Ranfurly

Understand

110 km north of Dunedin, it lies in the dry rough plain of Maniototo at a moderately high altitude (around 430 metres above sea level) close to a small tributary of the Taieri River. It operates as a service town for the local farming community. The town used to be known as Eweburn, one of the "farmyard" names bestowed by former Otago Chief Surveyor John Turnbull Thomson on many small streams and locations in the district. The modern name honours the Fifth Earl of Ranfurly, who served as Governor of New Zealand (1897–1904) at the time of the extension of the Otago Central Railway to the area.

Visitor information 1 Ranfurly i-site, 3 Charlemont Street. M-F 9AM-1PM. (updated Nov 2025) entral Otago District Council

See

1 Ranfurly Art Deco Gallery, 1 Charlemont Street East, ☏ +64 34449963. Art Deco gallery in the former Centennial Milk Bar, which was built in the 1930s. (updated Jan 2021) 2 Hayes Engineering Works. Sep-May 10AM-5PM. A historic factory maintained by the Heritage New Zealand. The factory was run by Ernest Hayes, inventor of a famous wire strainer in 1924, and is still used today in building wire fences. from $12. (updated Jan 2021)

Do

1 Otago Central Rail Trail. 150-km walking, cycling and horse riding track which passes through Ranfurly, on the way between Clyde and Middlemarch. (updated Jan 2021)

Buy

1 Four Square Maniototo, 1-3 Pery Street. Small supermarket M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa-Su 8AM-7PM,. (updated Nov 2025)

Sleep

1 Ranfurly Hotel, 10 Charlemont St, ☏ +64 3 444 9140. Art Deco hotel with restaurant/café and sports bar. from $70. (updated Jan 2021) 2 Old Post Office Backpackers. 20-bed hostel. beds from $35, rooms from $55. (updated Jan 2021) 3 Hawkdun Lodge, 1 Bute Street. Motel with a full guest kitchen. from $170. (updated Nov 2025)