The Taieri Plain lies to the west of Dunedin under the watchful eye of the long mountain Maungatua (892m). The Taieri River winds its way through farmland towards the sea, rarely flooding nowadays but over centuries covering the plain in rich river silt. The hawthorn hedges, small farms, grand houses, old oak trees, narrow country roads and peaceful countryside here are as close as you’ll get to rural England in New Zealand. It’s the perfect place to explore by car or bicycle with beautiful hidden corners such as Woodside tucked under the hills, the country town of Mosgiel, and the timeless village of Outram.
Shop Mosgiel
Sophisticated home wares, classy cafés, health food stores with caring staff and sleek fashion boutiques, Mosgiel is a friendly hub for satisfying your consumer instincts without city bustle. If you’re a treasure hunter, seek out Shop On Taieri, The Hospice Shop Mosgiel and the Salvation Army Family Store, Mosgiel’s shops with quality pre-loved clothing, jewellery and more. It’s a destination for those who love discovering hidden gems and coming away with life long favourite possessions.
Mosgiel Business Directory- if you're looking for a product or service in the Mosgiel area, there is now a dedicated directory to make things even more simple.
Wal’s Plant Land
Wal’s Plant Land is an ever expanding shopping and entertainment destination located at 107 Bush Rd on the outskirts of Mosgiel. They sell everything a gardener could want including plants, trees, bulk mixes, pots and seeds plus they have a florist and an extensive range of gifts. For the children there’s a miniature railway and for golfers an 18 hole mini golf course and a 330 metre driving range. A vegetable store sells locally grown produce is coming and there are plans to expand the railway in future. The Topiary Café serves breakfast and lunch and there’s plenty of outdoor seating.
www.facebook.com/TheTopiaryCafe
Mosgiel cycling
Quiet rural roads run smoothly between farms on the Taieri Plains, creating an idyllic resource for easy road-cycling. You’ll be among dozens of riders, many of whom catch their breath at one of the popular Mosgiel or Outram cafés before heading home. The local BMX track sharpens up everyone’s skills, but it’s the mountain biking tracks that gets the most cycling fiends excited. The hills surrounding Mosgiel are blessed with plenty tracks, lovingly formed by MTB devotees. The stars are Whare Flat which has dozens of options ranging across all abilities and, a little further south, Government Track, draws those keen for a grunty ride.
Destination playgrounds
Like bees to honey, Mosgiel Memorial Gardens playground draws families from all over Dunedin’s wider city area. It’s got heaps of fun, colourful and accessible play equipment, and sits just across the road from a supermarket, so snacks are taken care of. Highland Park Reserve, off Armadale Street, appeals to big kids, too, featuring a playground and fitness circuit, a tube slide on a mound with climbing grips, timber steppers, picnic tables, a fitness station, recreation lawn and a mass planted landscape berm giving slightly elevated views of Saddle Hill and the Maungatua range.
Outram Glen to Lee Stream Walk
The popular picnic spot of Outram Glen is the starting point for this 12.5 km (return) walk. It’s a 23 km drive from Dunedin via Three Mile Hill, along Highway 87 to the bridge over the Taieri River, right on George King Memorial Drive, then right again to Outram Glen. The track is clearly signposted and follows the west bank of the river. The first 30 minutes are flat then there’s a steep climb leading to an hour long section high above the river through the gorge. The return trip to the small river flat where Lee Stream meets the Taieri River takes three hours, but even a short walk along the track is rewarding for the tranquillity of the bush and the river views.
Outram Glen to Lee Stream Walk
Taieri Lakes Golf Course
Dunedin is a fantastic golfing destination with courses to suit a variety of weather conditions. If you’re looking for a warm and sheltered country course you can’t go past Taieri Lakes at 92 Milners Rd North Taieri, just 15 minutes from town. With three lakes to make the golf a bit more challenging this mainly flat course has a couple of hills and is bordered by rolling farmland. The 6th hole is a risk and reward hole where top golfers can have a go at driving the green, while for others it’s a lay-up and short approach shot over the lake. Green fees are $30, or $25 if you’re a member of another New Zealand club.
Sinclair Wetlands
At least 46 bird species are present in the Sinclair Wetlands, a 315-hectare portion of the Lakes Waihola-Waipori wetland complex. The waterbirds: paradise shelduck (pūtangitangi), grey teal (tētē), shoveller (kuruwhengu), New Zealand scaup (pāpango), grey duck/mallard hybrids (pārera), Canada geese, black swans, pūkeko/pākura (swamp hen) are all permanent residents of the wetlands. The name Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau acknowledges ‘the dwelling place of Tukiauau’, an early Ngāti Mamoe chief. The area is now owned by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, and is valued as a wāhi taonga (culturally significant site), for mahinga kai (traditional food and resources), conservation, recreation, and education. There is a mixture of river channels, pools, swamps, and forested islands. Visitors are welcome to walk or kayak, to stay overnight, to help as volunteers, and to connect to the wetland environment, via education and hands-on participation.
Outram Berry Farm
Found just near Outram Village, this provider of delicious fresh fruit and vegetables is open between 1 December and late February each year. The range of locally grown berry fruit includes raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, boysenberries, red and black currants and blackberries and vegetables. Real fruit ice creams, are made to order while you wait, choose from Raspberry, Strawberry or Boysenberry, with the option of yogurt or ice cream.
https://www.facebook.com/OutramBerryFarm
Wingatui Racecourse
The picturesque farmland of Wingatui to the east of Mosgiel is home to several thoroughbred racing stables, and around 100 race horses which are trained at the Wingatui Racecourse at 285 Gladstone Rd. With 13 race meetings this season and high numbers of race goers, the Otago Racing Club which is based here is one of the most successful in the country. And it’s not only the pounding hooves of the gallops that you can experience at Wingatui. The racecourse has a steeplechase course of six fences including a sod wall and water jump for fans who like the spectacle and drama of jumps races. Melbourne Cup Day in November is the biggest event of the year with 8,000 punters attending. Check out the website and Facebook page for details of all their race meetings.
The Wobbly Goat Café
If you’re looking for good coffee then this family-owned and run café is a must. In the main street of Outram they use freshly roasted coffee from the Fat Cat Coffee roastery just around the corner, and bake all their food on the premises. It’s a very popular spot for Sunday drivers from town plus cyclists and people en route to the Otago Central Rail Trail. Outram is at the centre of a network of flat and quiet country roads so if you feel like some gentle exercise why not hire a bike from the Wobbly Goat and go exploring. They will even pack you a picnic lunch.
Silver Stream Water Race Tracks
This series of tracks roughly follows the network of water races, timber sluices, tunnels and weirs formerly used to gather water for use by Dunedin city residents. Developed by a volunteer track clearing group, the various tracks now attract walkers and some mountain bikers to the slopes bordered by Silver Stream, Swampy Access Road, Whare Flat and Rain Gauge Spur Track. Track conditions are variable. Surfaces are uneven and sometimes muddy and preparation for all types of weather is advised.
Motorhome friendly Mosgiel
Mosgiel and Dunedin welcome self-contained motorhome visitors with open arms. In 2018 Mosgiel became a Motorhome Friendly Town, with a proven ability to host large numbers of motorhomes at sites throughout the town, as well as access to essential facilities such as shopping outlets, petrol stations, and dump stations.