Lauder: Rail Trail, Research and Railway History

Lauder lies on the Otago Central Rail Trail and brings together railway relics and an unusual NIWA research site. From Lauder, there are views of the Raggedy Range and the Manuherikia Valley; the Lauder Basin Conservation Area is also nearby. Local highlights therefore range from railway history to atmospheric research and high-country landscapes.

Rail Trail and railway history

The 150-kilometre Otago Central Rail Trail follows the former Otago Central Branch Railway from Middlemarch to Clyde. As a recreational route, it is designed to take three to four days and is suitable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. The distance and timeframe give you a clear overview for planning your route; the trail passes through Lauder.

From the township of Lauder, the trail crosses the graceful Manuherikia No. 1 Bridge. At 110 metres, it is the longest bridge on the trail. The Rail Trail also crosses Highway 85 in Lauder; the crossing serves as a convenient meeting point for cyclists and support vehicles. The Lauder Hotel is located between the Otago Central Rail Trail and State Highway 85. It was built in 1904 as the Lauder Railway Hotel. When rail services declined in 1960, the building was turned 180 degrees to face the main road.

Railway station and local history

The Lauder Railway Station building was returned to its station site and restored. At the Lauder Station site, general information panels and historical interpretation panels provide information about the Otago Central Rail Trail; parking for the trail is available at the Lauder Station sites. Lauder Railway School officially opened on 5 March 1906 to accommodate the children of railway workers stationed in Lauder.

The privately owned Downshire Homestead at 2861 Lauder-Omakau Road is also part of the local history. It is a Category 2 historic place, was built in 1908 for John Wilson's Downshire Farm, and has historical and architectural significance. Its private status is part of the property's classification.

Atmospheric research in Lauder

NIWA's Atmospheric Research Station in Lauder measures CFCs, ozone, UV levels and greenhouse gases. Every week, measurement balloons carrying chemical in-situ sensors rise to an altitude of about 35 kilometres. A ground-based LIDAR system also operates up to about 100 kilometres. The two measurement methods therefore reach different altitude ranges. The station is one of five global charter sites in the international NDACC network, which monitors atmospheric change. Its spherical white domes are visible from the Otago Central Rail Trail.

Landscape and access to the Conservation Area

The nearby Lauder Basin Conservation Area covers about 9,000 hectares of high country in the Dunstan Mountains. It offers a distinct landscape experience alongside views of the Raggedy Range and Manuherikia Valley.

The reserve has two main public access points, reached via easements through private land. Check the easement conditions before your trip. The eastern access is via Lauder Station: from SH85, turn onto Loop Road and then Lauder Station Road. The car park is before the end of this road. Road and gate conditions may change.

Horse riding is permitted in the area year-round. Access by motor vehicle and horse via Lauder and Cluden Station requires a padlock code requested online. A padlock code is required only when gates at the access via the Lauder Station car park are locked. Check the gate and access requirements before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Queensbury, Chatto Creek, Earnscleugh, Roxburgh, Lindis Valley, Millers Flat, Oturehua, Alexandra.

For the broader travel overview: Central Otago District.