Exploring St Bathans: A Central Otago Gem
St Bathans, nestled in the Manuherikia Valley of Central Otago, is a captivating destination on a scenic drive through the region. Located about 60 km northeast of Alexandra, this small hamlet is renowned for its striking Blue Lake and the historic Vulcan Hotel. The surrounding St Bathans and Hawkdun Ranges offer stunning views, especially when snow-capped in winter.
Cyclists on the Otago Central Rail Trail often detour to St Bathans, enjoying it as a peaceful side trip away from the busier rail-trail settlements.
Blue Lake and Scenic Setting
The most striking feature of St Bathans is Blue Lake, a vivid body of water encircled by white cliffs. These cliffs were once part of the 120-metre-high Kildare Hill, which was removed through hydraulic gold mining in the late 1800s. The pit left behind filled naturally with water, and minerals suspended in the lake give it a striking blue hue that changes with the light.
The landscape around St Bathans is typical of Central Otago, with tussock-covered hills, sparse scrub, and expansive skies. On calm summer days, the lake reflects its steep walls, while in winter, the settlement takes on a quiet, slightly eerie atmosphere. The area is defined by calm water, exposed rock, and the arid hills of the Maniototo.
St Bathans Loop Tracks
A gently undulating 2 km track loops around the west side of Blue Lake, taking about 50 minutes at an easy walking pace. A longer loop walk around the entire lake is 3 km and takes about 90 minutes. The tracks begin near the lake’s edge, close to the village, and suit most fitness levels, though it can be slippery in winter or after rain.
From Gold Mining to Tourists
St Bathans originated as a gold-mining settlement in 1863, initially named Dunstan Creek. Surveyor John Turnbull Thomson, whose family hailed from Abbey St Bathans in Scotland, renamed it. The town grew rapidly as mining operations expanded, dramatically altering the landscape with intense earthworks until mining ceased in 1932.
Several original structures still stand, including the stone schoolhouse, post office, hall, and church. The Vulcan Hotel, built in 1882, remains one of New Zealand’s most recognised historic pubs, contributing to the town’s reputation for ghost stories and lingering gold-rush legends.
In addition to the historic buildings, you can visit the cemetery on the hillside above the lake. Photographers often linger at the lake edge, especially around sunset when the water deepens to a brilliant turquoise against the pale cliffs.
The area has also become known for the remarkable St Bathans fossil fauna, revealing a rich prehistoric ecosystem of birds, reptiles, and ancient mammals once present in this part of the South Island.
How to get there
To reach St Bathans from Alexandra, travel northeast for approximately 43 km on State Highway 85, then take St Bathans Loop Road for 17 km. St Bathans Loop Road also swings southeast back to State Highway 85 near Hills Creek, offering fabulous views of the Hawkdun Range. Note that this section of the road is gravel.
Other historical mining sites in the Manuherikia Valley include Golden Progress Mine, Ophir, Clyde, and the Earnscleugh Tailings.
