Ida Valley facts for kids

View over Ida Valley in spring

The Ida Valley is a wide, flat valley located in Central Otago, New Zealand. It sits to the east of the Manuherikia Valley. The valley is about 500 meters (1,640 feet) above sea level and stretches for 40 kilometers (25 miles). Like much of Central Otago, it's a dry area with very cold winters and hot summers. Farmers in the Ida Valley mostly raise sheep, especially merino sheep, and cattle.

The valley gets its name from the Idaburn, a stream that starts at Mount Ida in the Ida Range. The Idaburn flows through the northern part of the valley. It then cuts through Raggedy Ridge and the Poolburn Gorge before joining the Manuherikia River. Another stream, the Pool Burn, drains the southern part of the valley and joins the Idaburn just before the Poolburn Gorge.

The Ida Valley doesn't have many people living in it. The biggest village is Oturehua, located at the northern end. Other small places like "Moa Creek," "Poolburn," "Ida Valley," and "Idaburn" are just groups of a few houses and farms. Poolburn is where the local primary school is found.

You can drive through much of the valley on the Ida Valley Omakau Road. This road starts at Idaburn, near State Highway 85. It goes through Oturehua, then past the Ida Valley and Poolburn areas, and finally reaches Omakau in the Manuherikia Valley, also on State Highway 85.

Exploring the Ida Valley

The Otago Central Rail Trail in the Ida Valley

The Ida Valley has a fascinating history, especially with gold mining. You can still see old mines and workings around Oturehua today. These are reminders of the gold rush days.

A popular path called the Otago Central Rail Trail runs through a large part of the Ida Valley. It goes from Idaburn all the way to the Poolburn Gorge. This part of the trail is very scenic, with two old bridges called viaducts and two tunnels. You can rent bikes and get bus rides from local companies for day trips between Oturehua and Omakau. Oturehua also offers places to stay if you want to explore the rail trail for more than one day.

Ida Valley in the Movies

The Ida Valley was chosen as a filming location for the movie The Power of the Dog. This film starred famous actors like Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Keith Carradine.

The movie was filmed on Braeside, a large sheep and cattle farm in the Ida Valley. The farm is owned by brothers Al and Graeme McKnight and Philippa Pope. Director Jane Campion picked this spot because the wide, grassy plains and rocky mountains of Central Otago looked a lot like Montana, USA, where the movie was set. Before filming began, special buildings were constructed. These included a Western-style barn, a homestead (a main house), a cattle pen, cowboy living quarters, and a saloon.

The Power of the Dog was nominated for twelve Academy Awards in 2022. Jane Campion won the Academy Award for Best Director for her work on the film.

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