Panorama showing some of the shops in Alexandra. The image was taken late in the day on the way from Dunedin to Wanaka, and the shops were closed.

Alexandra - Alexandra visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Alexandra' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Otago.

Alexandra is a small town in Central Otago in New Zealand at the confluence of the Clutha River and Manuherikia River, a short distance downriver from the Clyde Dam. The town was established during the gold rush in the 1860's when it was known as 'Lower Township', the 'Junction Township', or 'Manuherikia'.

Known as the hottest, driest and coldest town in New Zealand because of extreme variations in climate throughout the seasons, Alexandra is ideally placed for exploration of the surrounding hills and lakes. It has a reputation of being the commercial and communal hub of Central Otago with many different activities. There is motel and Bed & Breakfast accommodation in Alexandra.

Alexandra - Sights and Tourist Attractions

Surrounded by wide, open spaces, Alexandra has many opportunities for recreation including boating, swimming, fishing or exploring the hills and valleys by foot, mountainbike or four-wheel drive. Some of the local sights include:

• Otago Central Rail Trail - following the original route of one of the first railways in New Zealand from Clyde through to Middlemarch, this 150km trail is now a popular walking, riding and cycling route.
• Shaky Bridge - opening in 1879 this was the only way for wagons to cross the river aside from punt, which was risky when the river was high.
• Clock on the Hill - built in 1966 by Alexandra Jaycees this clock, 11m in diameter, can be seen from eight kilometres away.
• The Old Bridge - made of locally quarried schist stone in 1882 the bridge piers rise about 23m above the river and sink 6m into the river bed.
• Old Courthouse - opening in 1879, this is one of the oldest stone buildings in Alexandra.
• Fruitlands - originally known as 'Bald Hill Flat', this former goldmining settlement has been restored and now offers arts, crafts and food and contains Mitchells Cottage.
• Otago Goldfileds Heritage Trail - Alexandra is on the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trail, with local maps and leaflets available from the Museum or the Information Centre.
• Clutha River - with boating, fishing and water sports, accessible via a boat ramp in Alexandra.
• Clyde Dam - found 16km west of Alexandra lies this 100m high and 490m long dam whose construction resulted in the flooding of the Cromwell Gorge.
• Lake Dunstan - formed by the construction of the Clyde Dam, popular for walking, water sports and picnics.
• Flat Top Hill Conservation Area - found 7km south of Alexandra the area contains walks around Butchers Gully Lake and across the Butchers Gully Dam.
• - about 35km south of Alexandra at Coal Creek Flat the dam was built between 1949 and 1958 causing the flooding of Roxburgh Valley and formation of Roxburgh Lake.

Alexandra i-SITE Visitor Centre,
21 Centennial Avenue,
Central Stories Bldg,
Pioneer Park,
Alexandra,
Central Otago,
New Zealand.
Phone: +64 3 4489515
Email: alexandra@i-SITE.org
Web: centralotagonz.com

Car: Alexandra lies on the 8 highway, about 30km south of Cromwell. It is about 85km south of Wanaka on the 8a and 95km from Queenstown (8 to Frankton and then the 6 West).