Naseby, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Naseby
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Rural settlement
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_building_along_Derwent_Street.jpg)
The historic precinct of Naseby, New Zealand
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Otago |
| Territorial authority | Central Otago District |
| Ward | Maniototo Ward |
| Community | Maniototo Community |
| Electorates |
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| Area | |
| • Urban area | 0.86 km2 (0.33 sq mi) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Urban area | 140 |
| • Density | 163/km2 (422/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
Naseby is a small town in Central Otago, New Zealand. It's located in the Maniototo area. The town was once a "borough," which means it had its own local government. Naseby got its name from a village in England. This English village was famous for a big battle during the English Civil War.
Before being called Naseby, the town had other names like Parker's, Hogburn, and Mt Ida. Naseby's fun catchphrase is "2000 feet above worry level." This tells you it's high up! The town is about a 5-hour drive from Christchurch and a 1 hour 45 minute drive from Dunedin.
Contents
A Glimpse into Naseby's Past
Naseby was a very important town during the gold rush in the 1860s. Gold was first found here in 1863. Many of the old buildings from that time are still standing. This makes Naseby feel a bit like a living museum.
The Gold Rush Boom
At its busiest, about 4,000 miners lived in Naseby. To serve all these people, the town had 18 stores, 14 hotels, two butchers, and even a hospital.
Changes Over Time
In 1898, a railway line was built about 12 kilometers away in Ranfurly. Because of this, many services and businesses slowly moved from Naseby to Ranfurly. By the 1980s, Naseby had become New Zealand's smallest borough. Its population was only around 100 people. However, during the summer holidays, the town becomes much busier. Its population can grow to about 3,000 visitors.
Local News and History
Naseby had its own newspaper called the Mount Ida Chronicle. It was printed from 1869 until 1924. Today, the old Chronicle Office is part of the Naseby Museum. Visitors can go there to learn about the town's past.
The Mount Ida Water Race
The Mount Ida Water Race started being built in 1873. This special channel brings water from the Manuherikia River. It flows along the Hawkdun Range, collecting water from streams as it goes towards Naseby. It was first built to help with gold mining. Now, it helps farmers in the Maniototo area by providing water for their crops. There's also a track that follows the water race. It's a great spot for mountain biking and walking.
Fun Activities in Naseby
Naseby is a great place for sports and outdoor fun, especially in winter!
Curling Capital
Naseby is one of New Zealand's main places for curling. Curling is a sport played on ice where players slide stones towards a target. The Naseby Indoor Curling Rink opened in 2006. It allows people to curl all year round. This rink is now part of the Maniototo Adventure Park. Besides indoor curling, you can also try outdoor curling, ice skating, and even ice hockey there.
Ice Luge Track
Naseby also has New Zealand's only ice luge track. It's 360 meters long! A luge is a small sled that you lie on to race down an ice track.
Naseby Forest Adventures
Since 1900, many trees like Douglas fir, Larch, and Corsican pine have been planted on old gold mining sites. These trees now form the Naseby forest. This forest is very popular for mountain biking, with 52 kilometers of tracks. There's also a swimming dam just above the town. It's a popular spot in summer and often freezes over in winter. Walking is another popular activity in the Naseby forest.
Naseby's Climate
Winters in Naseby can be quite cold for New Zealand. In July, the average high temperature is about 6 degrees Celsius. The average low temperature is around 0 degrees Celsius.
| Climate data for Naseby Forest, elevation 607 m (1,991 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1923–2017) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 34.1 (93.4) |
33.5 (92.3) |
30.6 (87.1) |
26.8 (80.2) |
22.2 (72.0) |
18.3 (64.9) |
19.0 (66.2) |
22.0 (71.6) |
25.1 (77.2) |
25.5 (77.9) |
28.9 (84.0) |
31.7 (89.1) |
34.1 (93.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 21.5 (70.7) |
21.4 (70.5) |
19.2 (66.6) |
15.3 (59.5) |
11.8 (53.2) |
8.5 (47.3) |
8.0 (46.4) |
10.0 (50.0) |
13.0 (55.4) |
15.3 (59.5) |
17.3 (63.1) |
19.9 (67.8) |
15.1 (59.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 14.5 (58.1) |
14.3 (57.7) |
12.2 (54.0) |
9.0 (48.2) |
6.2 (43.2) |
3.4 (38.1) |
2.7 (36.9) |
4.5 (40.1) |
6.8 (44.2) |
8.8 (47.8) |
10.6 (51.1) |
13.1 (55.6) |
8.8 (47.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 7.5 (45.5) |
7.1 (44.8) |
5.2 (41.4) |
2.6 (36.7) |
0.7 (33.3) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
0.7 (33.3) |
2.4 (36.3) |
4.0 (39.2) |
6.2 (43.2) |
2.6 (36.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −4.4 (24.1) |
−3.8 (25.2) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−11.8 (10.8) |
−14.4 (6.1) |
−15.0 (5.0) |
−12.6 (9.3) |
−11.1 (12.0) |
−8.3 (17.1) |
−6.2 (20.8) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−15.0 (5.0) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 79.1 (3.11) |
51.6 (2.03) |
47.9 (1.89) |
46.1 (1.81) |
54.6 (2.15) |
40.3 (1.59) |
26.4 (1.04) |
34.3 (1.35) |
37.2 (1.46) |
58.5 (2.30) |
54.7 (2.15) |
83.8 (3.30) |
614.5 (24.18) |
| Source: NIWA | |||||||||||||
Education in Naseby
Naseby Public School first opened in 1865. For a while in the early 1900s, it was a district high school. However, the school closed in 1994. Now, the closest schools for children are in Ranfurly.
Visiting Naseby
Naseby is a popular place for tourists. There are many things to see and do.
Exploring History and Nature
The Naseby forest and recreation area is great for outdoor activities. You can go mountain biking, orienteering (a sport where you use a map and compass), or walking on the many tracks. Visitors can also follow the Goldfields Heritage Trail. This trail takes you through historic gold mining sites and old buildings.
Where to Stay
There are different places to stay in Naseby. You can find lodges, holiday homes, historic hotels, and a holiday park. The holiday park even has two original miners' cottages built in 1893!
Stargazing Adventures
Naseby Night Sky Tours offers a special experience. You can look through telescopes and see the amazing stars and planets in the night sky.
Images for kids
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The Naseby Athenǽum building.
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A sign showing Naseby's famous phrase.
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