The valleys and plains of Central Otago have a dry desert-like appearance and rocky outcrops, with mountain ranges running to the west, north, south, and east. Winters are cold, summers are hot, and it’s mostly dry year round. There are no forests, and the greenery you see is due to modern irrigation schemes.
As you leave Clyde, you will follow the Manuherikia Valley. This is separated from the Ida Valley by the Raggedy Range, separated by South Rough Ridge from the Maniototo Plain. The Maniototo links to the Taieri Plain, to the southeast of the Rock and Pillar Range and the small town of Middlemarch.
These regions, the heart of Central Otago, are incredibly tranquil. Sparsely populated and less travelled, they offer a vast expanse of sky, golden plains, and landscapes that are a photographer's dream. This is a side of New Zealand that is completely different from the typical green farms, lakes, forests, and beaches.
