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Middlemarch is one of those places full of the unusual. Give this town a chance, you’ll find there’s a lot to see and do there. Rail Trailers who pedal briskly through Middlemarch on their way to or from the Taieri Gorge train are cheating themselves of some great holiday memories. And so too are those who hardly give Middlemarch a glance in their haste to pile in or out of vehicles before or after their Rail Trail experience.
Of course, if you’re a single female reading this, you’ve really got to tie in your Rail Trailing with the Middlemarch’s Singles Ball held every second Easter. We have it on good authority that this occasion brings truckloads of eligible Southern Men down from their hill country stations. And what the heck, if your ideal man doesn’t show up, what better way to forget than cycling, or walking, the 150km Otago Central Rail Trail.
So if you want to see a sheep yard built of schist rock, view the remains of a 1873 gold mining submarine, albeit an ill-fated venture, admire interesting artwork, do a spot of fishing in the Taieri River, enjoy southern hospitality at it’s warmest and lots more besides, then you really must linger in Middlemarch.
Before starting or ending the Rail Trail be sure to visit the Middlemarch Station. The station master's house at the town end of the station precinct is the oldest in New Zealand still on its original site. A more recent addition is the returned engine turntable --- one of many examples of community projects you'll come across as you journey the Otago Central Rail Trail.
When starting your Rail Trail experience at Middlemarch be sure you don’t leave town without your Official Rail Trail Passport. Besides becoming a wonderful souvenir of your achievement, buying it contributes funds to the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust for ongoing enhancement of the Rail Trail experience.
Lying 21 km to the south of Middlemarch, Pukerangi, meaning 'Hills of Heaven', was until 1912 named 'Barewood'. Although possibly lacking in imagination, the name was a fairly accurate description of the countryside. Then, as now, not many trees grew to impede wonderful views over the Strath Taieri Rock & Pillar Range and Taieri Ridge. 'Barewood' lives on as the name of sheep station through which the Taieri Gorge railway line passes. At 250m, Pukerangi is the highest point on the Taieri Gorge Railway and on most days of the week is where the train journey from Dunedin ends (visit www.taieri.co.nz … click timetable). Passengers disembarking there to cycle the Otago Central Rail Trail are usually collected by their accommodation provider or tour operator. Some though elect to cycle into Middlemarch while others go the hundred or so metres to stay at Pukerangi Homestead Country Retreat. When the train doesn't come all the way to Middlemarch, Pukerangi Station is also where those who started the Rail Trail at Clyde get on board.
Middlemarch --- Ngapuna
- An easy 6km to the first of numerous station sites on the Otago Central Rail Trail
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| Here’s one for anyone from Auckland visiting this website. A photograph of something in Middlemarch that Auckland no longer has. On a more serious note, this lone pine was planted at the summit of Smooth Cone in 1921 to commemorate Armistice Day. |
This stone sheep yard looks way better in real life |
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| Middlemarch Museum with part of the ill-fated 1873 gold mining submarine to the right of the photograph |
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