Otira Stagecoach Hotel and Railway Town

Deep in the main divide, the former Railway town of Otira is about as historic as it gets. Infused with the history of the construction of the infrastructure of New Zealand, it has been here since 1865, when the legendary Stagecoach journey over the Arthurs' Pass and Otira Gorge rattled the toughest of pioneers and the sturdiest of horses.

To pass the alps by rail was always the objective, but it took a long time and a very long tunnel before that happened. First the Midland Line (West Coast) was extended from Stillwater to Jacksons in 1894 and then Otira in 1899. Here, hundreds of railway workers lived, toiling for decades on the alpine sections of the railway, and the Otira Tunnel, which opened in 1923, completing the connection with Canterbury. At it's peak, Otira housed about 600 workers and their families.

Those families lived in the time honoured Railway Houses, most brought here by rail from Frankton, Hamilton as kitsets. There was also a school, fire station, golf course and the Hotel.

Almost a ghost town for the latter part of the 20th Century, once the rail workers left, the hotel and most of the town (railway houses) went on the auctioneers block more than once. The latest couple to bravely take charge have spent five years rejuvenating the hotel which is now not only respectable, but in part spectacular, adorned with period fittings and furniture. Outside, a horse sculpture celebrates the owner's love of horses and advertises Clydesdale-powered tours, and a 'Gollum' sculpture references the Lord of the Rings. They also own several of the remaining railway houses and the fire station which still stands. Heritage New Zealand has not protected any part of Otira.

Climatic conditions in Otira are not suited to sunseekers, but activities abound for action-oriented visitors. There is the annual Coast to Coast, Temple Basin Skifield, mountain biking, tramping and alpine climbing. The John Burns Gallery is resident here, and the Dobson Nature Walk, and Devil's Punchbowl are nearby. Occasional steam train visits revive the railway heritage.

As well as the tunnel, Otira is also home to another feat of New Zealand Engineering, the road viaduct. This came into being in 1999, to bypass a section of road known as 'the zig zag,' which was subject to landslides and just downright dangerous. It is worth viewing from the lookout.

BOOK YOUR STAY AT OTIRA STAGECOACH HOTEL

Otira Gorge, West Coast by CD Barraud