Otago Central Rail Trail | Ranfurly Accommodation, Food, Tours, Activities

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Ranfurly

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Named after the Fifth Earl of Ranfurly, New Zealand’s 15th Governor General, Ranfurly owes its existence to the government of the day deciding the Otago Central Railway must cut a direct route across the Maniototo Plains rather than dogleg to Naseby, then the Maniototo’s biggest town.

Ranfurly has become the centre of rural art deco in this country. The style arrived here in the early 1930s after a series of suspicious fires destroyed a number of buildings, including the town hall and a hotel. The architect who led the rebuilding was greatly influenced by the popular art deco style of the era.

For train passengers Ranfurly was an oasis. As the line’s main change-over station, there was just enough time to jump off, head to the Centennial Milk Bar – now an art deco gallery – and gulp down a ‘cuppa and cake’. The milk bar is one of many art deco buildings on the route of the 50 minute Ranfurly Art Deco Walk (leaflet available from the Maniototo Visitor Information in the old station building).

Ranfurly is a good step off point to visit Naseby(25km).

For more about this remarkable region of New Zealand click www.maniototo.co.nz

Ranfurly – Waipiata

8.5km separates Ranfurly from Waipiata
Ranfurly Straight Gangers’ Shed -- one of 12 gangers’ sheds along the Rail Trail housing information panels. These sheds are identified with an ‘i’ on the map in the Official Rail Trail Passport.

Ranfurly - Wedderburn

14km separates Ranfurly from Wedderburn
Maniototo Plains Gangers’ Shelter Shed -- one of 12 gangers’ sheds along the Rail Trail housing information panels. These sheds are identified with an ‘i’ on the map in the Official Rail Trail Passport.
Rail Trail passes through the big sky country of the Maniototo bordered to the north by the Hawkdun and Mt Ida Ranges, to the east by the Kakanui’s, to the south by the Rock and Pillar Ranges and to the west by South Rough Ridge and North Rough Ridge.


Ranfurly’s Centennial Milk Bar exemplifies art deco design	Churches are a feature of many towns and townships along the Otago Central Rail Trail. Some like the art deco influenced Church of the Sacred Heart in Ranfurly are surprisingly large.


Destined for demolition, the Ranfurly Station building now stands looking more grand than it ever was. The verandah and clock tower were added as part of the community-funded restoration. Inside the building is the Maniototo Information Centre and poignant display commemorating the 1943 Hyde train tragedy.

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Services Directory

Accommodation

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	More Info	Website
Plains Retreat (hotel style rooms/private & share facilities) & Railway Cottage (self cont)
Annerly House B & B
Hawkdun Lodge (motel style accom)
Moyola art Deco Guest House (self con accom/serviced)
Old PO Backpackers
Ranfurly Holiday Park & Motels
Ranfurly Motel
Ranfurly Lion Hotel
Trail Blazers B & B (& farm adventures)
Trout & Trail B & B

Food & Refreshments


A'Courts Four Square Supermarket	1/3Perry St	03 444 9021
E-Central	14 Charlemont St East	03 444 8300
Forry's Bar & Café	Charlemont St east	03 444 9900
Korna Stop	8 Northland St	03 444 9020
Ranfurly Lion Hotel	10 Charlemont St East	03 444 9140

Things to do

Explore Ranfurly’s art deco history
Find time to view the poignant display in the Information Office (in the old station building) honouring the 21 lives lost in the Hyde rail disaster
Also in the Information Office kids in particular will love going on a virtual train ride of the Otago Central Railway
Shop for art deco and other collectibles and antiques
Take a break from the Rail Trail to ride to Naseby 15 km away
Guided fishing tours
4 wheel drive adventures
Farm visits
Garden visits
Golf and bowls

Tour Operators

Off The Rails
Maniototo 4WD Safaris
Time Out tussock Tours ( 4 Wheel Drive and Horse Treking)

Car Rental

TRAIL RENTALS

Wedderburn and Ranfurly
Phone: 03 444 9548
Int: ++64 3 444 9548
Mobile: 021 465 818
Email: info@trailrentals.co.nz
www: www.trailrentals.co.nz

What a wonderful opportunity to really make the most of your Rail Trail holiday! Take time out at Wedderburn or Ranfurly and hire a vehicle from Trail Rentals to explore Central Otago's off-trail attractions and beyond.

Hire rates: Car $49 a day… 8-seater mini-bus $69 a day. Cheaper daily rates for longer hire.

Rail Trail Support Vehicle Package: 8-seater minibus 4 day hire $258 all inclusive (insurance, unlimited kms… just return with full tank of gas)

Drop off and pick up rates may apply outside of Weddeburn and Ranfurly.

Within one and a half hours of Wedderburn and Ranfurly you can visit vineyards that match the beauty of Europe. Travel to the coast over the legendary “pig route” for fresh seafood or a swim at Moeraki. Lunch in the historic gold town of St Bathans or go curling year round at Naseby in the Southern Hemisphere's only international indoor curling rink. Even bungee jumping or jet boating on the Kawerau are easy day outs. If all that is too much, just cruise the open roads of the Maniototo and Ida Valley stopping at historic pubs, swimming in rivers or picnicking by lakes.

Trail Rentals operates fully from October through to May but we still can help you out any time. Make the STOP while doing the trail. Get to know Central Otago with Trail Rentals in Ranfurly and at the top of the trail at Wedderburn.