Discover

Arrowtown is a living town where history meets nature

The main street of Arrowtown, Buckingham Street, is filled with heritage gold-rush era buildings which are now home to cafes, shops, offices and the Lakes District Museum. The street stretches into a tree-lined avenue of tiny miners’ cottages and from there you can explore the wider town or the nature on your doorstep. The hills and rivers that once teemed with gold miners are now an inspiration for artists, and a mecca for hikers, runners and bikers, our locals and their furry friends, and our visitors.

Our village

History - it’s in our nature

A pivotal location in the 1860s gold-rush, many brave people eked out a living digging for gold in the Arrow Basin. This heritage and pioneering spirit remains today, and it is something our community is proud of. Venture into town or the hills during your stay and you will likely find locals planting trees or helping to maintain the historical elements of town, or simply exploring and appreciating the surroundings.

Learn our history

Arrowtown highlights

Arrowtown is home to a dozen artist studios and galleries, a range of boutique and independent stores, and dining options ranging from gastropubs and cafes to some of the country’s most renowned restaurants.

Arrowtown guardianship

Arrowtown’s community works hard to protect what makes Arrowtown so special. We are proud to connect our visitors with opportunities to support essential environmental efforts through the Love Queenstown Community Fund. Love Queenstown is a local giving platform, raising funds to support climate, conservation, and biodiversity initiatives within the wider Queenstown region, enabling us to protect and regenerate our unique and fragile alpine environment, now and into the future.

Learn more