Patearoa is a small settlement in inland Otago in New Zealand’s South Island. It is 20 kilometres southwest of Ranfurly, in the Maniototo, and was known as Sowburn.

A small country village on the south edge of the Maniototo basin, Patearoa is a favourite base for fishermen. Old historic cottages include a corrugated iron building from the gold rush days, which still functions as a lending library.

The upper reaches of the Taieri River and the adjacent wetlands area are a popular place to fish or photograph wading birds.

You can follow the Sowburn Walkway to an historic Chinese miners campsite. Here you will find leftover gold tailings and sluicings and the remains of huts from the gold mining era.