Arrowtown Gold Mines

Arrowtown is a small historic town located in New Zealand’s South Island and is known for its calm atmosphere and colonial architecture. The town is only a 45-minute’s drive from Queenstown and will transport you to the gold rush era of the 1800s. Thousands of miners from all over flocked here to make their fortune. You can visit the gold bearing Arrowtown River here and there are still traces of gold found in the waterways. Gold panning is a popular activity here and there are several places where you can hire shovels and pans and they can also show you how it's done.

Arrowtown feels like a place stuck in time with its main streets with historic miner’s cottages, shops and homes from the gold rush era. There is a monument at the river with an X spot marking where gold was first found. There is a Chinese settlement at the edge of the river and it was formed when the Chinese were invited to re-stimulate the gold mining business. You can also enjoy spectacular scenery and mountain views, especially in autumn.