Garston

Garston (altitude 304 metres, population 106) prides itself on being New Zealand's most inland village. It is situated in the picturesque Upper Mataura Valley in the Southern Lakes district, on the main tourist route between Queenstown and Milford and Doubtful Sounds. The valley, which is the source of the world-famous Mataura River, is flanked by the Eyre Mountains (1968 metres) to the west, with the Slate Range (942 m) and Hector Mountains (1675 m) to the east. Sheep, cattle and deer farming, plus some cropping, dominate the area. Garston is close to Lake Wakatipu (18 kilometres), Remarkables Skifield Turnoff (60 km), Queenstown (70 km), and Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri (110 km).

History:

Garston, probably named after a suburb of Liverpool, is nestled in the Upper Mataura Valley. This valley was carved out by a glacier, the remnants of which also resulted in the formation of Lake Wakatipu to the north. Mr N. Chalmers, the first white man to see the lake, passed through the valley in 1853. By 1860, run holders (runs are large sheep stations) had arrived to take up grazing rights in the fertile valley.
In 1862 gold was discovered in the Nokomai and Nevis Valleys. A large influx of miners, including many Chinese, followed. With gold strikes dwindling in the 1870s, closer subdivision meant that many miners turned to farming in the area. The opening of the rail link between Kingston and Invercargill in 1878 helped to increase settlement in the valley. Of historical note are the two churches - Roman Catholic (1903) and Presbyterian (1923) - the adjacent cemetery, the ski hut on the Nevis Valley road and the stables alongside the Hotel.

Services:

The village has a school, a picnic area with playground, a Visitor Information Centre (with public toilets), hotel, homestays, countrystay, petrol/service station, and a community hall. A local volunteer fire service is available.

Of Interest:

Garston is the gateway to a popular four-wheel-drive route through the Nevis Valley linking Garston and Bannockburn/Cromwell. Fishing access to the Mataura River is available at several designated points.