Discover Naseby, a Winter Wonderland
Winter in Central Otago is A World of Difference, with cold, crisp clear days and snow-capped mountains dotting the horizon, stunning hoar frosts where the land and everything on it is crystalised into a fantastical winter wonderland, and a host of winter activities to warm the cockles of your heart.
Sitting among shady trees at the head of the sun-bleached Maniototo Plain (10 minutes off SH85), winter is an especially busy time at the historic 
goldmining town of Naseby. Often referred to as the 'Jewel of the Maniototo', Naseby is the most charming of Otago's gold rush settlements with a wealth of surviving Victorian architecture. Gold was discovered here in the 1860s and as many as 5,000 diggers once toiled on its gold fields. Naseby's present day, permanent population is 100, but this swells to upwards of 3000 people during the holiday season, as visitors come to enjoy this corner of the Maniototo.
You'll find plenty of recreational activities to keep you toasty warm during the winter months. From indoor and outdoor curling to ice skating, ice hockey and the Southern Hemisphere's only natural luge track, Naseby without a doubt is the ‘Ice Capital’ of New Zealand.
Try your hand at the ancient Scottish ice-sport of curling. Curling was introduced to Central Otago by Scottish gold miners in the1800s, probably to pass the time when frozen winters made working impossible! Nowadays, curling can be done indoors all year round at the Maniototo Curling International Rink, the Southern Hemisphere’s first international and Olympic standard indoor curling rink.
Or why not sample the traditions of crampit curling on the adjacent outdoor artificial rink? Opened in 1991 on the site Brown's Pond, this outdoor ice 
skating rink is popular with families for a day on the ice and is open over the winter months. The rink also hosts a full programme of ice hockey and curling competitions during the season.
When it's cold enough, and the natural ice forms deep enough, a Bonspiel is called. Curlers from around the country will make their way to the Idaburn Dam, Oturehua in Central Otago to take part in this national curling tournament on natural ice – it truly is a sight to behold!
Equally as thrilling is New Zealand's coolest ride – the natural Naseby Luge track. Set in the Black Forest above the indoor curling rink and ice rink, it's the only snow and ice luge track in the Southern Hemisphere. Open only over the winter months, the Naseby Luge track allows racing sleds to reach speeds of about 70kph, but the range of rides gives everyone the chance to experience the thrill of the ice at their own pace and level of comfort.
And if you're visiting Naseby this August, catch 
some of the action of the inaugural Winter Games NZ being held in Queenstown, Lake Wanaka, Naseby and Dunedin from 21-30 August 2009. Naseby is hosting the Games’ curling programme and Canada, USA, Japan, China, Korea, Australia and New Zealand will each have two teams competing at the Maniototo Curling International Rink. The week-long competition will run from 23-29 August with the finals watched by several hundred spectators from a custom-built grandstand inside the curling rink.
The natural luge has also been added to the Winter Games NZ programme as a demonstration sport – it's as exciting for spectators as it is for participants, so be sure to watch the action! The natural luge event at Naseby will be held on Sunday 23 August with a training day on Saturday 22 August.
If relaxing is more your forte, then stay a while and relax in luxury at some of the region's boutique accommodation. Tuck up beside a roaring fire, savour Central Otago’s fine wines and gourmet food, and let the rejuvenation process begin!
It's definitely A World of Difference in Central Otago!
Useful Information
Editorial and images supplied courtesy of Central Otago, A World of Difference