Arrowtown: A Wonderful Trip from Queenstown

Arrowtown, a historic gold-mining town near Queenstown, is a quick getaway from the Adventure Capital if you’re looking for something different.

I first heard about Arrowtown when a friend I met in Queenstown showed me a postcard. The incident happened on the third day of the start of my Working Holiday experience. Said friend was nearing the end of her Working Holiday and wanted to find the location of the shot before she left New Zealand.

Located a mere 20-minute short ride from Queenstown via the public bus service, Orbus, travelling to Arrowtown is so easy!

Here’s a post documenting the things to do in Arrowtown.

I was in New Zealand on a Working Holiday visa from 2020 to 2022. This post contains affiliate links that cost nothing to you but support my blog! It may also be updated periodically. Cheers!

A Brief Background of Arrowtown

The history of Arrowtown is closely linked to Queenstown. Someone literally struck gold in Arrow River in 1862 and then began the influx of miners, their families and the shops, services and amenities.

When the gold rush ended at the turn of the century, the region reverted to farming and a recreational resort town.

Arrowtown retains its charms with many well-preserved European buildings and huts constructed by Chinese immigrants during the gold mining era. The street flanked by tall trees and rustic old cottages is lovely in autumn when the foliage turns orange-brown.

Nonetheless, visiting any time of the month is still gorgeous given the cosy scene of the town. New Zealand has plenty of small old towns but none as picturesque as Arrowtown.

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Travelling to Arrowtown

You could travel to Arrowtown by car.

But for someone who’s just landed in New Zealand, I did not have a car. If that’s you, take advantage of the NZ$2 public bus service from Queenstown to Arrowtown like what we did! A very affordable and convenient way to travel for those who cannot drive or don’t want to bother with a car just yet.

The journey was relatively long – taking 20 mins – but the views that flashed by were exciting for me! We took the blue bus at Stanley St Stop in Queenstown, which briefly went to Frankton before exiting into Lake Hayes and then onto Arrowtown.

On my subsequent visits, my friend(s) and I drove to Arrowtown from Queenstown via the scenic route starting from Shotover Road.

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Things to do in Arrowtown

Time travel in the neighbourhood

The first thing we did upon arriving at Arrowtown was to walk around Buckingham Street.

We tried to find the angle where the postcard was shot and studied the quirky old English houses as we wandered down the street, sometimes popping into a boutique shop, entranced by the items on their racks.

There are many souvenir/ boutique shops like those in Queenstown in Arrowtown.

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Explore the Lakes District Museum

We strolled towards the Lake District Museum but didn’t enter as it cost around NZ$10 per person (was watching my budget back then). Give a hand at gold panning at the end of your visit to experience mining in the 1860s!

The museum shares the same building as Arrowtown Information Centre with brochures and trinkets. During our visit, one of the empty rooms in this building was filled with intricate drawings of two visiting Italian-British artists Luigi and Kate Agnelli. We saw them sketching their latest artwork, which may take months to complete!

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Visit the Chinese Settlement

We retraced our route and headed towards the other end of Buckingham Street where the Chinese Settlement is.

As an Asian of Chinese descent, curiosity gets to me when I visit a predominantly non-Asian country and learn they have kept Chinese artefacts. For Arrowtown, it was a cluster of small stone huts.

These Chinese immigrants have probably left the eastern coast of China in search of a better life and found their way to the Southern Hemisphere in New Zealand. One wonders how news gets to these Chinese? Was it from their village folks living in Australia who relayed the news to China? I digress, but were there any immigrants from Indian ancestry who tried gold mining at Arrowtown too? After all, India and China are two big and populated countries in Asia.

Anyhow, from what I gathered, the small group of Chinese miners were stationed at the edge of the town, likely ostracised and/ or choosing to keep to themselves perhaps because of the language and cultural barrier.

You could wander into some of the stone houses and read the stories of the previous inhabitants on the information panels.

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Stroll by Arrow River

We headed towards the Arrow River and saw people having fun and panning on the river. The trail beside the river was easy. We were soon shaded under towering trees – presumably Sycamore, Willow, and Larch.

Since my visit was in summer, we saw lupins growing by the riverbank!

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Enjoy a craft beer or indulge in ice cream

We completed our loop by exiting onto Buckingham Street. Stop by one of the eateries and cafes along the street and people watch as you soak in the ambience with a craft beer, an ice cream or a cup of coffee in hand.

We wandered into The Fork and Tap and sat outdoors facing Village Green. The cafe, Provisions, is on the same block and has coffee.

Grab a delicious cone from Patagonia Chocolates and enjoy your chilled sweet underneath the trees!

Have a sweet tooth? Check out the extensive confectionery collection at The Remarkable Sweet Shop behind Patagonia.

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Shop the Farmer’s Market at Village Green

One of my later revisits in Arrowtown coincided with a Farmer’s Market.

The delightful market springs up every Sunday in the warmer months of October to April at the empty park on Buckingham Street.

While the market is visibly smaller compared to those in Christchurch and Nelson, it is still nice for someone stopping by to browse through the market and enjoy the music and scenery while exploring the pretty town.

If possible, time your visit in Autumn. Similar to how visitors flock to Kyoto in Japan for cherry blossoms in Spring, here in New Zealand, it is Arrowtown for the dramatic splash of red, yellow and orange trees in Autumn. And if your visit coincides with the last week of April, you may be in time to catch the annual Arrowtown Autumn Festival on Village Green.

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Cycle from Arrowtown to Gibbston

This is one activity I’d like to try if I revisit Arrowtown!

Rent a bike and cycle from Arrowtown to Gibbston to enjoy the scenery. There are multiple bridges to cross, views of the rivers, and scenes of the wineries. You could take the chance to visit the wineries and sample their wines!

Sign up for this bike package at a reasonable price, starting and ending at Queenstown, with stops at Arrowtown and Gibbston for a memorable full-day exploration.

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Accommodations in Arrowtown

While I visited Arrowtown on half-day trips, you could lengthen your visit with an overnight stay to experience the dawn and dusk in the prettiest town of New Zealand.

The Settlers Cottage Motel is a charming cottage not far from Buckingham Street. Past patrons have commented on their spacious rooms, quirky and homely decorations and hospitable hosts.

Spend a night at the Arrowtown House Boutique, conveniently within walking distance from Buckingham Street, and enjoy the beautiful antique decor and their fabulous breakfast and afternoon tea. Definitely a place to pamper yourself!

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Conclusion/ Rambles

Visiting Arrowtown makes for a worthwhile half-day trip from Queenstown. The Prettiest Town of New Zealand contrasts against the busy streets of the Adventure Capital of the World.

Time travel and savour the old English architecture. Slow down as you enjoy a cappuccino under the swaying shade of tall trees of Village Green. Marvel at the leaves coloured in different shades of orange and red in Autumn. Wake up to the sight of snow in winter underneath the warm blankets of a beautifully furnished hotel.

Attempt to pan for gold at Arrow River, and imagine how life might have been in the 1860s as you walk into the small houses of the Chinese settlers.

Anyhow, experience what I’ve described yourself by visiting Arrowtown if you’re already in Queenstown. It is just a NZ$2 bus ride away!