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Before you go
Your trip to Arrowtown.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Arrowtown – Otago Destination Queenstown (New Zealand): Queenstown; Arrowtown; Glenorchy about 265 km from Dunedin
How to get there
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Aeroporto de Queenstown (ZQN) Frankton · 15 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
It’s about 20 km from Queenstown, roughly 25 minutes by car, with regular local buses from the centre and the airport. The Queenstown Trail cycleway also reaches the village.
How many days
Half a day to a full day from Queenstown: Buckingham Street, the museum, the Chinese settlement and the Arrow River trail.
When to go
In April and May for autumn colours; the autumn festival takes place in April. Summer brings long, warm days; in winter it is cold and it sometimes snows.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
No: there is a regular local bus from Queenstown, and the village is walkable.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Arrowtown
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Morning
Lakes District Museum
Start at the Lakes District Museum on Buckingham Street to understand the gold rush and early miners’ lives.
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Afternoon
Chinese settlement
Walk to the Chinese settlement on the edge of Bush Creek, with restored miners’ cottages and the old Ah Lum store.
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Late afternoon
Arrow River
Follow the trail along the Arrow River, where gold was found in 1862, and return via Buckingham Street and the miners’ cottages.
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Evening
Dinner in the village
Dine in the village at restaurants housed in historic cottages before returning to Queenstown.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
How to get from Queenstown to Arrowtown?
By local bus, with regular departures from Queenstown centre and the airport, or by car in about 25 minutes. You can also cycle there on the Queenstown Trail.
When do Arrowtown’s trees turn golden?
In autumn, typically between late April and early May. Timing varies with the year’s weather.
What to do in Arrowtown?
Visit the Lakes District Museum, the Chinese settlement and the miners’ cottages on Buckingham Street, and walk along the Arrow River.
Can you gold‑pan in Arrowtown?
The Arrow River is used for recreational gold‑panning with a pan, and the museum can point out where and how to do it. Check the rules beforehand.