Exploring the Scenic Old Dunstan Road
Located in Central Otago, the Paerau end of Old Dunstan Road is a dramatic descent from the highlands, which stand at over 1,000 metres, down to the north end of Serpentine Flat at 570 metres. This route provides stunning views across Serpentine Flat towards Rough Ridge.
Journey from Tors and Tussock
At the top of the road, the landscape is dominated by golden tussocks and schist rock tors. As you head down, the scenery transitions to grassy paddocks, with superb views of the Surpentine Flat.
A notable feature of this landscape is the Taieri River's "scroll plain," where the river's meanders have formed a series of curves and round pools. This extensive meandering effect is rare globally but is common along this section of the Taieri River. As you continue down through the tors and tussock to Paerau, known as Styx in the 1860s, you'll encounter a small reservoir on the Taieri River.
Accessing the Upper Taieri Plain
To explore further, take Paerau Road to reach the head of the Upper Taieri Plain. From there, Linnburn Runs Road provides access to the second part of Old Dunstan Road, which traverses over Rough Ridge via Poolburn Reservoir (closed over Winter). This route is ideal for those interested in experiencing the rugged landscapes and historical routes of Central Otago.
Another option from Poolburn Reservoir, with a 4WD in dry conditions, is to take Long Valley Ridge Road to a remote historic highlands gold-mining site. This is the Surpentine Diggings, 1,100 metres above sea level in the South Rough Ridge.
How to Get There
The easiest way to reach the Paerau end of Old Dunstan Road is to head towards Paerau, south from Ranfurly via Ranfurly Patetaroa Road. This takes you to the Upper Taieri Plain and Patearoa. From there, continue on Paerau Road to Paerau and Superntine Flat. This is a 26-minute, 33 km drive with some gravel roads. From Dunedin, the drive is 130 minutes and 158 km.
Other places to visit in the region include Middlemarch, Macraes, Naseby and the Ida Valley.
