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Central Otago is an area located in the inland part of theOtago region in theSouth Island ofNew Zealand. The motto for the area is "A World of Difference".[1]
The area is dominated by mountain ranges and the upper reaches of theClutha River and tributaries. The wide flat plateau of theManiototo which lies between the upper reaches of theTaieri River and the Clutha's northern tributary theManuherikia is also part of Central Otago.
Characterised by cold winters and hot, dry summers, the area is only lightly populated. First significant European occupation came with the discovery ofgold atGabriel's Gully nearLawrence in 1861, which led to theOtago gold rush. Other towns and villages includeAlexandra,Bannockburn,Clyde,Cromwell,Millers Flat,Naseby,Omakau,Ranfurly,Roxburgh,St. Bathans, andWedderburn.
Since the 19th century, most of the area's economic activity has centred on sheep,stone fruit, and tourism. In recent years,deer farms andvineyards have increased the region's economic diversification. Central Otago is the world's southernmost commercial wine production region. Recently the cool climate varietiesRiesling andPinot noir have been recognised as being especially suitable, and as the vines ageCentral Otago wines can be expected to improve even further, as the plantings are new and increasing rapidly.
TheCentral Otago District Council, based in Alexandra, administers territorial authority matters, while theOtago Regional Council has overview of environmental matters such as clean air and water resources.
Central Otago is the driest region of New Zealand, receiving less than 400 mm of rainfall annually.[2] The seasons are sharply defined: summers are hot and low in humidity; winter mornings are often misty, the days cloudless and windless and the nights freezing. Alexandra, for example, has the lowest average annual rainfall (340 millimetres or 13.4 inches) recorded anywhere in New Zealand, is the least windy and has 148 frosts annually (only Lake Tekapo, with 149, has more). Ophir, 27 kilometres or 17 miles away, holds the record for the lowest air temperature recorded – −21.6 °C or −6.9 °F in mid-1995 – but it also held the highest reading (35.2 °C or 95.4 °F in 1959) until 42.4 °C (108.3 °F) was recorded at Rangiora, in Canterbury in 1973.
Spring warms the soil and fruit tree blossom dominates the district's orchard areas. Temperatures range from −3 to 20 °C (26.6 to 68.0 °F) with 10 frosts a month. Average rainfall is 28 millimetres (1.1 in) a month and sunshine 206 hours per month.
In summer, daylight lasts as long as 10 P.M.. Temperatures range from 10 to 30 °C (50 to 86 °F) on several days. Rainfall averages 38 millimetres (1.5 in) a month and sunshine 227 hours per month.
Autumn is brilliant as the extensive orchards and poplar shelterbelts turn red, yellow and gold. Temperatures range from −3 to 24 °C (26.6 to 75.2 °F). Rainfall averages 30 millimetres (1.2 in) a month with 11 frosts monthly and 150 hours of sunshine.
Winter brings a temperature range of −6 to 15 °C (21.2 to 59.0 °F), and average monthly rainfall of 15 millimetres (0.6 in), 25 days with frosts and 107 hours of sunshine per month during the short days.
The colloquial name for Central Otago is simply "Central". Residents from the surrounding regions may not talk about beingin Central Otago or goingto Central Otago – instead referring to being or going "up Central" (this usage is mainly limited to residents ofCanterbury,Otago andSouthland). The formerOtago Central Railway, which ran through most of the major towns of Central Otago, was also referred to as 'the Central'.
Areas around the area governed by the Central Otago District Council area are also often simply known as Central, such as Arrowtown, Queenstown and Wānaka.
