Loganburn Reservoir is one of several man-made reservoirs in the Otago highlands. It was developed in the 1980s to support irrigation for 60 farms and 9,300 hectares in the Maniototo. Before this, these regions looked almost as arid as tussock grass highlands. The damming of the Logan Burn largely displaced the Great Moss Swamp, which was around 500 hectares. The Logan Burn also has a small power generator that operates when the irrigation water is released.
There is still a remnant of this swamp in the southwest corner of the reservoir. However, it is a bit of a hike to get there. A better bet is to wander around the reservoir to the dam and try your luck catching brown trout.
Around the reservoir, the Old Dunstan Road becomes less well-maintained and more prone to mud in wet conditions. If it is wet, don’t underestimate how bad the mud can be!
