Day 2 Otago Central Rail Trail

As we were parked up on the Hayes Engineering site we took advantage of the open 'working' day and joined the tour at 10:30am. Ken was our host/guide and he gave us an excellent tour, which included demonstrating some of the original equipment. Hayes were  certainly a very innovative business and even today most farmers will still have the wire strainers that they designed on/in their fences. 

More information can be found at this link: Hayes Engineering

Even the original homestead has been restored to its former glory. It too had evidence of design before its time with its flush toilet and electricity coming from the 'workshop'.

After our 'tour' we relocated to Ranfurly. We parked the bus in a NZMCA (Motor home association) park behind the local hotel.  We explored the main street on foot, before doing a short bike ride (15km) to Waipiata and back before tea.  Ranfurly has lots to see at both the i-Site information centre and the art deco museum in the Centennial  Milkbar.  More information about this only art deco museum in the Southern Hemisphere can be found at this link:Art Deco museum

Stephen enjoying the view of the wide open space in the Maniototo
while biking from Ranfurly to Waipiata.

To finish our day we treated ourselves to a meal at the Hotel.  We had a big day planned for the next day on the trail  - Waipiata to Middlemarch, which is just over 52km.