Hyde

Tunnels, bridges and a Wild West landscape shape the ride; the river offers a good spot for a picnic. Hyde appeals to travellers who want to combine an experience of the landscape with traces of railway history. If you’re looking for holiday accommodation in Hyde, you can consider whether this ride or the town’s history should be the focus of your stay. Alongside its railway history, the former school and the clay pit on Eton Street reveal two other sides of Hyde: education and ceramics.

Otago Central Rail Trail and gorge scenery

The Otago Central Rail Trail follows the former Otago Central Branch Railway for 150 km, from Middlemarch to Clyde. One section of the trail runs between Daisybank and Hyde. The ride from Hyde to Daisybank offers a clear, specific option: the return journey is 21 km long and passes through the Upper Taieri Gorge.

The Upper Taieri Gorge lies north of Hyde. Between Hyde and Tiroiti, the Otago Central Rail Trail passes the Prices Creek Tunnel and the Prices Creek Viaduct. Tunnels and bridges are among the specific features that connect Hyde with the railway route. Those who like to consider both scenery and historic railway lines when planning a holiday will find different points of interest here: a ride through the gorge and a trail that follows the route of a former railway line.

Railway history and local traces

Hyde railway station was built in 1894 on the only level ground suitable for a railway junction. Its facilities included the first locomotive shed on the line. The station was once busy with railway wagons transporting Hyde clay to potteries in Christchurch and Auckland. Old Hyde railway station is 2 km south of the village and offers a glimpse into the past.

The former Hyde School is also part of the town’s history: built in 1879, it served the educational needs of the local community for 120 years. A clay pit on Eton Street is associated with white ball clay, which is still used for fine ceramics. Alongside Hyde’s railway history, these details connect the town with education and ceramics.

Structures and remembrance

The bridge over the Taieri River on Hyde-Macraes Road was built in 1879. Its main span has an iron truss, with short timber bowstring trusses at either end. The bridge remains a prominent landmark in Strath Taieri. It is privately owned and not open to the public.

The Hyde railway disaster memorial is a cairn commemorating the 21 people who died in the railway tragedy of 4 June 1943. Along with the station, trail and historic structures, this memorial adds another aspect to Hyde’s history.

Other places

Warrington, Port Chalmers, Middlemarch, Mosgiel, Waitati, Waikouaiti, Dunedin, Brighton

For the broader travel overview: Dunedin City.