The Strath Taieri Valley

The Strath Taieri Valley lies 80 km inland from Dunedin, Otago, a farming district with a population of 200. The small township is Middlemarch.

The climate is a true, Central Otago climate: low rainfall, hot dry summers, cold winters.

It is the home of the rare Giant Skink, Giant weta (mountain) and the falcon. It has some unusual natural phenomena, namely an inland salt lake and a rare cloud formation, locally called The Taieri Pet.

Other feature points of interest:Terminus for the Taieri Gorge Excursion Train and the beginning of the Central Otago Rail Trail. Also check out the Middlemarch web site.

Rail to Trail Convention 2001

30 March 2001: (Otago Daily Times) 

Convention photos