the night at Naseby, 2000ft above sea level, which probably will give us chilly overnight temperatures. Our stop for the night is Larchview Holiday Park, a rustic camp set amongst larch trees and native trees.
Robin was most impressed that the camp owner has a huge Kipor generator as standby power. The owner commented that the camp may experience several power cuts each year, and the generator is used to power both the amenity blocks and his private house. This monstrous yellow beast makes our red generator look very small indeed.
A drive through tiny Naseby didn’t take very long but this place is rich in history. The whole of central Otago seems to have been mined for gold in earlier years. A water sluice used in gold claims is on permanent display and was a community project using donated mining equipment.
The Naseby War Memorial Trophy Gun had an interesting story. The 77mm German Feldkanone, made in 1917, was captured in Bapaume in north-west France in 1918 by New Zealand soldiers. At the conclusion of hostilities it was first shipped to England, then forwarded to New Zealand on a returning troop ship in 1919. The Defence Department awarded the gun to Naseby and it arrived in May 1921. This gun was drawn by six horses, crewed by eight soldiers, and could fire a 5.9kg shell over 10km.
For such a tiny place, Naseby has many interesting early buildings. The original County Offices built in 1878 have now been turned into a museum. Some of the other buildings have been preserved and show how life was back in the early days.
Jenny’s Great Grandfather Green had his own boot shop many years ago in Martinborough.
Heading back to camp we spotted an old style gypsy caravan in a front garden. Wonder where they got that from?
We should sleep soundly tonight, lulled to sleep under the branches of the whispering larch trees. As the advert for the motor camp puts it, “we are 2000ft above worry level”.
1 comment:
Heh. I have a Greatgrandfather Green too. In England.
Loving your tour! :-)
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