Chatto Creek: Rail Trail and tangible local history

Chatto Creek combines the Otago Central Rail Trail with a local history that can be read in its buildings and traces of gold mining. The car-free trail passes through the town; the Chatto Creek Tavern is right on the trail. So it is not only outdoor activities that are in focus: historic buildings, a wooden irrigation structure and the remains of a gold dredge are also among the experiences that make Chatto Creek distinctive.

The Otago Central Rail Trail in town

The Otago Central Rail Trail is 150 kilometres long and car-free; it is suitable for walking, cycling and horse riding. Its route through Chatto Creek combines exercise on the trail with the opportunity to discover historic buildings and traces of gold mining in the town. There is parking for the Otago Central Rail Trail at the Chatto Creek station grounds. The historic road bridge is 50 metres from the tavern and makes a good photo opportunity. The Chatto Creek Tavern welcomes locals and passing visitors. Guests can visit the historic pub or enjoy a drink in the large, sunny garden. The tavern serves traditional pub meals and lighter dishes made with fresh local ingredients; the specific menu may change.

Buildings and gold-mining history

The Chatto Creek Tavern opened in 1886 and was once at the heart of the local community. Its building history includes 18-inch-thick walls made of schist and mud bricks. The Chatto Creek Post Office dates from 1892. The local community restored it and moved it from its former site near the station grounds to beside the tavern. Letters and postcards can be stamped and posted at the post office. Check the operating details if you plan to use this postal service during your trip. Historic signs along the Otago Central Rail Trail provide information about Chatto Creek’s local history. A public path leads to a historic wooden trestle flume that carried irrigation water to Chinky Gully. The remains of the Chatto Creek Gold Dredge can also be seen from the trail access point at the Chatto Creek Tavern; the dredge operated on the Manuherikia River from 1898 to 1909. This brings together traces of community life, postal history, irrigation and gold mining in the town.

A fishing access point in the surrounding area

A fishing access point on the Manuherikia River is in the vicinity of Chatto Creek, not within the town: it is 3 kilometres along the trail in the direction of Alexandra, at Manuherikia Rail Bridge No. 2. This makes it a separate option in the surrounding area, distinct from the historic sites directly in Chatto Creek.

More perspectives in the Central Otago District

The wider destination of the Central Otago District offers other forms of gold-mining history and opportunities to get outdoors. The Bannockburn Sluicings are a scarred landscape shaped by a short-lived gold-rush era, which can be explored on foot or by bicycle along various trails. The Roxburgh Gorge Trail offers a different perspective: it follows the Clutha Mata-au River past eroded rock faces and old gold-mining sites, combining a 21-kilometre cycle ride with a 13-kilometre boat trip. The route is graded 2–3 and is designed for a day. The comparison shows two different types of experience in the Central Otago District: trails through a landscape shaped by gold mining, and a combination of cycling and boating.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Roxburgh, Lindis Valley, Millers Flat, Lauder, Tarras, Kokonga, Kyeburn Diggings, Alexandra.

Back to the broader travel overview: Central Otago District.