The journey is all but over and the celebration is about to begin for more than 500 riders, wagoners and walkers on the 20th Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust cavalcade.
Thirteen trails will converge on the Cromwell Racecourse today and spectators are urged to get to the venue early, to be in place well before those taking part in the cavalcade arrive about 11.30am.
"It'll be a spectacular sight, with more than 400 people riding horses and a grand parade at noon involving special guests who have been instrumental in the success of the cavalcade over the years," cavalcade co-ordinator Terry Davis said.
One of those special guests is Moeraki restaurateur Fleur Sullivan, who came up with the idea for the first cavalcade in 1991, to retrace the journey of the first Cobb and Co coach which travelled from Dunedin to the Dunstan goldfields.
Long-serving cavalcade co-ordinator Roberta Laraman and treasurer Kay Adam are two more of the special guests.
A fine day is forecast and the host town committee has arranged a country fair from 10am to 4pm with non-stop entertainment throughout the day and into the evening, followed by a hoedown for cavalcaders to celebrate the end of their trek.
Cavalcaders camped overnight at Bannockburn and Lowburn last night. Earlier in the day, the event organisers went by helicopter to check on a group in the Nevis Valley.
"We just wanted to make sure they were OK after that rough weather, but they were fine," Mr Davis said.
Thursday's rain was the catalyst for a slight change of route for the Waitiri Wanderers riding trail, which diverted on to the state highway through the Kawarau Gorge for about 2km early yesterday, after the Roaring Meg was too high to cross.
They went over the Roaring Meg bridge instead and, after a short ride in the gorge, resumed their off-road trek.
