There are lots of good reasons to stop a while in Tarras.
Long walks, short walks, historic way stations and goldmines. Fishing, mountain biking or road cycling, horse riding or a swim in the river?
Bendigo Historic Reserve
The heart of local Central Otago gold mining, Bendigo has significant traces of its rich history at Welshtown and Logantown. The Historic Reserve is the starting point for six DOC walking tracks.
Access the site through Bendigo Loop Road off SH8.. The historic site is approx 17km from Tarras Village.
There are old and very deep mining shafts throughout this area. Extreme care must be taken and children closely supervised. Walks vary from 30 mins to 5 hours.
Some walks are open to mountain bikers.
Check individual tracks for dog access.
Come in Time Stamper Battery
With easy access to the mine entrance and a fully-restored stamper battery, the Come in Time site offers a rare and almost complete picture of hard-rock quartz mining in Central.
The 15 min walk can be accessed from Thompson Gorge Road, 12 km from Tarras Village.
Check access as this site may be impacted by the proposed Bendigo-Ophir gold mining project.
Dry Creek and Neinei i Kura
Opportunities for short walks, tramping and mountain biking at Dry Creek. There is a longer track, up to Cloudy Peak, which provides spectacular views of the Upper Clutha plains and peaks of the Lindis and St Bathans ranges.
4 - 6 hour advanced tramping and intermediate/ advanced mountain biking on DOC tracks.
Tracks start 7 km from Tarras Village.
Check for seasonal closures for lambing.
No dogs allowed.
Grandview Ridge Tracks
These extensive, varied walking and biking tracks take you along the old Maori mahika kai route towards Wanaka. They provide a spectacular vantage point for views over the Upper Clutha Valley.
Various tracks, ranging from 10km to 43km, suitable for advanced trampers and mountain bikers.
Tracks start 6km from Tarras Village.
Check DOC for seasonal closures for lambing.
No dogs allowed.
Lindis Pass Historic Hotel
The site of the Lindis Pass Hotel and the Nine Mile Historic Reserve, with its gold mining remains, mark the old route through the Lindis Pass. The site commemorates the earliest days of the Otago gold rushes.
Access to the old hotel and DOC campsite is via Old Faithful Road, approx 24km north of Tarras on SH8.
No dogs allowed.
Lindis River, Valley & Pass
From the top of the Lindis Pass to its confluence with the Mata-au Clutha, the Lindis River is central to Tarras, both for irrigation and for outdoor activities. The Upper Lindis Valley is rich in walking, biking, picnic and fishing spots.
DOC has 15 tracks in the Lindis Pass, ranging from 45min walks to multi-day tracks for advanced walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders.
Most tracks start between 10 km and 25 km from Tarras Village.
Check DOC information for seasonal closures for lambing.
No dogs allowed.
Māta-au Clutha & Lake Dunstan
There are walks, swimming spots, picnic areas and freedom camps along the banks of the mighty Mata-au Clutha that marks the western-most boundary of Tarras.
The Mata-au Clutha river is deep and strong and should be treated with respect.
Access points from 7 km from Tarras Village.
Tarras Cemetery
Tarras Cemetery is believed to date back to the 1880s when this area was a thriving gold mining settlement. Old fashioned roses sit just inside the gate and are the descendents of those brought out by early miners' wives.
Find the cemetry 2 km to the north of Tarras.
Access is from Ardgour Road.
Tarras Community Church
The Tarras church held its first inter-denominational service on March 13th, 1921. Build by donation, it remains a focal point of meeting for local community. Visitors often stop by to admire the kneelers, made by local Rural Women, and celebrated in A Tapestry of Tarras.
Services are held monthly and we welcome the use of the church as a non-denominational wedding venue and event space.
Visitors are welcome to collect the church key from the Merino Store in Tarras Village and see the 75 tapestry kneelers described in A Tapestry of Tarras.
The church lies less than 1km from Tarras Village.
Thompson Gorge Track
Following the old Maori travelling route through the Dunstans, this 4WD and bike trail from the Ardgour Valley behind Tarras links up with the Manuherikia Valley. It is a 140 km round trip.
30 km mountain biking and 4WD track.
Starts 12 km from Tarras Village, along Ardgour Road.
Check access as this route may be impacted by the proposed Bendigo-Ophir gold mining project.