Of the various minor roads in Central Otago, Moonlight Road has the most romantic names and is also one of the most scenic. The road runs from the east side of Middlemarch and climbs to a high point of 595 metres on Billys Ridge. It then links to Macraes Road, which connects to the small gold mining town of Macraes.
The road is sealed, to begin with, and about five km outside Middlemarch you will see Conical Hill, the remains of a volcano dating back 20 million years. As the name suggests, it is about 80 metres high and a near-perfect cone. On the top is a lone pine tree planted in 1918 to celebrate the armistice in World War I. It has somehow held on despite its exposed position and the generally unsuitable weather for over 100 years. There is enough room to stop on the side of the road near the hill.
From there, the road climbs up the south end of Billys Ridge and changes from sealed to metal. The ridge has steep farms, but there are several large rocky tors. Stop at the top for the best views across the Moonlight Flat between Billys Ridge and Taieri Ridge, with Strath Taieri Plain and Rock and Pillar Range to the rear. Then, head down into Moonlight Flat, where the road becomes Macraes Road and heads to the town.
