Lauder Store Accommodation

06/02/2024

Astronomy and astrotourism course coming to Central Otago in April
An astronomy and astrotourism course for the public is coming to Alexandra in
April. The dates will be the afternoon of Friday April 12th to 5 pm on Sunday April
14th.
The course is being offered by the Aotearoa Astrotourism Academy (AAA), a
non-profit organization founded in 2021 by Professor John Hearnshaw, Emeritus
Professor of Astronomy at Canterbury University, and Nalayini Davies, who is
President of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand.
The AAA website at https://aaanz.org gives more details and accepts on-line
registrations.
AAA gives immersive courses over 2½ days for anyone who wants to be inspired
by the beauty of the night sky and wants to learn more about the stars and how
to observe them using binoculars or a small telescope.
Professor John Hearnshaw said that the course will offer an intensive programme
of talks and practical workshops, including night-time observing, and will have
five instructors from New Zealand’s most knowledgeable astronomy and
astrotourism experts. Practical advice on astrophotography and on Maori
astronomy and Matariki will be part of the AAA course. The course is for anyone
wanting to learn how to appreciate the beauty of the night sky and learn more
about the stars. No previous astronomy knowledge was required.
Local astronomy expert, Professor Brian Boyle, will be among the instructors for
this event, along with Victoria Campbell, Gareth Davies, Dr Steve Chadwick and
Alan Gilmore.
The main course venue will be Centennial Court, Alexandra. AAA will also take
the opportunity to take course participants to one of our excellent, nearby dark
sky locations for night-sky observing sessions, in the hope of clear weather for
star-gazing.
AAA is very grateful to Winterstellar Charitable Trust for sponsoring this event
in Central Otago.
More details and on-line registrations are at https://aaanz.org; enquiries to
[email protected].
John Hearnshaw
Emeritus Professor of Astronomy, University of Canterbury

28/10/2023

Lauder Store Accommodation has new owners. Bruce (another one) and Esme Macdonald are very happy to have taken over from Bruce and Pam Walker. We have lived in Lauder for the last 11 and a half years as owner/operator/hosts of the Lauder School B&B next door so have some experience in the business of looking after guests and in particular, folk cycling the Otago Central Rail Trail. The Lauder School B&B is on the market but we love living in Lauder so we are thrilled to be taking over "The Store".

30/04/2022

A fabulous sight.

Did you know that when it was built in 1882, the Alexandra Bridge in Otago was one of New Zealand’s largest and most beautiful bridges. Today, the remnants of the original suspension bridge have withstood the power of the Clutha/Mata-au river for over 130 years.
📷 on Instagram

08/07/2021

The Blue Lake at St Bathans in Central Otago was formed by mining operations during the late 1800's. The local village is an interesting place to wander, filled with historic buildings and a pub that is said to be haunted. 👻 There's a DoC campsite on the outskirts of town but you'd need to be pretty hardy to withstand the sub zero conditions during winter. 😨 Summer is a different story, when temperatures can soar to nearly 40 °C.

14/12/2020

The railway line was an outstanding feat

03/11/2020

19/06/2020

First snow this year. Love riding the Rail Trail in winter. The winter landscape is absolutely stunning. 🙏

02/06/2020

Lauder Store has a winter special: June - Aug 31st.
‘Stay one night get the next night free’.
Enjoy your winter break in our warm and cosy B & B.
Bike hire available and lots of lovely places to explore nearby.
Book direct through our website, bookings subject to availability.

20/05/2020

This stunning Bridge No.1 is only a 15 minute easy ride from Lauder Store. Come and hire a bike for the day or stay the night and make a weekend of it.

Our 152km multi-day trail is popular with families, novice cyclists or those getting fit again. Being a former railway line the trail has a gentle gradient, is wide & safe for all being mostly off road.

Image: A family cycles on Manuherekia No 1 Bridge near Lauder on the Otago Central Rail Trail.

Start planning here: www.otagocentralrailtrail.co.nz

📷 James Jubb

19/05/2020

‘I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike’

Between Middlemarch & Clyde there's 152km of easy riding to help you reconnect and catch up with friends & family.

Image: Rail Trailers cycling through the spectacular gorge between Hyde and Daisybank. 📷 Clare Toia-Bailey.

Your trip starts here: www.otagocentralrailtrail.co.nz