Tarras: Gold history, wine and trails along the Mata-au Clutha

Tarras brings together riverside trails, wineries and traces of the gold rush. The Mata-au Clutha forms the western boundary of the settlement; its banks offer walking trails, swimming spots, picnic areas and places to camp for free. Nearby, you’ll find historic sites and routes for a range of activities. You can plan your days around the things that interest you most and, when choosing holiday accommodation in Tarras, look for the right mix of experiences in town and destinations in the surrounding area.

Explore gold history at several sites

Nine Mile Historic Reserve is 22 kilometres north of Tarras. The Department of Conservation camping and picnic area provides access to nearby gold workings and other historic remains for visitors to explore. Bendigo Historic Reserve has an extensive range of traces of hard-rock quartz mining, including mine shafts, tunnels, stone huts, stamper batteries, machinery, waterways, dams and pipelines. The area is about 17 kilometres from Tarras and is also the starting point for six Department of Conservation walking tracks.

Come in Time Stamper Battery offers a distinctive glimpse of this mining history. The restored stamper battery represents a rare, near-complete picture of hard-rock quartz mining; the access point at the mine entrance is 12 kilometres from Tarras Village. Tarras Cemetery, two kilometres north of the settlement, is also part of local history. It is believed to date from the 1880s, when the area was an important gold-mining settlement. Together, these places tell different chapters of the same regional past, from preserved facilities to remnants in a historic landscape.

Riverside trails, walks and longer routes

For a day by the water, try the walking trails, swimming spots and picnic areas along the Mata-au Clutha. The Lindis Valley has routes for walkers and mountain bikers; the valley lies between Tarras and Omarama and is accessible via State Highway 8. In the Upper Lindis Valley, you can also go walking, cycling, picnicking and fishing. Most tracks there start 10 to 25 kilometres from Tarras Village.

One longer route option is the 30-kilometre Thompson Gorge Track, designed for mountain bikes and four-wheel-drive vehicles. Its starting point is 12 kilometres from Tarras Village. This gives you the option of choosing between activities focused on the river and a longer route by bike or four-wheel drive. Tarras Golf Club welcomes green-fee players and adds another activity to the mix.

Wine, food and a glimpse of local life

Tarras Vineyards is a premium wine producer in Central Otago. Tastings and group tours are available by appointment, so plan your visit in advance. Maori Point Vineyard is an award-winning winery in Tarras. For a meal, Tarras Country Cafe offers country-style cuisine, cabinet food and a wide selection of desserts. The wineries and cafe add a distinct culinary focus to a stay alongside the trails and historic sites.

Tarras Community Church also connects local history with community life. In 2019, it was transferred to the ownership of the Tarras Community Church Charitable Trust so it could be preserved and used as a community facility. Visitors can collect the key from the Merino Store in Tarras Village to visit the church. Inside, you can see 75 embroidered kneelers, described in A Tapestry of Tarras.

Tarras as a base for your holiday

When choosing your holiday accommodation, consider whether your trip will focus more on the water and walking trails, wine and food, or walks and gold history. The two reserves are different distances away: Nine Mile Historic Reserve is 22 kilometres north of Tarras, while Bendigo Historic Reserve is about 17 kilometres from the settlement. If you’d like to combine several interests, Tarras offers things to do in town as well as a variety of activities in the surrounding area.

Regional context: Central Otago District

Gold-mining history has also shaped landscapes and trails across the wider Central Otago District. Bannockburn Sluicings is a scarred landscape shaped by a short-lived gold-mining era, which you can explore on a variety of walking and cycling trails. This regional perspective adds another facet of Central Otago’s history to the specific historic sites around Tarras.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Earnscleugh, Roxburgh, Waipiata, Lauder, Clyde, Kyeburn Diggings, Lindis Valley, Omakau.

Go to the main travel overview: Central Otago District.