When you google what to do in Otematata, you find everything to do with the lake and nothing to do with the town because there is nothing in the town. There’s a small everything store and beside it a place to get tiptop ice cream (unfortunately not even New Zealand owned any more). There is a golf course and playing fields and a pub, but all the activity centres around the lake below the dam. The lake is wonderful, but if I’d known I think I would’ve avoided the 12 km diversion and carried on to Kurow. As it was, I had to cycle the 6km back up to the top of the dam. At least the last 15 minutes of climbing warmed me up. It was the first time I had worn my sealskin gloves and down gilet to start the morning.
Looking towards Benmore Dam
Now the landscape becomes even more about introduced species of flora and fauna. I saw a ferret run in front of me and a dead wallaby by the side of the road. I stopped for tea by the lakeside, which was choked with willows.
I took more time again to take breaks and enjoy my surroundings on the trail rather than rocking up early to the campsite. A 15 minute walk up Deep Stream track takes you to a picnic bench. It was a perfect spot for a skinny-dip and I swam from one side to the other bank and back. It is deep. Once again I was trying to not think about the eels that were probably under me. But I saw nothing but fantails above me and a cormorant that left the rock I swam to.
Deep Stream
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I stopped for lunch in the ruined village of Wharekuri. The lady in the Kurow Museum said that the village had been abandoned after fire. It was a sad place to be but that was because there was so many broken beer bottles there.
Kurow’s campground is very cute and ideal for kids. I would’ve loved it as a nine-year-old playing in the safe river and amongst the trees. It was only $65 for a cabin.
We had a basic, but good pub meal and paid a bargain $9.50 for a pint and a half of Speights.
Left at 8:35 and arrived in town at 2:55. Time in saddle: three hours 10 minutes.