Mayfield – Show Tradition, Domain and Local Walks

Mayfield is on the Inland Scenic Route, which runs through Mid Canterbury, about 35 km from Ashburton. Road conditions and signage can change; check both before you travel. When choosing a hotel, the local show, Mayfield Domain to the northeast and nearby destinations offer different points of interest. You can plan your stay around whether you are coming for the show, are interested in sports facilities or want to explore walks outside the town.

Mayfield A & P Show: Programme and Tradition

The Mayfield A & P Show was established in 1926 and continues a tradition that began more than 100 years ago. The show includes livestock judging and equestrian events, as well as home industries, arts and crafts, and family entertainment. It also features pig racing and tractor pulling. The programme may vary from one edition to the next, so check the details for the show you plan to attend.

Mayfield Domain: Open Spaces and Sports Facilities

Mayfield Domain lies northeast of Mayfield on Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road, also known as Inland Scenic Route 72. The grounds are mostly flat and largely covered in open grass, with some mature plantings. Facilities include tennis courts, netball courts, a swimming pool, rugby fields and touch rugby fields. If you plan to use a particular sports facility or the swimming pool, please check the latest access and usage information beforehand.

Next to Mayfield Playcentre is a small playground designed primarily for preschool-aged children. The playground is a separate point of interest; the show also offers family entertainment. This lets you distinguish between the different options when planning, rather than combining them into a single outing.

Local Walks and Golf

The Tenahaun Conservation Area is nearby. It includes the highest peak in the Moorhouse Range; above Rangitata Gorge, there are public access easements for walking and mountain biking. To get there, follow Arundel Rakaia Road (Highway 72) to Mayfield, then continue on Mayfield Klondyke Road. At Montalto, turn left onto Mayfield Klondyke Road; at the intersection, continue straight onto Klondyke Terrace. This leads to the water intake for the Rangitata Diversion Race on the Rangitata River. A public access easement starts there. Check the Department of Conservation’s latest information before setting off, as access rules and road conditions can change.

Mayfield Golf Club is north of the township of Mayfield. Its course has nine holes; you can play an 18-hole round by going around twice. This is clearly different from the public access easements in Tenahaun Conservation Area: here, the round is defined by the course’s size and playing it twice, while walking and mountain biking on public access easements are the focus there.

Local History and the Domain

Mayfield’s community dates back to 1879, when the first post office was established. The first Domain Board was appointed at Mayfield Domain in 1926. The Mayfield A & P Show also began using the Domain grounds. These historical connections add to the different reasons to stay: local history, the show tradition, and the landscape and recreational destinations in the surrounding area.

Discover more destinations: Ashburton, Hinds, Methven, Mount Hutt

For the broader travel overview: Ashburton District.