An international indoor curling rink and New Zealand's new ice luge are attracting many visitors, which is boosting local businesses.
Renowned mountain biking tracks and the Otago Central Rail Trail add to the myriad activities available in the district.
Rosie Manins investigates.
"When I was a kid you could fire a shotgun down the main street and no-one would even be around to hear it. You certainly couldn't do that these days . . . people are everywhere."
Fred Newman, who manages the Maniototo International Curling Rink at Naseby, sums up the transformation the small Maniototo village has gone through in recent times, to become one of the most popular visitor destinations in Central Otago.
With a permanent population of about 100, Naseby teems with holidaymakers, tourists and crib owners throughout the year, as people make the most of its tranquil setting and vast range of activities.
Due to its rich goldmining history and early association with curling, the village has a quaint alpine feel, which is evident in its architecture and surrounding natural environment.
Traditionally, Naseby was a summer destination for people interested in mountain biking and for families seeking a quiet vacation in the midst of Central Otago's warmer-than-average climate.
Winter months were so quiet many businesses would be on the verge of closing, save for the few local curlers who would brave sub-zero temperatures to maintain the village's history of the sport.
Maniototo Community Board chairman Richard Smith said Labour Day and Easter would respectively herald the start and end of Naseby's business year.
Fast-forward to today and hungry bikers, curlers, skaters, and lugers jostle for seats at the Black Forest Cafe in the main part of town, despite it being the middle of July.
Owner Wendy Becker said people were now taking time to veer from the main tourist roads and explore other parts of the Maniototo, including Naseby.
Mrs Becker and her husband Peter have noticed a sharp increase in visitor numbers to Naseby since they became involved with the cafe in 2006.
The couple live at Patearoa, although both have had a leading hand in the development of Naseby's tourism.
Mr Becker, who has curled since he was old enough to start, first suggested the idea of establishing a multimillion-dollar, international quality, indoor curling rink in the heart of the village.
Naseby is the Maniototo's fastest-growing village and is enjoying part of a wider-felt optimism in the area, which has arrived on the heels of hard times.
Maniototo Community Board chairman Richard Smith said it was about time Maniototo residents experienced positivity in their communities.
He said although all Maniototo towns worked together to create the area's appeal to visitors, of late Naseby had created its own industry centred around sporting and outdoor activities.
"Naseby's biggest asset to the Maniototo community has generally been during summer, when up to 5000 people turn up, all needing food, drink, and places to stay.
"Now it is more of a year-round destination and that's the beauty of the curling rink, ice rink, and now the luge," Mr Smith said.
He said people travelling the Otago Central Rail Trail were now more likely to spend and extra night or two in the Maniototo just to take advantage of the activities on offer at Naseby.
"It's the place of growth at the moment.
"The resources for the Maniototo have been at Naseby lately, and although that is where a lot of the effort has gone, it is important to remember that it's been a whole Maniototo effort.
"There has been huge volunteer as well as business support for the curling rink and luge, which, as facilities, gel really well together and give the Maniototo a uniqueness," Mr Smith said.
With so many visitors and predictions of continued growth, Naseby Vision is looking to the future and what the township will need to provide in terms of infrastructure.
Chairman John Crawford said an improved water supply was the group's top priority, and discussion was under way with Central Otago District Council staff to make it happen.
"We have to make sure infrastructure supports growth but it's also important we retain all the things which make Naseby special and different.
"It's probably fair to say the town stagnated for a little bit, but in the last five or so years there's been some really positive development," Mr Crawford said.
Naseby Vision, which has 146 members, is in its third year and already has some major achievements under its belt.
Mr Crawford said they brought broadband Internet to the village, and a heritage trail development was on the go, which would identify major landmarks in the area.
