Panorama showing a view over Butchers Gully Lake in the Flat Top Hill Conservation Area.

Flat Top Hill Conservation Area - Alexandra visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Flat Top Hill Conservation Area' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Otago.

Flat Top Hill Conservation Area covers 813 hectares next to Butchers Gully Dam, a little south of Alexandra in Central Otago on the south Island of New Zealand. The conservation area covers the northern end of Flat Top Hill running north to south. To the east is and to the west lie Butchers Creek and State Highway 8. Flat Top Hill itself is a miniature block mountain, at the foot of the Old Man Range (Kopuwai). Water is scarce here, the average rainfall is 300-400mm. The climate is Semi-arid with hot and dry summers (Temperatures 15° - 35°C) and cool winters (-6° - 15°C). The dam was built in the 1930's to provide water for Alexandra.

Gold was discovered at Butchers Gully in 1862, and minded here for many years. There is evidence of mining activity in the reserve. A store and hotel were built here, now submerged beneath Butchers Gully Lake. Water from the lake drains into the Clutha River near the northern end of Roxburgh Lake. Chinese influence on Butchers Gully can be seen by the remains of a market garden, orchard, schist rock storeroom and surrounding stacked rock fence. Many Chinese came to New Zealand in search for gold.

Road: Flat Top Hill Conservation Area and Butchers Gully Lake are about 7km south of Alexandra on Highway 8.