Originally, the Dunback and Macraes area was settled in the 1850s by farmers and then later by miners following the discovery of gold in the 1860s.
In Dunback, you’ll find beautiful historic buildings and a swing bridge over the Shag River which once divided the town. The bridge has since been refurbished and can be accessed via Murphy Street.
Macraes is a beautiful rugged high-country area with expanses of rolling, golden tussock-land peppered with weathered schist outcrops and views all the way back to Palmerston and the Pacific Ocean behind it.
You can view the heavy machinery and expansive open-cast working gold mine, Macraes Mine which accounts for around 50% of New Zealand’s gold production. You can also see remnants of early mining history Golden Point Historic Reserve. Macraes Town Centre is full of original historic buildings from the gold-rush era. Â