For an authentic heritage experience, Bonspiel Station is as real as it gets. Here you can relive the past staying in stacked stone huts built by Chinese gold miners in the 1860s. No electricity. No running water.
From the irrigated floor of the Ida Valley, Bonspiel Station’s 4300 hectares stretch up to what for millions is the Land of Rohan; one of just two locations Lord of the Rings filmmaker Peter Jackson rated his favourites.
Where gold was mined on Bonspiel the landscape is largely as it was left. A small mining operation run by the Falconer family shows there’s still gold to be found. Heritage exploring, walking, mountain biking, riding the Dunstan Trail, gold panning, river swimming, canoeing, fishing, hunting, 4WD driving or sampling life on a station carrying around 5000 sheep and 250 cattle, Bonspiel is a wonderful and rare destination in itself.
When travelling as a group and looking for accommodation less rustic than stone huts, the Old Moa Creek Pub (on Bonspiel’s northern boundary) accommodates up to 12 in 4 rooms plus sleep-outs. Self-catering, sleeping bags required. And how about this for spinning long dead patrons in their graves, there’s a spa and sauna.
Otago Central Rail Trail pick up and delivery can be arranged. |
