Maniototo facts for kids
The Maniototo, also known as the Maniototo Plain, is a high, flat area in Otago, New Zealand. It is located far from the coast, in the middle of the South Island. This region is found near the start of the Taieri River and the Manuherikia River.
Big mountains surround the Maniototo. These include the Kakanui Range to the north and the Rock and Pillar Range to the southeast. The weather here is very dry and can be extreme. Summers are hot, sometimes over 30 degrees Celsius. Winters are very cold, dropping to -15 degrees Celsius.
Not many people live in the Maniototo. The biggest towns are Ranfurly, Naseby, Wedderburn, and Oturehua.
Landscape and Nature
The land around the Maniototo Plain is hilly. It is part of the Canterbury–Otago tussock grasslands. These grasslands are known for their golden-brown tussock plants. You can also see many large rocks sticking out of the ground. These rocks sometimes break up the flat plain.
The beautiful scenery between Omakau and Ranfurly was used in the The Lord of the Rings movies. It was the setting for many scenes in a place called Rohan.
History and Economy
In the 1860s, the Maniototo was a key site during the Central Otago goldrush. People came here hoping to find gold. You can still see old buildings and tools from that time around towns like Kyeburn, Naseby, and St. Bathans.
Today, sheep farming is the main way people make money in the Maniototo. Farmers raise sheep for their wool and meat.
Curling Capital
The Maniototo is very famous for the sport of curling. Curling is a sport played on ice, where players slide stones towards a target area.
The town of Naseby has special facilities for curling. It has the only indoor curling rink in the Southern Hemisphere. This means people can play curling there all year round. Naseby also has the only natural luge track in the Southern Hemisphere. A luge track is used for sledding down a narrow, icy course.
