Athol | |
|---|---|
 Athol – March 2014 | |
.svg)  Athol | |
| Coordinates: 45°30.6′S 168°34.5′E / 45.5100°S 168.5750°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Island | South Island |
| Region | Southland region |
| Territorial authority | Southland District |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 87 |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode(s) | 9749 |
| Area code | 03 |
| Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
Athol is a small town in Southland, New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 6, 55 km south of Queenstown, halfway between Lumsden and Kingston on the Southern Scenic Route. Farming has always been very important in the district, though in earlier times gold mining, centred on nearby Nokomai, was also significant. In recent decades tourist numbers have grown. The Mataura River is well known for the quality of its brown trout fishing, and the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail, opened in November 2014, has further boosted visitor figures.