Dunedin Otago, New Zealand, Moeraki, Dunedin, Lake Wakatipu, Clyde, Lake Wanaka,

Named for Mount Aspiring, one of New Zealand's highest peaks, Mount Aspiring National Park is a dreamland of mountains, glaciers, river valleys and alpine lakes.

In the past, Maori trekked through the region on their way to the pounamu fields of the west coast; Europeans visited to map, name and explore geographical features of the area; settlers attempted to farm and mine some of the valleys - the relics have blended into the stunning scenery.

For wilderness lovers, the park offers an extensive choice of valley journeys - including the Routeburn Track. In summer, it's possible to walk from one valley to another over spectacular mountain passes.

In straddling the 'great divide' of the Southern Alps, the Mount Aspiring National Park presents a breathtaking range of landscapes.

At its heart is a massive area of wilderness - glaciers, snowfields, mountains, valleys and wildlife habitats that require days of hiking to reach. To the west of the divide, where rainfall is plentiful, the beech forest comes with a sound track of birdsong and waterfalls. Deep in the glacier-gouged valleys of the east, grassy river flats are hemmed by imposing mountains. And above the tree line, subalpine gardens of tussock, lichens and dainty flowering herbs survive against all odds.

Rock forms are an unforgettable feature of the park. From the curiously coloured slopes of the Red Hills to the brittle grey schist of the alps, ice ages and huge tectonic upheavals have created beauty with a hard edge.

The whitestone townscape of Oamaru contains some of the best-preserved heritage buildings in New Zealand. In the late 19th century, the town prospered through goldmining, quarrying and timber milling. Some of the wealth was spent on elegant stone buildings made from local limestone.

The Harbour-Tyne Street area is particularly special – and the shopping is great too. Oamaru Harbour is home to a colony of little blue penguins. You can also see yellow-eyed penguins from a special hide. Penguin viewing is best just before sunset. The public gardens in Oamaru are widely acclaimed. They include a Victorian summerhouse and an oriental garden.

At Moeraki, 40 kilometres south of Oamaru, huge spherical boulders are scattered along the beach. Others can be seen emerging from the sandstone cliffs. Each boulder weighs several tonnes and is up to two metres high.

According to Maori legend, the boulders are gourds washed ashore from the great voyaging canoe Araiteuru when it was wrecked upon landfall in New Zealand hundreds of years ago.

Scientists explain the boulders as calcite concretions formed about 65 million years ago. Crystallization of calcium and carbonates around charged particles gradually formed the boulders in a pearl-like process that took as long as four million years. The soft mudstone containing the boulders was raised from the seabed around 15 million years ago; waves, wind and rain are excavating them one by one.

The viewing platform, just a few minutes walk through regenerating native forest, offers an excellent view of the boulders. If you're lucky, you might also see Hector's dolphins playing in the waves.

Excavated by massive glaciers more than 10,000 years ago, Lakes Wanaka and Hawea lie side by side. At a sliver of land known as The Neck, which is just 1000 metres wide, the glaciers were once joined.

Ringed by pebbly beaches and with magnificent views to the surrounding peaks, Lake Hawea offers a variety of adventures. The lake is a popular resort, and is well used in the summer for fishing, boating and swimming. The nearby mountains and fast-flowing rivers allow for adventure tourism year-round, with jetboating and skiing facilities located nearby.

From Lake Hawea Township you can find an excellent walk by following Timaru River Road to Timaru Creek, a picnic and camping area. The trail that begins here leads through a valley of beech forest until it flattens onto a braided river bed.

In summer you are never far from a fruit stall for juicy cherries, peaches, apples apricots or nectarines.

Cromwell was established by gold miners, but now its treasure is stone fruit. Explore nearby ghost towns and soak up the tranquil lakeside scenery.

Located on the shores of Lake Dunstan, Cromwell has the appearance of a modern town, but its history stretches back to the gold rush days of the 1800s. Cromwell underwent a major transformation in the 1980s, when parts of the town were flooded (on purpose) during the construction of the Clyde Dam power station. The best of the town’s historic buildings were relocated to create ‘Old Cromwell Town’ – a feature attraction for visitors. Today, Cromwell’s major industry is fruit growing – if you’re here over summer, roadside fruit stalls are a delicious temptation. Old gold mining sites include Bannockburn and Bendigo, where you’ll find ruins of miners’ cottages.

Cromwell is strategically located for easy day trips to Queenstown, Alexandra, Arrowtown, Wanaka and Roxburgh.

Lake Wanaka is a place to take a deep breath and relax. Protected from the outside world by the grandeur of the mountains, you’re enclosed in a hidden paradise.

Crystal clear lake waters lap the shores of Wanaka town and the feet of the Southern Alps, which are home to winter ski fields and the dramatically alpine Mount Aspiring National Park.

Lake Wanaka is New Zealand's fourth largest; its clean, blue waters are an inland sea for sailors and jetboaters to explore. Walking tracks and bridle trails wander the flats and foothills. In all seasons, outdoor adventures beckon.

The region’s fortunes have changed over the years. The discovery of gold in the 1870s inspired a rush of interest in the area. As the gold faded away, high country farming became the main source of employment. Today, tourism is the new gold – an endeavour that requires the environment to stay picture perfect.

One of the most picturesque settlements in New Zealand, Arrowtown sits alongside the Arrow River – once the scene of a frantic gold rush. The town retains its historic character – there are more than 60 restored buildings from the 19th century.

The gold days are long over (although you can still pan for gold in the river with some success), so Arrowtown's focus is on hosting visitors. Explore the Chinese miners’ settlement, visit the Lake District Museum, catch a few holes at the challenging local golf course or take a 4WD journey to Macetown, a ghost town accessible only by wagon track. Arrowtown has a range of cafes, restaurants and appealing shops.

The rustic town of Glenorchy, at the western end of Lake Wakatipu, is set against a background of native beech forest and towering snow-capped mountains. It is known as the gateway to the Routeburn, Caples, Greenstone, Rees and Dart Valley walking tracks.

It’s also the place to organise jet boating and kayaking on the Dart River. Call into the Department of Conservation Visitor Centre if you plan to walk any of the tracks. Horse trekking in the area comes highly recommended. The town has an assortment of lodges, one hotel and a few cafés. It’s a good idea to buy hiking supplies in nearby Queenstown.

Glenorchy lies near the borders of Mount Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park. The local scenery received worldwide attention when it was used as one of the settings in the first of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films. Vertical Limit was also filmed in the area.

This historic town is located at the foot of a river gorge and is surrounded by rounded hills of schist punctuated with large craggy standing rocks. Schist is gold bearing rock and substantial strikes in the rivers near Clyde sparked a gold rush in the late 1800s.

It's easy to see why some of the first Europeans to enter the region chose this site as a place to settle. The micro-climate offers hot, dry summers, with mild springs and autumns that are full of nature's colours. Today, Clyde is a great place to enjoy the cafe lifestyle in a scenic setting that's rich in history.

Clyde was the dominant settlement of the Central Otago region until nearby Alexandra built a bridge over the Clutha River and seized power. Thankfully this drew the developers' attentions away from Clyde, which is why many turn-of-the-century buildings remain today. These include several stone cottages, a stone hotel, post office and council buildings. There are three museums in Clyde, making it easy to get a picture of days gone by.

Clyde is at the head of a well known cycling route called the Otago Central Rail Trail, so there are plenty of mountain bikes for hire. A ride to the Clyde Lookout offers spectacular views of the town and beyond.

Nearby is the impressive Clyde Dam, New Zealand's largest concrete gravity dam. Behind the dam, Lake Dunstan is a popular location for all sorts of water sports. You can also take a tour of local orchards, vineyards and farms.

From Alexandra, the walking trails and Pinot Noir vineyards of Central Otago beckon. This town has a golden history, dating back to the 1880s.

Alexandra is an attractive oasis of trees and civilisation within the weathered rock landscape of Central Otago. The town boomed during the late 1800s, when huge gold dredges worked the Clutha River. The most successful dredge was the Dunedin, which extracted an estimated 528kg of gold.

Today Alexandra owes its prosperity to orchardists and wine makers. On foot or on a mountain bike, you can follow gold miner’s trails in the hills