Cromwell Regional Information

The Cromwell township is situated in Central Otago, just over 30 kilometres from Alexandra. Like other centres in the region, Cromwell's establishment was brought about by the discovery of gold in 1862, which led to an influx of thousands of gold miners to the area.

The region now relies on the pastoral and stone fruit industries for its economic livelihood. At the northern end of the town, the iconic fruit sculpture is a popular stopping point for visitors, who capture photographs of the over-sized fruit. During the summer months, there are numerous stalls selling fresh cherries, peaches, apples, apricots and nectarines.

As well as being the 'Fruit Bowl' of New Zealand, Cromwell is also a destination for recreational water sports. Lying between the Kawarau Gorge and Lake Dunstan, Cromwell is a base for trips to the lake, where visitors enjoy boating, fishing, windsurfing, waterskiing, swimming and picnicking.

On the shores of Lake Dunstan lies Old Cromwell, a collection of buildings relocated from the original township, representing the town as it would have appeared in the nineteenth century. Local artists and craftspeople work in this historic precinct, and period-style markets are held there throughout the year. The original old town centre was flooded following the construction of the Clyde Dam and the filling of Lake Dunstan.

Twenty kilometres from Cromwell are the Bendigo Goldfields, consisting of three deserted mining towns at the site of an alluvial gold mine. At its peak, the town was home to around 200 miners, who mined quartz as well as gold. Today, you can see the remains of stone cottages and the local bakery, pub and store. Remnants of gold excavation also remain, including mine shafts, tunnels and piles of tailings. There are many walkways and mountain biking tracks in this region, often providing glimpses of gold mining days. At the Goldfields Mining Centre, the present collides with the past. The life of nineteenth century gold miners has been preserved through working displays and pathways leading to mining tunnels, shafts and mining equipment. Visitors can try their hand at fossicking for gold too; it is estimated that less than one third of the gold at this site has been found.

Navigate with our great Cromwell map to stay on the right track and find what you're looking for when traveling in the region. While you're on the road, be prepared for all seasons with weather forecasts, reports and current information on Otago weather.

For further information on Cromwell, visit the Central Otago information site.