When the leaves turn, Clyde oozes with character. Plan your great weekend away in this small Central Otago village.

 

After reading Ryan & Marco’s new found love for their crisp and beautiful lifestyle in Earnscleugh, are you wanting to experience the best Clyde has to offer?

A weekend away in Clyde can be as relaxing or action-oriented as you would like. Firstly, it’s important to find your warm and comfortable local accommodation to base your stay from. There are many options such as rustic luxe at The Lord Clyde or Monte Christo Winery to local bed & breakfasts/AirBnb’s or why not commute for day trips from nearby Cromwell or Alexandra.

Expect to eat exquisitely with our top dining picks for lunch and dinner. Their food, wine, beer and hospitality truly endorse every flavour of the area’s surroundings.

Whether you are on tour with a group of girlfriends, a couples retreat or with the family for school holidays, there is lots to do in winter in Clyde. It wouldn’t be a trip without trying your hand at curling at the Alexandra or Naseby rinks. A sport that is deeply traditional to the Central Otago locals. A Pinot Noir beside the fire to warm up afterwards tastes so much better after a few hours on the ice. For the historians, The Clyde Dam is worth a tour. It’s New Zealand’s largest concrete gravity dam, constructed on the Clutha River in Central Otago between 1977 and 1989. It stands 100 meters high, generates up to 432 megawatts of electricity and created Lake Dunstan by flooding parts of the Cromwell Gorge.

 

Top 5 Places to Explore

1. Lunch at The Packing Shed

Set amongst the orchards just outside Alexandra, in Earnscleugh, The Packing Shed is Ryan & Marco from Earnscleugh Castle’s favourite lunch spot – defined by seasonality, craftsmanship and a deep respect for place.

Family-owned and quietly refined, it offers an escape for those who seek out exceptional food in a relaxed, adult-focused setting. The menu is led by what is growing, ready and at its peak – often sourced directly from the surrounding orchards and region. With a European sensibility and a light, confident touch, each dish is thoughtfully composed to highlight natural flavour, balance and texture. It’s a style of cooking that favours integrity over excess, allowing ingredients to speak clearly and elegantly.

This is dining to be savoured, whatever the season. Outdoors, long lunches unfold beneath the trees, while indoors, a warm, cosy and refined space invites guests to settle in and watch the chefs at work, bringing each dish to life with quiet precision.

The experience flows at an unhurried pace, complemented by a carefully curated Central Otago wine list offering depth, character and a strong sense of locality. Much like a stay at Earnscleugh Castle, The Packing Shed attracts those who value authenticity, privacy and the luxury of time well spent. thepackingshednz.com

 

2. Dinner at Olivers

The pretty, little town of Clyde has been welcoming travellers for almost two centuries and its historic precinct is one of New Zealand’s most charming. At its heart are the impressive stone buildings that make up the Olivers Collection. These historic buildings began life in the 1860s with the Victoria Store, built by enterprising merchant Benjamin Naylor, who sold provisions to those who sought their fortune during the Otago goldrush.

This iconic landmark has become home to award-winning Olivers Restaurant & Bar. The historic walls are the perfect backdrop for a delightful evening of fine food and wonderful wines from the local region. Heart-warming in winter by the fire, fresh and delicious in the summer when you can dine outside under the stars. Located on the banks of the mighty Clutha (Mata-Au) River, using crisp, cold Central Otago water, the Victoria Store Brewery follows in the time-worn tradition of offering refreshment to locals and weary travellers alike. Enjoy a craft beer or for those unsure, sample a selection with a tasting flight.

The Merchant of Clyde Café & Deli is also a must for locals and visitors to the town, with a bistro-style blackboard menu and a range of fresh daily-baked goods.

Boutique accommodation in the form of Olivers Lodge & Stables and The Lord Clyde offer a distinctly Central Otago hospitality experience. Olivers Lodge & Stables has fine stable rooms featuring schist stone walls, while the lodge enjoys elegant interiors and a subtle mix of old-world charm. Across the road, The Lord Clyde is defined by light and gracious ensuited rooms within its historic stone façade.

Housing accommodation, eateries and even a brewery, the Olivers Collection is a destination encompassing the heart and soul of Central Otago. olivers.co.nz

 

3. Try out Curling

Curling is a quintessential Central Otago winter sport that has been played since the 1860’s when Scottish miners, merchants and farmers brought curling to the frozen dams and ponds of the gold fields. Alongside the traditional game, visitors can now play the ancient sport in a modern state of the art setting. Alexandra’s indoor curling rink, opened in 2021, is just the second dedicated indoor curling rink in New Zealand. The Alexandra Ice Rink is situated on the outskirts of Alexandra on State Highway 8, less than 1km’s pedal from the Rail Trail. iceinline.co.nz

 

 

4. Explore the Clyde Dam

Most of us know the Clyde Dam as that monolithic backdrop to the Lake Dunstan Trail, but very few people ever get to see what’s happening inside its mammoth concrete walls. Built between 1977 and 1989, the dam was born out of massive controversy and even bigger ambition. It transformed the landscape, flooded orchards to create Lake Dunstan, and became New Zealand’s largest concrete gravity dam. Today, it’s not just a relic of engineering; it is a living, breathing powerhouse that provides some of the country’s peak electricity.

Stepping inside the dam with Clyde Dam Tours is a must for the curious. Starting at the top for a dizzying bird’s-eye view, you then head into the control room, where you can watch live dashboards flicker as the team trades electricity in real-time. A high-stakes game of balancing Mother Nature’s whims against the country’s hunger for power. The real wow moment, however, comes deep in the dam’s gallery.

Because the dam sits on the Dunstan Fault, it features a world-first slip-joint, a massive floating plug designed to let the dam move during an earthquake without breaking. Standing in the cathedral-like space, you realise just how much science is keeping the water at bay. You’ll even descend into the powerhouse to see the four massive turbines in action. It’s an authentic, gritty and deeply fascinating look at the energy that keeps your lights on, delivered by locals who know every bolt and bypass. clydedamtours.co.nz

 

5. Monte Christo for Lunch

Whether you’re peeling yourself off a bike saddle or rolling up in a car, Monte Christo Winery is a historic estate blending Central Otago’s rugged past with a seriously refined glass of red.

Just a stone’s throw from Clyde, it feels like a hidden slice of luxury dropped right into the Alexandra Basin. And if you are tackling the Central Otago Rail Trail, the cellar door is a mere 400-metre detour and the kind of place where the history is as rich as the Pinot Noir.

The real magic here happens when you go behind the scenes. You can book an educational tour to see the journey from vine to bottle in their purpose-built winery, or if looking for that perfect special occasion location, private tastings in their unique underground cellar are the ultimate intimate experience.

When the hunger hits, Fritzy, their onsite food trailer, serves a seasonal menu of relaxed, shareable dishes designed to pair with their wines. You can grab a spot by the outdoor fire or settle in for a long, lazy afternoon with friends.

For those wanting to relax longer than an afternoon permits, their luxury guest cottages offer the perfect retreat. Complete with wood-burning fireplaces, they provide the perfect excuse to turn a quick tasting into a full-blown winter getaway. montechristowinery.co.nz