Rolling hills, grassy paddocks and a succession of tiny, charming little gold-rush towns make this region worth exploring, though most travellers barely pause for breath as they pass through. However it rewards a bit of effort: Naseby and Clyde compete for the title of NZ’s cutest towns; the near mythical ‘Southern Man’ can be seen propping up the bar in backcountry hotels; and there are fantastic opportunities for those on two wheels, whether speeding down old gold-mining trails or taking it easy on the rail trail. If the brown pastoral hills and jagged rock formations look familiar, try imagining hordes of horse-riding warriors galloping around. These hills were the setting for several Rohan scenes in that hobbit film.
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Unless you’ve come to Alexandra especially for September’s NZ Merino Shearing Championships or the Easter Bunny Hunt (both events that draw hundreds to the town), the reason to visit this rather nondescript service hub is for the nearby mountain biking. Some travellers, entranced by well-shorn sheep and rabbit-free slopes, stay for seasonal fruit-picking work.