New Zealand Short Walk: A short walk around the St Bathans Blue Lake

A short walk around the St Bathans Blue Lake

In Central Otago, looping off to the north between Alexandra & Ranfurly, and close to the famed Otago Rail Trail, is a great little walk around the Blue Lake at St Bathans.

It is an easy walk over a well formed track, encircling the historic, man formed blue coloured lake. This lake is a by-product of the gold mining days, when back in the 1870’s the sluicing of the Kildare Hill Gold claim began. This claim became the site of the deepest hydraulic elevating operation in the world, turning a 120 metre hill into a 68 metre hole.

Kildare Hill was so named by the Irishmen who made the original gold discovery. Sluicing whittled the hill down to first become a basin and as it sunk further it became known as the “Glory Hole” celebrating the riches it yielded.

When efforts to mine the area were finally abandoned in the 1930s the Glory Hole filled with water that Right: The walking track around the Blue Lake. Below: The main street at St Bathans. Opposite page: Walking on the St Bathans track around the lake. became a striking turquoise blue due to the high mineral content of the surrounding country, forming the lake as we see it today.

As you walk you are able to observe remnants of the old gold mining equipment, lying off to the side looking like some of the sculptures now fashionable in gardens!

A beautiful and educational walk – we were just sorry our grandchildren were not with us to learn a little of the

goldmining history

Should you be as fortunate as us to do this walk on a beautiful sunny Central Otago day, you will not take much persuading to enjoy a cold beer at the famous Vulcan Hotel before departing.

It is hard to imagine this sleepy little piece of paradise, whose population now struggles to make double figures, once had a main street boasting 40 businesses.