Discover Ranfurly: Art Deco and railway history

Ranfurly is an Art Deco town and one of the highlights along the Otago Central Rail Trail. The town was founded in 1898 with the construction of the Central Otago railway line and developed into the hub of the area. Its history therefore spans the beginnings of the railway line and the Art Deco makeover of the 1930s.

Art Deco heritage and exhibitions

Ranfurly has lovingly restored Art Deco buildings dating from the 1930s. During that decade, the town was redesigned in the Art Deco style, while there was also a great need for new buildings, partly as a result of fire damage. The Ranfurly Hotel is an iconic example of Art Deco architecture in the town.

The Art Deco Museum is located in the Centennial Milk Bar. The Ranfurly Art Deco Gallery evokes the glamour and atmosphere of the Art Deco era through exhibitions designed room by room. The gallery and workshop of Janyne Fletcher in Ranfurly showcases award-winning works that capture the beauty and character of Central Otago. This gives visitors a cultural perspective extending from the town’s architecture to artistic portrayals of the region.

Railway history and visitor information

Ranfurly’s information centre is located in the old railway station. An exhibition there tells the story of the 1943 Hyde train disaster. The Ranfurly Station sites also have information boards with general and historical explanations; their locations may change.

Māniatoto Ranfurly isite is part of New Zealand’s official nationwide Visitor Information Network. It offers comprehensive, independent information and booking services for accommodation, activities and attractions, as well as travel bookings in Central Otago and New Zealand.

Routes in the Central Otago District

In the Central Otago District, the Otago Central Rail Trail offers a longer journey: the route is 152 kilometres long, and most cyclists complete it in three to four days. Ranfurly is one of the highlights along the route. Viaducts, masonry, bridges and several old railway stations have been preserved along the trail, showcasing the heritage of the former railway line. The town’s focus on Art Deco and railway history and the multi-day cycling route thus offer different ways to explore the area. Dry mountain landscapes, river gorges and tunnels also shape the Otago Central Rail Trail.

The Roxburgh Gorge Trail offers a different kind of tour in the Central Otago District. It follows the Clutha Mata-au River past eroded rock walls and old gold-mining sites, combining 21 kilometres of cycling with 13 kilometres by boat. The route is graded 2–3 and is intended as a one-day tour. Its combination of cycling and boating is distinctly different in format from the multi-day cycling trips on the Otago Central Rail Trail.

Discover more destinations: Queensbury, Naseby, Lindis Valley, Patearoa, Kokonga, Coal Creek Flat, Lauder, Omakau.

For the overview of the wider area: Central Otago District.