The Arrow River is just two minutes from town - simply hire a gold pan, walk down to the river bank and get started.
There is gold to be found and there are several places which hire gold pans and show you how to pan for gold. One has its panning troughs ready so you can pan for gold without getting wet toes!
The first jail in Arrowtown was simply a log. You were chained up to it. The later stone jail still exists and is in Cardigan Street. It is New Zealand’s 4th oldest jail.
In the 1950’s many New Zealander’s built cribs ( holiday houses) in Arrowtown and came here for their summer holidays.
There are two theories as to why the town is named Arrowtown. One is that the river behind the town flows swiftly like an arrow.
There has been a fire station on the current site since 1890. The hand drawn hose reel was used until the 1940’s.
The discoverer of gold in the Arrow river was a shepherd named Jack Tewa or Maori Jack. He also won the Royal Humane medal for saving a man from drowning in Lake Wakatipu.
The Maori name for the river is Haihainui which means ‘Big Scratches’.
Follow us and share your stories #arrowtownnz
This website is owned and managed by APBA. Arrowtown Promotion and Business Association (APBA)
© 2020 Arrowtown.com. Design with love by feastcreative.
Register Here for access to our Trade & Media Downloads