Cromwell

In Cromwell, gold-rush history, Lake Dunstan and a variety of ways to enjoy active days come together. The Cromwell Heritage Precinct preserves historic buildings from the 1860s: some were rescued, while others were rebuilt on higher ground after Cromwell’s main street was submerged beneath Lake Dunstan. If you are interested in history, you can explore the town from different perspectives at the museum, in the Precinct and on a cruise across the lake.

Gold-rush history and stories of the lake

The Cromwell Heritage Precinct features historic buildings and numerous craft shops. The Precinct is a free visitor attraction for the whole family. The Cromwell Museum at Te Puna Mahara | Cromwell Memorial Events Centre, 36 Melmore Terrace, displays archaeological artefacts and items relating to Cromwell’s Chinese history. They tell the story of the lives of Chinese miners. The museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.

Another insight into early history emerged before Lake Dunstan was finally flooded in 1992. An archaeological excavation by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust uncovered information about early Cromwell and its inhabitants. Finds included moa bones from caves and middens. This history adds traces of earlier inhabitants to the story told by the gold-rush-era buildings.

Cycling with a variety of route profiles

For a longer ride, the full, one-way Lake Dunstan Trail from Cromwell to Clyde is 41 km long. Local shuttles are used to transport bikes and cyclists. Take the full distance into account when planning; this is the route to Clyde, not a loop.

A shorter designated option is the 16 km section from the Smiths Way car park to the Cromwell Heritage Precinct. It is graded 1, or very easy, and takes about 1 to 2 hours. Different from this is the return ride from the Cromwell Heritage Precinct to the Bannockburn wineries: it is 16 km or longer and graded 2, or easy to moderate. The distances and grades can help you choose a ride based on its length and stated difficulty.

Markets, wine and local produce

The Cromwell Farmers & Craft Market is held every Sunday from Labour Weekend until the Sunday before ANZAC Day. It offers fresh Central Otago stone fruit, local cheeses, merino wool and merino products, as well as olive oil and tea. There is also venison salami, fresh sausages, herbs and salads, honey, jams and preserves. Fresh baking, fresh flowers and crafts round out the selection. A visit to the market is a chance to discover a wide range of food and handcrafted products.

Cromwell Winery Cruises combines a scenic boat trip on Lake Dunstan with visits to local wineries. The trip crosses the lake and follows the Kawarau River. Along the way, stories are shared about Central Otago’s wine heritage, local wildlife and the town lying beneath the lake. The experience is for guests who want to combine wine and scenery with a trip on the water. The boat tour is marketed as New Zealand’s first wine tour.

Motorsport as a different kind of outing

Highlands Motorsport Park adds another, very different dimension to Cromwell. The park has a 650 m outdoor kart track with single and tandem karts and is also home to the National Motorsport Museum. If you want to include motorsport in your holiday alongside historic buildings, the market and lake experiences, you’ll find a distinct activity here.

More town pages: Alexandra, Ranfurly, Earnscleugh, Patearoa, Oturehua, Waipiata, Clyde and Lindis Valley.

For the broader travel overview: Central Otago District.