Otago: Home of the Highlanders Quiz

Answer: Gold

Otago became the first true city in New Zealand in the 19th century due to thousands of people hoping to strike it rich on the Otago gold fields. There are still sites dotted all around Otago that date back to the historical gold rush times.

Answer: Whare Flat

The only place they can be naturally seen in Otago is under an overhanging bank on the side of the road in Whare Flat. This is little known fact about Otago!

Answer: Mt Cargill

Mt Cargill is named after William Cargill, the founder of the Dunedin Settlement. Mt Cargill is 676 meters, higher than Flagstaff by just ten metres. Saddle Hill was one of two features in the Dunedin area named by Captain James Cook in 1792.

Answer: True

Mosgiel is a medium sized town in its own right. It is by far the largest in the Taieri District, but is also considered a suburb of Dunedin.

Answer: Cromwell

This was one of the projects in former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon's "Think Big" scheme (1975-1984). The immense Clyde Dam flooded the Cromwell Gorge, causing the whole town to be relocated to the top of the gorge. The hydro lake wasn't filled until after Muldoon's death, due to unstable hillsides which took many years to fix.

Answer: Dalmeny St

Dalmeny Street is located beside Baldwin Street in the suburb of North East Valley. The North East Valley has many steep streets.

Answer: The first Church of Scotland

Due to persecution in Scotland, two ships from Scotland left with the first settlers of Dunedin to form the first Church of Scotland. Dunedin has a strong Scottish heritage. Even the provincial rugby team is known as The Highlanders.

Answer: Coronet Peak

Coronet Peak not far from Queenstown, and it is quite low for a ski field. Due to lack of snow in the 1980s, Coronet Peak started making snow to extend its season.

Answer: Lake Dunstan

The Clyde Dam is one of two hydro lakes on the Clutha River. The Smaller Roxburgh Dam is further downstream, near the town of the same name.

Answer: Mid-Winter Plunge

On the shortest day of the year, a number of people brave the freezing cold water. It is a well-known Dunedin tradition which has become more and more popular over the years. A variety of prizes are given for a few different events. One of them is the best costume. It never ceases to amaze me how many chickens seem to take part!

Answer: ENZA (apples)

A large amount of apples are harvested in central Otago. They usually end up at ENZA and are exported, finding their way into supermarkets.

Answer: Jet boat rides

The Shotover Jet is one of Queenstown's most well-known thrill seeking attractions. The boat speeds through narrow canyons and spins in impossibly small gaps--a real adrenaline rush.

Answer: Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge

In 1988, A.J. Hackett opened the first bungee jump location on the historic Kawarau Gorge Bridge. It is 43 metres above the river. There is the option of being dunked if one desires. Since 1988, numerous other bungee jump locations have been set up around the Queenstown area, and some in other locations in New Zealand.

Answer: Giant Fruit

When Cromwell was shifted in the late 1980s to its new location, a huge fiberglass pear, apple, apricot and peach were built within view of the main road to Queenstown and Wanaka. A sign next to these big fruits claims, "Cromwell the Centre of Attraction".

Answer: Benmore Dam

The Bennmore Dam is an earthen dam (i.e., not made out of concrete), and forms the largest man-made lake in New Zealand. It covers an area of approximately 75 square kilometers. The Waitaki has three dams along its 110km length. Pukaki Dam is at the southern end of Lake Pukaki, north of the Waitaki River.

Answer: It has a tide

Lake Wakatipu has a tide which rises by ten centimeters roughly every 25 minutes. Maori legend says it is the heartbeat of Matau, a giant that sleeps at the bottom of the lake.

Answer: Nugget Point

Nugget Point is a rugged area of the Otago Coast. The Nuggets are rocky islets, and are home to sea birds and seals. There is also a small colony of the rare Yellow Eyed penguin.

Answer: It is the only mainland colony in the world

Taiaroa Head is the only place on earth where the Northern Royal Albatross live near people. Most live on a group of small uninhabited islands called The Sisters. Although there is a military base on Taiaroa Head, it is now unused and is a historic tourist attraction.

Answer: Crown Range Road

There are two main routes from Queenstown to Wanaka. The Crown Range route is shorter, but is sometimes closed due to snow at certain times of the year. This makes motorists take the longer road around the Crown Range rather than over it.

Answer: Ranfurly

Ranfurly had a building boom in the 1930s, and has a large number of art deco buildings dating from that time. A yearly festival in February commemorates Ranfurly's art deco heritage.