What is the temperature? Where is the swimming pool? Those were the most common questions fielded by Ranfurly information centre staff yesterday as the mercury climbed to 34degC in the Maniototo, making it the hottest place in Central Otago.
"We had three guys come in off the [Otago Central] rail trail, who were laughing because they'd guessed the temperature.
"The one who was the furthest away had to buy the first round of drinks at the pub, so they needed to know exactly how hot it was," centre team leader Di McAtamney said.
She described it as "a good old Maniototo summer's day " and said lots of visitors had asked for directions to the town's swimming pool.
One of the supervisors at the Ranfurly pool, Alicia Rodger, said it was "a very big day" with about 50 people using the pool.
"It's a popular place.
"Everyone seems to be heading to the pool to cool down," she said.
The organisers of Ranfurly's annual Art Deco festival are hoping for equally fine weather this weekend as the 10th annual event is celebrated.
Volunteer working group and committee member Amie Pont is hoping for some "scorching" days to set the seal on the celebrations.
"We have free pool entry for children once they've given a gold coin donation to get into the festival, so they'll be making full use of that," she said.
