NaseBy.co.nz
Title
Royal Hotel - Naseby
Description
Historic Naseby has remained unchanged for more than half a century. It nestles in a shallow valley in the foothills of the Mt Ida Range surrounded by forest and tree-clad hills, 2000 feet above sea level. The plain is ringed by several impressive mountain ranges and it is a region that can be very hot in summer and invigoratingly cold in winter.
The village is one hours drive inland from coastal Otago, 1.5 hours drive from Otago’s principal city, Dunedin, 55 minutes drive from Alexandra (the regional centre of Central Otago), and about 2 hours drive from Wanaka and Queenstown (with its international airport).
Gold Town Beginnings
In early 1863, William and Richard Parker left the flooded Dunstan diggings in the Cromwell valley further inland in Central Otago. They prospected as they went towards the east coast and found gold in the Coalpit gully and also in a small gully running into the Hogburn creek. The “Parkers Diggings” goldrush was on! Within a month 2000 had arrived and twenty canvas shops lined each side of a muddy main street.
