Arrowtown is a historic gold mining town in the South Island of New Zealand rich in history, character and charm. Its quiet location, quaint architecture and beautiful scenery makes this a must visit destination in New Zealand.
Located a short 20 minute drive from Queenstown, Arrowtown is the perfect day trip for a change of pace from the bustling activities.
In this blog, I’m sharing the 10 best things to do in Arrowtown to help you make the most of your time.
We always include a trip to Arrowtown when visiting the region. It’s a great place to visit in any season but autumn is my favorite time to visit when the surrounding hills are blanketed in shades of red, yellow and orange. The autumn season in New Zealand runs from March to April, and colors usually peak around mid-April.
If you have time in your itinerary, you might consider staying in Arrowtown for a night or two. We’ve put together a list of our favorite places to stay in Arrowtown that you might find helpful when deciding where to stay.
This charming little town is a lovely place to be based for great food, beautiful scenery, peace and tranquility.
Top 10 Things To Do in Arrowtown
1. Visit Arrowtown Chinese Settlement
Arrowtown has a rich and colorful history. When gold was discovered in 1862 miners flocked to set up camp along the Arrow River. Within a few years most of the miners moved West when the West Coast goldfields opened up.
Chinese miners were invited by the Government to come and work in an attempt to re-stimulate the economy. A small village was created for the Chinese miners which remains a part of Arrowtown today.
The small huts in the Chinese Settlement are quite different from the merchant houses lining Buckingham street.
2. Photos At Arrowtown Police Camp
The Police Camp Cottage at Butlers Green is possibly the most photographed spot in Arrowtown. Built in 1863, it is the towns oldest timber building. Today it is an information site that you can go in to learn about the area surrounding the village.
Insider tip: The Police Camp Cottage is surrounded by a car park so best to get there early if you’d like to photograph this rustic cabin without cars out front.
3. Take A Nature Walk
Arrowtown has an incredible network of trails surrounding it from easy walks to advanced hikes. The Arrow River Trail is a picturesque and relaxing nature walk above the Arrow River.
It’s a 4.2km (2.5 mile) loop track that starts from the carpark near the Chinese Settlement. It will take you through beautiful scenery, even passing a small waterfall, and should take you about an hour to complete.
If you’re looking for something more advanced, the Sawpit Gully Trail is my favorite hiking track in Arrowtown. Following the Arrow River Trail, you’ll see a signpost for the turn off to the Sawpit Gully Track shortly after the waterfall.
This trail offers a variety of landscapes and spectacular scenery. It’s an 8km (5 mile) loop track that has steeper climbs and crosses small creeks in sections. It should take you about 2-3 hours to complete.
4. Lunch At Provisions Of Arrowtown
Dine in one of Arrowtown’s historic merchant houses. A staple visit for breakfast or lunch, Provisions of Arrowtown is a fully licensed cafe style restaurant located in a historic miners cottage.
Take a stroll along Buckingham Street straight out of the gold rush era and then tuck into fresh, seasonal food and great coffee. There are several other great restaurants and cafes in Arrowtown if you prefer something different.
Insider tip: Check opening hours and days in advance as they may vary throughout the year.
5. Explore Arrowtown’s Boutique Shops
Buckingham Street is such a vibe. We loved strolling along this charming street that feels like you’ve been transported back in time.
Boutiques, offices and cafes occupy the historic buildings left from the gold rush era. There’s plenty on offer too, from souvenirs to high end New Zealand made clothing to locally made artisan products.
6. Gold Panning In The Arrow River
Try your luck at gold panning. A fun and inexpensive activity for kids and adults alike. You can hire a pan from the Lakes District Museum or Dudley’s Precinct near the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement and head down to the Arrow River to try your luck.
The gold isn’t gone, it’s just harder to find!
7. Patagonia Chocolates
Visit Patagonia Chocolates for the best hot chocolate in Arrowtown!
Visiting in summer, no problem, they have a great selection of award winning ice cream and sorbet in the most delicious and unique flavors to choose from. They also have handmade artisan chocolates which are great in any season. I always bring some home as gifts and they are a big hit.
The Remarkable Sweet Shop is another great place to satisfy the sweet tooth. Set up like an old fashioned candy store with sweets from around the world, this cute little shop is worth a visit.
And the fudge! They make handmade fudge in an assortment of flavors that you can sample to help with your selection.
Top tip: If you run out of time both Patagonia Chocolates and Remarkable Sweet Shop have locations in Queenstown in addition to Arrowtown.
8. Lakes District Museum & Gallery
Arrowtown has a rich history dating back to the gold mining era in the 1860s. The Museum in Arrowtown is full of information where you can learn about the social and cultural history of the area.
Located within the museum is an art gallery featuring work from local artists that is worth checking out.
Here, you’ll also find the Information Centre for Arrowtown where you can get maps for biking and walking tours, hire gold pans and find out anything you want to know about the area.
The museum is located at 49 Buckingham Street and open daily from 9am to 5pm. Entry fees are $12 per adult ($10 for ages 65+) and $5 for school age children (under 5 years old is free).
9. Play a Round of Golf
If you love to golf then Arrowtown is the place to be. With three of New Zealand’s top golf courses located nearby you’ll be spoiled for choice. All are located in the picturesque settings Arrowtown is known for on incredibly beautiful and pristine courses.
The Arrowtown Golf Club has been around since 1937 and is Arrowtown’s oldest golf course. Known for its dramatic scenery and challenging fairways that wind through the terrain.
Millbrook Resort offers two 18-hole golf courses set on an idyllic landscape of rolling green fairways framed by the Remarkables Mountain Range. With five on-site dining venues, and an award-winning day spa, a stay here is the ultimate golf getaway.
The Hills Golf Club is a private club set over 500 acres of land across a glacial valley with oversize sculptures dotting the fairways. It was designed and opened in 2007 to host the New Zealand Open and although it is Sir Michael Hill’s private golf course, a limited number of visitors can play each day except for Sunday.
10. Lake Hayes
Lakes Hayes is a beautiful and tranquil lake, a short 5 minute drive from Arrowtown. On a calm day the reflections in the lake are sublime.
There are several access points that will take you to the edge of the lake from Highway 6. The North Lake Hayes picnic area has the most parking although we’ve never found it to be too busy.
If you have some time, there is an easy 8 km (5 mile) walking track that loops around the perimeter of the lake. It should take 2-3 hours to complete, but if you don’t have time to walk the whole loop you can just do a section of the walk to enjoy some peace and tranquility. You may even spot some native birds that inhabit the area.
Alternatively, you can rent an electric bike and embark on a self-guided tour from Arrowtown to Lake Hayes and beyond on the fantastic network of trails in the area. Maps and helmets are also provided.
Final Thoughts
As you can see there is a nice variety of things to do in Arrowtown whether you enjoy being in the outdoors, shopping or learning about history. There are plenty of ways to spend your time in this charming little town. It’s one of our favorite towns in all of New Zealand an I hope you love it as much as we do.
If you’re coming from or heading back to Queenstown don’t miss our 3 day itinerary that covers the best things to do and best places to eat in Queenstown.
Travel Planning Guide
🚗 Where should I book my rental car?
Renting a car is one of the best ways to get around New Zealand. Public transportation can only get you so far, even in the cities. I always rent with Discover Cars, which checks the prices of all major rental car companies, so you get the best rates.
🚐 What about a campervan?
Renting a campervan is a fantastic way to experience the more remote areas of New Zealand. I really like JUCY because they have a big range of vehicles and locations around the country, which offers more flexibility with pick-up and drop-off. I also like Motorhome Republic, which compares all the campervan options available in NZ.
🎟 Where should I book my tours?
Tours are a great way to experience New Zealand’s top attractions while learning about the area and culture through local guides. We always use Viator and Get Your Guide to find the best tours.
🛏 What’s the best way to book my accommodations?
For hotels and vacation rentals, Booking.com or Expedia.com are the best sites. You can also book through TripAdvisor. If you’re considering renting a house instead, try VRBO which often has good deals.
🛩 What’s the best site to buy flights to New Zealand?
For finding the best deals on flights to New Zealand from around the world, I recommend Kayak.com.
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Heather is a travel enthusiast living in New Zealand with her family. She writes about living in and enjoying travel to New Zealand.