Arrowtown

The nearby Arrow River has contributed more than just a name to the township of Arrowtown. As the source of the gold and the means of transporting said precious metal back to Queenstown, the river is also the main reason the gold-mining town exists. During the 20th century the population of the township fell below 200 people but, thanks to the development of tourism, it has now been restored to its former glory. Some tourists come here to learn about the history of settlement in the area, while others are here to venture along the area's idyllic routes on foot or by bike.

History has been preserved here in a way that you can actually reach out and touch. Grab a pan and search for gold the exact same way people did it more than a hundred years ago, or walk amidst the restored original buildings and explore the Chinese part of the settlement. Your visit will bring you as close to the life of the settlers as possible, and even more information on the history of the South Island's lakes district is available in the Lakes District Museum.

Arrowtown is also the starting point for a number of exciting mountain biking and hiking trails. Simply rent a bike, get your hands on a map and choose from the various levels of difficulty to pick the perfect track for you, before launching into your next adventure.

If you are a Lord of the Rings fan, you can visit the spot where the “Ford of Bruinen” scene was filmed. This picturesque vista is just a short distance from the town and the surrounding area is home to many more sites where some of the most vivid imaginings from the book were brought to life.

You can drive from Queenstown to Arrowtown in about 20 minutes. There's plenty of free parking or, alternatively, there is a bus service which takes a little bit longer.