South Island >> Photo gallery of Bay of Otago

Photo gallery of Otago

Otago is the New Zealand's second largest region. Beginning in the west, its geography consists of high alpine mountains. The highest peak in Otago is Mount Aspiring/Tititea, which is on the Main Divide, in the Mount Aspiring National Park. From the high mountains the rivers discharge into large glacial lakes. Lakes Wakatipu, Wanaka and Hawea form the sources of the Clutha, the largest river in New Zealand.
Towns like Wanaka and Queenstown pulsate and especially the latter is a popular center of adventure activities. Not far from Queenstown was the bungee jumping invented, you can even jump from the historically first bungee bridge - Kawarau Brigde. And on Kawarau river you can try another New Zealand's invention - awesome jet boat rides in canyons.
Travelling east from the mountains, the Central Otago drylands predominate, with typical tussock grasslands. The main Central Otago towns, such as Alexandra and Cromwell, are found in the intermontane basins between the block mountains and they are popular vineyard centres also. The land outside is rough, vast and romantic. Not very familiar Bendigo area with gold mining heritage worth visiting definitely.
Otago coast in the east is wild and at least to places has to be visited by every visitor travelling this way. Mysterious Moeraki Boulders - big spheres of stone, and Nugget Point - one of the most iconic landforms on the Otago coast, with lighthouse at its tip, surrounded by rocky islets (The Nuggets). The Otago coast is home to many seabirds, including penguins, gannets and spoonbills, and the NUgget Point also to a large breeding colony of fur seals.