Discover Chatto Creek

Chatto Creek connects the Otago Central Rail Trail with local history centred on the tavern, Post Office and former gold mining. The Chatto Creek Tavern is right on the trail. Historic buildings, traces of infrastructure and the area’s connection to the trail give the place several facets to include in your travel plans.

The Otago Central Rail Trail and places along the way

The Otago Central Rail Trail runs through Chatto Creek. It is a 150-kilometre, car-free trail that can be used for walking, cycling and horse riding. Parking for trail visitors is available at the railway station grounds. A historic road bridge in Chatto Creek is 50 metres from the tavern and makes a good photo opportunity.

Near Chatto Creek, there is angler access to the Manuherikia River. It is three kilometres along the trail in the direction of Alexandra, at Manuherikia Rail Bridge No. 2. The river access is therefore a separate destination outside the town, while the trail itself runs through Chatto Creek.

Local history and surviving traces

The Chatto Creek Post Office dates from 1892. The local community restored the building; it was moved from its former location near the railway station grounds to a site beside the Chatto Creek Tavern. Letters and postcards can be stamped and posted at the Post Office. If you plan to use this service, check the current arrangements before your visit.

A publicly accessible path leads to a historic wooden flume. The watercourse carried irrigation water to Chinky Gully. There are also historic information panels about Chatto Creek on the Otago Central Rail Trail, placing the town in the broader historical context of the route.

Gold mining is also part of the town’s history: the remains of the Chatto Creek Gold Dredge can be viewed from the trail access at the tavern. The dredge operated in the Manuherikia River from 1898 to 1909. At the same location, you can see traces of different themes: the history of the Post Office, former irrigation infrastructure and gold mining.

The Chatto Creek Tavern

The Chatto Creek Tavern opened in 1886 and was once the centre of the local community. Its schist and mud-brick walls are 18 inches thick. The building houses the historic pub, which guests can visit; they can also enjoy a drink in the large, sunny garden. The tavern welcomes locals and passing visitors.

The food offering includes traditional pub meals and lighter dishes made with fresh local ingredients. As menu details may change, check them before your visit if needed. The tavern, garden and trail offer different ways to enjoy your stay: a meal or a drink, a look at the historic building or continuing your journey along the car-free trail.

Regional perspective: Central Otago District

The wider destination of Central Otago District offers other distinctive landscape and cultural experiences. The Bannockburn Sluicings are a scarred landscape shaped by a short-lived gold-mining era. Various trails make it possible to explore on foot or by bicycle.

The Roxburgh Gorge Trail follows the Clutha Mata-au River past eroded rock faces and old gold-mining sites. A trip combines 21 kilometres of cycling with a 13-kilometre boat ride; the route is graded 2–3 and is intended to take one day. This regional route profile differs from the section of trail through Chatto Creek, which can be used for walking, cycling and horse riding.

Discover more destinations: Coal Creek Flat, Earnscleugh, Lindis Valley, Clyde, Tarras, Lauder, Millers Flat, Kyeburn Diggings

For the broader travel overview: Central Otago District.