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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