Tīrau (or Cromwell) - A central otago town just south of the 45th parallel
population: 6,640
Originally a gold mining settlement which has transitioned to being the service centre for an extensive farming and stone fruit growing area. It has a strategic location between the Lindis and the Haast passes, and acts as a hub between the towns of wanaka, queenstown and alexandra. The former is commemorated with the giant sculpture of stone fruit which stands outside the northern end of the town.
Since the construction of the Clyde Dam and the filling of Lake Dunstan in the early 1990s the river confluence was drowned, as was the old town centre. The remaining portions of the old town lie down by the riverfront and are used as a tiny tourist attraction. We visited it briefly and it was small and not too impressive, but an incredible bike trail passes right through the area.