Clinton

Rolling hills surround Clinton, which is also situated between the larger towns of Balclutha and Gore. Clinton is also well placed for visiting the natural attractions of The Catlins. If you are looking for a hotel in Clinton, the natural attractions of The Catlins can also serve as a convenient point of reference when planning your trip.

Local history and leisure interests

Clinton was renamed in 1873 after Henry Pelham-Clinton, the former British Secretary of State for the Colonies. If you are considering local history alongside scenery and leisure interests, this renaming offers a concise historical point of reference.

Clinton Golf Club is a rural golf course with nine hilly holes. Clinton is also known for fly fishing. This gives you two distinct points of interest to consider: a specifically named golf course and Clinton’s reputation for fly fishing.

The Clutha District as a broader planning framework

The wider destination of the Clutha District offers a broader regional perspective. The district stretches along the coast between Dunedin and Invercargill and forms an outstanding section of the Southern Scenic Route. Its more than 200 kilometres of coastline offer a variety of surfable wave types, including beach breaks, river breaks and reef breaks. Kākā Point has a beach break with rocky points, suitable for surfers from beginner to advanced levels. Swell, tides and weather affect surfing conditions. This lets you distinguish the variety of wave types in the Clutha District from the specific surfing features at Kākā Point.

The Clutha Gold Trail is another activity in the Clutha District. The 135-kilometre trail is easy and graded 1–2, with two to four days specified for completing it. A 62-kilometre extension between Lawrence and Waihola opened on 25 August 2023. It connects the existing trail network in Central Otago and Clutha and continues as a cycle trail towards the east coast. The planning details are distributed differently: the two-to-four-day duration applies to the 135-kilometre trail; the extension is described by its length, endpoints and connection to the network. Check the trail details before your trip. The extension is 73 kilometres shorter than the 135-kilometre trail.

Every spring in the Clutha District, Lawrence hosts a daffodil show on the grounds of Weatherston’s Brewery. The district also offers farm tours and hands-on encounters with animals as part of agritourism. These include an annual spring event as well as other agricultural experiences. As individual operators and schedules can change, check the specific offerings before planning.

Discover more destinations: Balclutha, Kaitangata, Milton, Tarara, Larnachs Castle, Chaslands, Owaka, Tapanui

For the wider travel overview: Clutha District.