Tempted to go back to a simpler time of, say, 20 years ago? Big-city folk longing for less hassle getting the kids from A to B, wanting to own their own home but still to be within easy reach of a city and an airport, might find this Lawrence gem solves a lot of their problems.
Lawrence is a small town in the Clutha district of South Otago, 45 minutes from Dunedin airport, and a place where gold was discovered in 1861.
These days it’s popular with cyclists, history enthusiasts and outdoor types - a great place to stop and enjoy the cafés, boutique shops and museum if you’re on the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail.
But you could do more than spend a day and a night there. If your children are too hooked on their phones, this small town is a fantastic place to raise your sporty kids, with plenty of activities to do after school and on the weekend, says vendor Francine Keach.
Her three-bedroom villa, built around 1927 with a veranda at the front that catches the sun first thing in the morning, has been in her family for 19 years, and it’s where she raised her son.
