Driving down Law Road in Allanton | Otago | New Zealand | 4K

Categories: Otago Region

Tags: allanton, driving, law road, new zealand, otago

Added: 2 years ago

Driving down Law Road in Allanton in the Otago region on the East Coast of New Zealand's South Island.

Otago is a mountainous region located in the Southeast of the South Island and is New Zealand's second-largest region. As you head toward the coast, its varying micro-climates result in a desert-like terrain in the region's centre and lush green land. Also, it is the only area of New Zealand that experiences a continental climate, with the rest of New Zealand being maritime.

The largest city in the region is Dunedin, situated at the head of a long harbour. Many early European settlers came from Scotland to the area giving the city its 'Edinburgh of the South' nickname. Otago's well known for its gold rushes, which began in 1861 with the first discovery at Gabriel's Creek. By 1880, Otago gold and wool had helped make Dunedin New Zealand's most prominent and wealthiest town.

Oamaru is the main centre of North Otago. The southern part of Oamaru's central business district is one of New Zealand's most impressive streetscapes. Many prominent buildings were constructed from Oamaru stone mined from a local quarry. As a result, part of the town close to the harbour was restored as a historic precinct. Oamaru also has two penguin colonies in the town's southern area. As a result, these attract many ecotourists to Oamaru. The town is also a gateway into the Mackenzie Basin via the Waitaki Valley.

Balclutha is the main town in South Otago. The Clutha river, New Zealand's biggest by volume, runs through the centre. The Clutha River's open for salmon and trout fishing all year round. The Blair Athol Walkway starts at Naish Park and takes you along the banks of the Clutha River if you feel like stretching your legs.

Balclutha is the gateway to the Catlins on the coast. Known as Otago's natural scenic beauty, The Catlins area offers picturesque waterfalls, dense rainforest, and indigenous wildlife, making the area a hiker's paradise.

In Central Otago, Queenstown sits next to Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by magnificent mountains and rich farmland. You can ski, snowboard, jet boat, white-water raft, or try bungy jumping here. Further north of Queenstown lies the historic town of Arrowtown, with its gold mining heritage to explore. Further north lies Wanaka, often compared to Queenstown. In summer, Lake Wanaka offers yachting, windsurfing, water skiing, rafting, kayaking, jet skiing, and paragliding. Likewise, with Queenstown in winter, Wanaka is popular with skiers in winter as there are three ski fields.