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Arrowtown

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Accommodation   |   Beaches and Walks   |   Things to do  |  The early Chinese settlers

Arrowtown is a historical town and is a great attraction for families to visit. It was created around the 1860s when gold was discovered in this region. 

 

Arrowtown gets its name from the Arrow River, which is only a few hundred metres from the current town. The beauty of this place is that you can still see some of the original stone buildings which were built over 100 years ago.

Arrowtown is only a half-hour drive from Queenstown and autumn is a wonderful time to visit with the autumn leaves turning beautiful colours of gold and reds; it really is an amazing sight to see!

The Chinese settlement of Arrowtown At the northern end of Arrowtown are the remains of the early Chinese settlement. Huts have been restored to show how these settlers lived. Men would come out from China to try and make their fortunes in New Zealand gold-fields, leaving loved ones behind. Many would never return and would either be buried outside the towns or in a Chinese corner of a cemetery. While the huts at the end of Arrowtown seem rather well made, some Chinese settlers built their shelters on the side of the cliffs surrounding Bush Creek. These were crude shelters that did little to keep out the bitter cold of a South Island winter. Today you can follow the trail that shows the area where these men lived, covering Ah Lum’s home and store, miners' shelters and the remains of the community hall.

Walks

Arrow River Track

 

If your children are up to it, you can do the Arrow River Track walk which is an easy, one-hour walk along the lake. Start at either Ramshaw Lane or at Tobin's Track Bridge.

Early Chinese Settlement

The walk around the Chinese settlement is a must and the children can get a close-up look at how the Chinese settlers lived, with some of their homes reconstructed for visitors to view.

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Things to do

There are quite a few things to do in the area. The Lake District Museum and Gallery is well worth a visit and the museum encourages children to visit through activities suitable for children to participate in. Or why not try panning for gold with your family?

A fun way to get to Arrowtown is on the double-decker bus that runs from Queenstown to Arrowtown each day. Or if you are up for an adventure of the 4-wheel-drive variety, one of the tourist operators in Arrowtown takes visitors up to the ghost town of Macetown, which is some fourteen kilometres north of Arrowtown. The track, that criss-crosses the river around 25 times, was once the original miners' wagon track.

Tours

Arrowtown Bus Tours on the Arrow Express

PO Box 74, Arrowtown. 

Ph: 03 442 1900 

Mobile: 025 367 347

Museum

Lakes District Museum

49 Buckingham Street, Arrowtown.

Ph: 03 442 1824   Email: museum@queenstown.co.nz

Accommodation

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