Discover the Historic Danseys Pass Hotel
Located at the northern end of Kyeburn Diggings, where the Kye Burn Valley narrows before Danseys Pass Road ascends to Danseys Pass, the Danseys Pass Hotel is a remarkable relic of New Zealand's gold rush era. This historic hotel, dating back to 1863, is the only surviving structure from the Kyeburn Diggings gold rush of 1862. It has been thoughtfully upgraded and modernised, preserving its rich history while providing modern comforts.
A Journey Through Time
During the gold rush, a significant route into Central Otago was from the South Island’s east coast port town of Oamaru. Traffic passed along the Waitaki Valley, then headed south over Danseys Pass between St Marys Range and the Kakanui Mountains. This journey, undertaken by wagon, was both challenging and perilous. Kyeburn Diggings, with its first stretch of flat land after the pass, was an ideal location for a hotel.
The Hotel's Unique Origin
Danseys Pass Hotel boasts a fascinating origin story. It was constructed in 1863 by a stonemason known as Happy Bill, who was compensated with a pint of beer for each schist boulder used in the hotel's walls. The stone structure was plastered in the 1950s and expanded in the 1990s. Surrounding the hotel and nearby German Creek, exotic trees were planted to reflect the diverse homelands of the miners from the 1860s.
Visiting Danseys Pass Hotel
You can enjoy an overnight stay, a meal, or a picnic in front of the hotel or at the DOC campsite at German Creek. This setting provides a perfect opportunity to reflect on the challenges faced by early settlers and appreciate the relative ease of modern travel.
Getting to Danseys Pass Hotel
To reach Danseys Pass Hotel from Dunedin, take State Highway 1 north to Palmerston, then head west on State Highway 85, the Pig Root, towards Kyeburn in the wide-open Maniototo Plain. Turn north onto Kyeburn River Road, which becomes a gravel road, and follow this to Danseys Pass Road, where you turn northeast towards Kyeburn Diggings. As you approach the narrowing valley, you'll find the hotel just before Dansey Pass Road begins its ascent to Danseys Pass. The drive takes 2 hours and is 140 km.
Nearby, you can visit Naseby, Ranfurly, Macraes and Middlemarch for a blend of gold and pastoral New Zealand history.
