If you’re looking for various fun things to do in Cromwell (Otago), this is the post for you.
While not known as a major tourist town there are some attractions in Cromwell that make a visit well worth it.
Without mucking around, let’s get straight into things.
16 FUN THINGS TO DO IN CROMWELL
1. FAQ’s about Cromwell
2. Ride/Run the Lake Dunstan Trail
3. Visit the Bannockburn Wineries
4. Visit the Cromwell Heritage Precinct
5. Take a cheesey tourist photo
6. Buy local produce
7. Pick your own produce
8. Hike up Mount Horn
9. Head up Mount Difficulty
10. Walk through the Bannockburn Sluicings
11. Head to the Bruce Jackson Lookout
12. Grab coffee at the Garden Cafe
13. Visit the Interactive Highlands Motorsports Museum
14. Go Go Karting at Highlands
15. Have a go at Mini Putt
16. Eat a pie from Sanga’s
17. Attend one of the Festivals
18. Accommodation in Cromwell
1. FAQ’S ABOUT CROMWELL
Is Cromwell worth visiting?
This is tough. I want to say yes, but it depends on how much time you have as there’s so many fun things to do in Queenstown and Wanaka.
In saying that, if you’re a petrol head you’ve got to visit/experience the Highlands race track. Wine lover? The wineries are awesome. As is the Lake Dunstan Trail for the bikers and runners out there.
If you’re a big fan of one or two of the above activities, Cromwell is definitely worth visiting as you can easily flesh out a couple of days to make an awesome Cromwell itinerary.
How far is Cromwell from Queenstown?
It’s right around 60km between the two destinations (by road). If you’re planning to drive, schedule about an hour of driving time as the traffic through the Kawarau Gorge can be quite slow.
There’s a few different ways to get to Cromwell from Queenstown beyond driving however.
What is Cromwell famous for?
Fruit, fruit, fruit. You’ll see this theme as you continue reading. There’s more than one trick to this pony town though!
What are the best things to do in Cromwell?
As I mentioned above, these are the best things to do in Cromwell:
- Experience the Highland Motorsports Park
- Ride along the Lake Dunstan Trail
- Hop around the wineries
If you base your list of things to do in Cromwell around these activities you’ll have a great time.
2. RIDE/RUN THE LAKE DUNSTAN TRAIL
Opening in May 2021, the Lake Dunstan Trail is one of the newest trails in the country.
The total length of the trail is 55km stretching from Pisa, north of Cromwell, to Clyde following the Clutha River.
The majority of people are going to be cycling the route, on e-bikes, but it’s possible to run the trail.
Most people complete the trail one way from Cromwell to Clyde (you don’t have to do the full 55km). Haven’t got your own bike? Rent one from shebikeshebikes.co.nz.
If you’re not keen on doing an out and back ride, you can get a shuttle organised with SheBikesHeBikes or from Queenstown with TrailJourneys.co.nz.
The trail is super well maintained, rated as a grade 1-2 in terms of difficulty. In the summer it’ll get hot, bring plenty of water. Or hydrate at all the wineries 😉
3. VISIT THE BANNOCKBURN & CROMWELL WINERIES
If you’re a fan of wine, then visit some of the Cromwell and Bannockburn wineries to taste some of the great wines Central Otago has to offer straight from the source.
Central Otago is known for producing some great wines, the warm and dry summers helping the vineyards work their magic. It’s also important to note Cromwell and Bannockburn, despite being so close, are two different wine sub-regions.
Many of the wineries have a cellar door, but the opening times/days can vary a lot. Look up the latest visiting hours on the official sites before you arrive.
A few of the top options are:
- Mt Difficulty
- Carrick
- Wooing Tree (a short walk from the fruit sculpture)
- Felton Road
- Desert Heart
I appreciate that wines using the Mt Difficulty label need to meet two criteria:
- The grapes must be from vineyards in Bannockburn, south of the Kawarau River.
- The Mt Difficulty viticulture team needs to manage the vineyards.
That second point seems very monopolistic, but we’ll let them have it for now.
4. VISIT THE CROMWELL HERITAGE PRECINCT
Cromwell was one of the many places in the Otago region that was bustling during the gold rush, much like Arrowtown.
The Heritage Precinct has done a great job at preserving some of the historic buildings which today house cafes, pubs, galleries, craft stores and more.
There’s a bit of a recent story as to how the precinct came to be. In 1990 the Clyde Dam flooded Cromwell which saw the main street, and many of the historic buildings go underwater. Thankfully, many were saved or rebuilt in a higher spot.
If you’re going to eat and relax for a couple of hours, this is a great spot to wander around (there’s no entry fee).
5. TAKE A CHEESEY TOURIST PHOTO
Cromwell is the fruit bowl of the country, and when you drive into the heart of Cromwell you’ll see the prominent fruit sculpture.
The sculpture, built-in 1990 and designed by Otto Muller, emphasizes the importance of fruit to the region.
Why not get a token tourist photo with the sculpture?
6. BUY LOCAL PRODUCE
So now that we’re talking about fruit, you should probably pop into one of the produce shops along SH6 and buy some freshly picked fruit.
The fruit options vary throughout the year (obviously) but cherries and apricots are two of the top options for mine.
The most famous stall will be Mrs Jones. I’m not sure why exactly?
But they’ve got a large variety, including stuff outside of the fruit world. You can get some good deals from time to time as well.
7. PICK YOUR OWN FRUIT
Got some extra time on your hand?
Picking your own fruit can be a fun bonding activity. Or maybe a cause for arguments 😉
Sure, there’s plenty of people who do fruit picking throughout the country and hate it, but it’s fun for a couple of hours.
At worst you’ll appreciate the fruit you buy in the supermarket in the future 🙂
8. HIKE UP MOUNT HORN
The hike up Mount Horn takes you across parts of Northburn Station. You’ll be following 4WD tracks the majority of the time, but the views you get of the Clutha River, Cromwell, and the landscapes are pretty spectacular.
I go into more details (including distance/elevation/closing times) on the full Mount Horn trip report, but this is definitely a off the beaten path hike.
And as it’s a working station, you might well feel like you’re herding sheep as they run up the hill ahead of you trying to find a path to safety.
9. HEAD UP MOUNT DIFFICULTY
Mount Difficulty has an intimidating name, but it’s not the hardest hike in the region (1285 metre summit) by any means but it’s long. There are three possible routes based on DOC tracks. There’s a 30km, 33km, and 38km option.
I went with the option starting near the Bannockburn Sluicings (mentioned below) and it was a long day as there’s a decent amount of elevation. I’d suggest you do this hike in the summer when you’ve got lots of daylight.
The majority of the time you’ll be on 4WD tracks, but there are some technical spots. Also, navigation wasn’t super easy, make sure you have a map loaded on your phone (and bring a power bank).
10. WALK THROUGH THE BANNOCKBURN SLUICINGS
If Mount Difficulty and Mount Horn seem like a bit too much effort, the 3.5km loop walk through the Bannockburn Sluicings might be what you’re looking for.
For those who (like me) who aren’t familiar, the word sluice means: an artificial passage for water (as in a millstream) fitted with a valve or gate for stopping or regulating flow.
This makes sense as the Bannockburn Sluicings came about in the gold rush era in the Cromwell region. Essentially, the miners went and did some massive water blasting which transformed the landscape and exposed gold in the process.
The rock tailings and caves are what you’ll recognise the most when you’re walking in the area.
It’s not all sunshine and lollipops though, this barren landscape was made by humans…we’ve been toying around with the environment for centuries, with the gold rush happening 150 years.
11. STOP AT THE BRUCE JACKSON VIEWPOINT
This is a great little viewpoint where you can see the majority of Cromwell on the other side of the Clutha River.
It’s a quick, but pictersque stop and if you’re driving through you can have a little stretch of the legs. There’s a 10-30 minute walk up a hill leaving from here too.
There’s an information board with information about the area, so it’s not just a photo stop :p
12. GRAB A COFFEE AT THE NICHOL’S GARDEN CAFE
When a friend suggested coffee and breakfast at Nichol’s Garden Centre I was confused.
Why was there a cafe at a garden/pet centre? And what makes him think it’s any good?
Well I’m glad I went with the suggestion as this place is great, albeit busy.
I didn’t venture into the garden/pet centre areas, but the cafe serves good drinks and there’s plenty of food for people, even for a silly vegan like myself.
On a beautiful day, sit outside and soak in the sun shining on the Pisa Ranges. This was a pretty nifty little spot. And yes, you’ll be able to get a good sampling of local fruit, wine, and beers while you’re here.
If you’re a fan of this spot, there’s also the same concept in Invercargill and Dunedin.
12. WALK AROUND THE ROSEY ANDERSON PARK
Measuring in at 36 acres, this is a beautiful spot of greenery in the middle of Cromwell that features some symmetry.
There’s dozens of different types of roses in Anderson Park, with details about each one on an information card.
With a playground and some green space, this is a good spot to burn some energy/enjoy a picnic.
There’s also basketball/netball courts, tennis courts, and a swimming/fitness centre.
It’s not one of the OMG must-see things to do in Cromwell, but it’s awesome that they’ve left so much public space in the middle of the town.
13. VISIT THE INTERACTIVE HIGHLANDS MOTORSPORTS MUSEUM
If you have any semblance of a car fanatic bone in your body, you must visit this museum. The motto is ‘Experience the exceptional’, and that’s not just a motto. The museum is so well done!
There are some insane cars here, such as a Lambo Diablo, Aston Martin Vulcan, and a DeLorean (they also have one in the Southward Car Museum on the Kapiti Coast).
In addition to that, there are lots of interactive things you can do, enjoy a loo with a view, cafe, go-karts, and great views of the track.
Make sure to check BookMe.co.nz before you visit and you might be able to pick up a discounted ticket for the museum.
14. GO GO KARTING AT HIGHLANDS
While you can’t drive the go-karts on the actual track, you’re right next to the track as you zip around this 650 metre course in go-karts.
Go-karting is always done best with some friends, especially on this course that gives you opportunities to pass. And then you can banter after the event with friends as all the lap timings are recorded.
And yes, you can pick up some good deals on go-karting at Highlands on BookMe.co.nz.
15. HAVE A GO AT MINI GOLF
The Cromwell Mini Golf isn’t the most amazing mini golf course you’ll see, but it’s definitely fun. Add in some views of the distant mountains and nearby vineyards and you can’t go wrong on the course.
Some of the holes appear easy, but the sneaky sloping surfaces will catch the lazy thinker off guard.
This is a great way to spend time while relaxing in between other adventures.
16. EAT A PIE FROM SANGA’S
If you’re looking for something quick and easy to eat in Cromwell, then pop by the Sanga’s Pies shop. Launched in 2021, they’re a gourmet pie company that have gained a following with locals working nearby getting their regular lunchtime fix, and now travellers in Cromwell latching onto the deliciousness.
They’ve got a new flavour from time to time, so there’s always something new. These pies a packed full of flavour…and yes, that includes the vegan pie that I had!
If the queue is long, they’re super quick with service so you won’t be waiting too long.
17. ATTEND ONE OF THE FESITVALS IN CROMWELL
What I love about Central Otago is there are seemingly events on every weekend…that might be an exagerration, but it feels like that. And they’re so varied. Some of the more popular ones in Cromwell are:
- Cromwell Classic Car & Hot Rod Festival
- Cromwell Wine & Food Festival
- Cherry Festival & National Cherry Spitting Competition
Check out this events page for more. That’s how I found out about the Extravaganza Fair stopping by which you can see in the photo above.
18. ACCOMMODATION IN CROMWELL
There’s all types of accommodation available in Cromwell with over 150 places available on Airbnb, and 50+ options on Booking.com.
The majority of accommodation in Cromwell will cost you between $100-$200 per night. But then there are options like the Stone Temple which is $500+ a night, but certainly unique!
Cromwell is also well known as a place where campervans can get around ok compared to the likes of Queenstown.
I hope some of these things to do in Cromwell tickle your taste buds. Let me know if I can help you with anything in the comments below, or email jub@churnewzealand.com .
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Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.