Tarras
Tarras is a tiny village with a set of cute boutique shops in the Central Otago. It lies on State Highway 8 on the northwest side of the Dunstan Mountains, south of Cromwell and southeast of Wānaka. From these directions, it is the gateway to the scenic Lindis Valley, Lindis Pass and Mackenzie Country. Aside from the stores, Tarras is best known for merino sheep farming. It became world-famous as the home of Shrek the merino sheep, and today has a statue of the sheep and panels that tell the merino and Shrek’s story.
High Country Life and the Merino Story
Tarras sits in one of the driest parts of New Zealand, with wide skies and open farmland. The surrounding hills and mountains support merino sheep, and in recent years, vineyards have appeared among the paddocks. The small boutique village itself has a café, merino shop, and gift shop/gallery showcasing local artists.
The village has long been associated with merino sheep, prized for their fine wool. The area came into the global spotlight in 2004 when Shrek, a merino wether from nearby Bendigo Station, was found after six years living wild. His 27 kg fleece was shorn live on national TV and he became a wool industry icon, even visiting Parliament. Tarras celebrates this legacy with a Shrek monument and merino clothing shop.
How to Get There
Tarras sits on SH8, 25 minutes north of Cromwell. Wānaka is 35 minutes to the northwest on State Highway 8A.
Heading south on the highway, places to visit include Bendigo’s goldfield ruins, vineyards along the edge of the Dunstan Mountains, and Lake Dunstan. To the north, there is the historic Lindis Hotel ruin and associated goldfields of the Lindis River.
