Cromwell is a small settlement of 5000. It has undergone substantial change in the last two decades. A third of the town was flooded when the new Clyde dam was formed about forty years ago ( for hydroelectricity production ). Some of the old buildings were shifted and there was considerable rebuilding of the main school and town centre to appease the locals. In the last decade the land use here has changed from apricot and cherry trees to vines. There is a vineyard on the outskirts of the town where you can take an aroma test of the different wines !  On the left, apricot orchards in the valley; the contrast with the steeper non-irrigated areas is profound.

The clear fast flowing river on the right is the Kawarau and it drains Lake Wakatipu. Adventure tourism will encourage you to boogieboard your way down this river. The road clings to the side of the gorge and the water coming in from the right has just produced power in the Roaring Meg hydro station.