Bannockburn

The raw and rugged goldmining gravesite of Bannockburn is now facing firmly in the direction of viticulture and tourist culture, securing a reputation as the place for Otago weddings and family reunions, with no less than nine vineyards and three galleries in the general vicinity. Having taken it's name from the Scottish highland place of Braveheart fame, this southern Bannockburn is now coming into it's own.

Bannockburn Sluicings are the heart of the heritage theme of the attraction; an arid valley of debris, left by the valiant attempts of miners to claim gold from them thar hills by spraying water at them, a century and a half ago.

The township, which is now regenerating, has a picturesque old Presbyterian Church that has become non-denominational and hosts the weddings. If you come across it, please submit your images and impressions. On the edge of town is the Ray Cottage, an anomaly in the ruins, having been originally made from sod, and somehow survived the decades that only other stone buildings saw through.

Other pioneering buildings will greet you around Bannockburn, like the old General Store and Post Office. Camping is at the Domain which is, like most other things here, dry and expansive.

Of the hospitality venues, the Bannockburn Pub is a live link to the gold mining past, and this one is especially strong, it was the first hotel in Central Otago to hold a liquor licence. Like a lot of Otago pubs, Bannockburn it is built from stacked stone, and has hearty fireplaces and a welcoming feel. Mount Difficulty Wines has a cellar door and serves lunch, Felton Road is up past the sluicings, with several others and Quartz Reef has it's Cellar Door in Cromwell.

The artists making their homes and their works in the area are Alan Waters, Robert Franklin and Megan Huffadine, who also exhibits at Milford Galleries Dunedin and Hullabaloo in Cromwell Old Town.

Nearby at Bendigo, you may visit the leftovers of three entirely different, and more successful forms of mining, where gold was ground out of Quartz reef, sifted from the river, and later dredged.

WINE TASTING AND WINERY TOURS FROM QUEENSTOWN

FULL DAY NEVIS VALLEY PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR FROM QUEENSTOWN

Image Credits: Celia Walker and Google Maps