Nestled on the shores of the crystal-clear Lake Dunstan, Cromwell is the ideal base for a vacation centered around outdoor pursuits. Located in the South Island’s Otago Region, the town offers biking, hiking, and skiing opportunities in the surrounding Dunstan, Pisa, and Cairnmuir Mountains, as well as a thriving wine industry and gold rush era heritage.

Cromwell was established as a mining town during the Otago Gold Rush in the 1860s, during which time many hopeful settlers tried their luck at finding fortune in these hills. The town once lay at the confluence of the Clutha and Kawarau Rivers but was moved for the construction of the Clyde Dam and the filling of Lake Dunstan in the 1990s.

Nonetheless, the town’s historic buildings and cultural heritage were painstakingly preserved, moved brick-by-brick to the banks of the new lake. This vantage point is enjoyed by visitors and residents alike today, since the town overlooks the teal waters of Lake Dunstan, and benefits from the huge investment in the surrounding trails since the dam’s construction.

Delve into the Otago Region’s unspoilt beauty on the Lake Dunstan E-Bike & Boat Tour. You'll discover the Central Otago region's rich gold mining history, early settler heritage, and spellbindingly scenic landscapes.

On this bike tour, you’ll see the effects of mining and more recent hydro-electric developments on this landscape, but the area’s sublime scenery reigns supreme: the dramatic Dunstan Mountains line the horizon, reflected in the glittering waters of the lakes.