"St Bathans" Saint Bathans by allikat

Saint Bathans Travel Guide: 5 reviews and 15 photos

Population - oooh, half a dozen or so!

St Bathans is a tiny cluster of buildings comprising little more than a church, post office and hotel, but back in it's gold mining hey day it was a busy township. There were thirteen hotels here once - all that is left is The Vulcan, supposedly complete with resident ghost.

The Blue Lake

Right opposite The Vulcan is the sparkling Blue Lake - once a hill and now a water-filled mining pit. The intense blue is a result of the minerals present in the water and surrounding cliffs. Beautiful on a sunny day, the lake freezes over in winter.

This is the old Bank of New South Wales Gold Office, a piece of St Bathans gold mining history preserved.

Pros and Cons

Pros:In one of the most beautiful parts of NZ.
Cons:Out of the way, it's easily missed.
In a nutshell:Tonnes of character and history packed into a pint-sized pot!

Last visit to Saint Bathans: Nov 2006
Intro Updated Jan 16, 2007
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Reviews (5)

Finding St Bathans Favorites (1)

St Bathans is hidden off the main road, so you need to know the turn off if you are to find it. Travelling along highway... more travel advice

The Blue Lake Things to Do (4)

This gorgeous looking lake is found right opposite the Vulcan Hotel, although it is a fair way down to the shore. It was... more travel advice

The Vulcan Hotel, St Bathans - Saint Bathans

The Vulcan Hotel Things to Do (4)

I loved this old hotel - we sat outside in the bright Otago sunshine with a cold glass of wine enjoying the atmosphere... more travel advice

The old Post Office Things to Do (4)

On the hill between the church and the Vulcan, this lovely old kauri-timbered building is St Bathans historic Post... more travel advice

Comments (5)

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ATXtraveler May 18, 2008 at 5:48 PM

Nice little small town :)
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TheWanderingCamel May 3, 2007 at 7:47 PM

We "collect" those pre-fabricated chapels and such. Lots in England and Wales as well as NZ. The Athenaeum in Nasbey is a really good one. Love these old gold towns. leyle
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sourbugger Feb 2, 2007 at 4:32 AM

spiffing new tips. you are very lucky to live such beautiful places
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alucas Jan 27, 2007 at 7:59 AM

So your not afraid of ghosts then ?
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Darby2 Jan 17, 2007 at 4:19 PM

I love these little places off the beaten path...keep up the good work. BTW, there's a place in Alberta called Ranfurly. One more place to add to my trip to NZ.