Ida Valley

At an altitude of around 500 m (1,600 ft), the 40 km long flat and wide valley is a relatively dry region with cold winters and hot summers, much like the rest of Central Otago.

The Idaburn is joined by the Pool Burn (which drains the valley's southern section) shortly before entering the Poolburn Gorge.

Local operators provide bike hire and coach transport for day trips of varying length between Oturehua and Omakau.

[3] Braeside, a 5500 hectare sheep and cattle farm in the Ida Valley, owned by brothers Al and Graeme McKnight and Philippa Pope, was used for the filming of the movie The Power of the Dog, which starred Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Keith Carradine.

[4] Director Jane Campion chose the venue as the sparsely populated, grassy plains and rocky mountains of Central Otago matched Montana, where the movie was set.