Welcome to Tapanui West Otago
Tapanui West Otago is the ultimate place to visit for a rural Kiwi experience.
The township of Tapanui is located on State Highway 90 at the foot of the Blue Mountains on the South Island of New Zealand. Home to approximately 900 people, it is popular with outdoor adventure seekers keen on hiking, hunting, and fishing. Town folk are renowned for their friendliness and will make you feel welcome. There is a variety of accommodation available from hotel rooms, B&B, motor home and cabins.
Only 1½ hours from Dunedin International Airport and 2½ hours from Queenstown International Airport, Tapanui is ideally situated for taking day trips to southern scenic attractions including The Catlins, South Coast, Fiordland, The Lakes District and Central Otago.
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disney's pete's dragon
filmed in tapanui
New Zealand provided many of the spectacular backdrops for the remake of the classic Disney movie, Pete's Dragon. The town of Tapanui became Millhaven for the 2016 movie.
Many West Otago locals were cast as extras in the film, while others moved out of their homes to allow the cast and crew close access to the set.
Today, local stores feature photos in their shop windows so visitors may recognise them in the movie.