Kia ora: Lumsden

A new cycle trail takes visitors through Lumsden. Photo / Venture Southland

Elisabeth Easther finds fascination in a great bank robbery in a beautiful town.

Where is it? In the South Island on the Waimea Plains, 84km north of Invercargill and 106km south of Queenstown.

Origin of name: Originally called The Elbow, thanks to the Oreti River turning at 90 degrees east to south there. But as there was another town nearby known as The Elbow, George Lumsden of the Otago Provincial Council took the opportunity to name the place after himself. Nice work: one day I'll name a town Easther Eden.

Population: 463.

Town slogan: This is as Lumsden as it gets.

Town mascot: The train - thanks to its railway history, although the lines were ripped up in the early 80s after serious flooding.

Perfect for: A pit stop between Queenstown and Invercargill.

Famous locals: Nope.

Best website: It's coming and will be northernsouthland.co.nz. Try aroundthemountains.co.nz for information on the new cycle trail that passes through.

Most prominent industry: Support for the surrounding dairy and sheep farms.

Source of pride: That no famous people live here.

Crime doesn't pay: New Zealand's biggest bank robbery took place here. In 1983 robbers took $106,000; it looked like they'd get away with it until one of them, Gibson Grace, headed to Auckland and started spending and bragging. He ended up buried beneath a garage in Titirangi; his fellow thief and a mate were jailed for murder.

Yet more crime: Minnie Dean, the infamous baby killer, was caught here and became the only woman in New Zealand to be hanged.

Town fiestas: There'll be an annual event to celebrate the cycle trail. There's talk that the Christmas Parade will start up again.

Here for a short time? Go to Route 6, have a pee and a pie and check out the trains at the railway station.

Best park: There's a really nice park beside the Oreti River.

Best playground: In the town centre there's a decent-sized play area with climbing frames, swings and slides and a tractor.

Best walk: You can walk to the river. The cycle trail provides a good bit of walking; it's pretty flat, Grade 1 with lots of people describing it as "world class".

Best view: Go up Long Hill, drive a little way out of Lumsden heading north, or go up Joseph Hill, south of town, where you'll see river, mountains, the town and farms.

Best swim: You can enjoy a lovely dip in the river during summer although it's pretty nippy in winter. The community pool is indoors, but open only in summer.

Best museum: A pseudo museum in the old railway station; it needs a bit of TLC. It's next to the Five Fingers craft shop staffed by some local older ladies; they'll show you through if you ask nicely.

Nice arts: Five Fingers.

Top shops: Four Square, dairy, pharmacy, post office, another dairy and a fish 'n' chip shop.

Cream of the coffee: Route 6.

Baked: The Bafe (35 Diana Street) does the best doughnuts.

Best food: Route 6 and Buzz Cafe are open during the day and some nights. Route 6 does a great burger and The Buzz does a super curry.

Wet your whistle: Route 6 - perfect for a relaxing beverage after cycling the trail.

Best mountain biking: Around The Mountains cycle trail. Choose from a single day to a four-day extravaganza. The entire thing runs 121km from Queenstown to Kingston.

Best adventure: Ride the trail or fish in the river. Many people say it's some of the best fishing in the world.

Wildlife: Trout, red and fallow deer, chamois and Himalayan tahr as well as lots of lovely native birds.

Visitors say: So much more to Lumsden than meets the eye.

Locals say: So much more to do than just have a pee and a pie.

Thanks to Rob from the local community board for sharing the joys of living in Lumsden.

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