Here’s another one of New Zealand’s historical wonders! If you’ve read my recent post about when I visited Cromwell Heritage Precinct, you’ll know that Otago has a big connection with the 1860s gold rush. Arrowtown is another famous tourist destination with this unique history. This was the last day in New Zealand for my parents and I, so lets get to shopping before we go home!
Arrowtown was established in 1862 when gold was discovered in the Arrow River. After this discovery by shearer Jack Tewa, many miners travelled to camp by the river in search of gold. By early 1863, 340kg of gold had been found, and Arrowtown began to grow more and more as an established town. Once the area had less and less gold to offer, however, miners travelled to other mining destinations or back home, and Arrowtown became more of the holiday and tourist destination as we see it today.
Arrowtown has a lot to offer for different audiences. We actually went there twice; the first time we arrived in Queenstown for our South Island exploration, and the day before we were supposed to fly back home. The first time we were there was more for the shopping and the food, whereas the second time, we wanted to check out the restored Chinese settlement. And do a bit more shopping! For the history lovers out there, there is also a Lakes District Museum and Gallery which tells the story of Arrowtown through the gold rush with an abundance of artifacts for the visual learners. There are also hiking and bike trails to get the heart pumping, and gold panning for the kids (and big kids) who want to be more involved in Arrowtown’s gold rush background.
The first thing we did when we arrived in Arrowtown was get something to eat. We had just arrived in Queenstown from Wellington after going through all of the airport security, collecting our bags and picking up our hire car. So we were HUNGRY. Arrowtown has some really cute cafes and places to eat, but with Mum having special dietary requirements, our options became quickly limited. Luckily there was a kitchen and bar at the end of the street that understood Mum’s needs and was happy to cater! The place was a very cozy, almost cottage-looking bar, both inside and out. And it was surrounded by some very curious little birdies that kept sneaking in the door. I guess they wanted a taste of the delicious food!
Ok, so now that our tummies are full, let’s get shopping! I love visiting stores in small towns like this! There’s always something unique and fun to find, just like at homemade markets. There was a range of different stores in Arrowtown, from clothing and fashion accessories, jewellery, homewares, souvenirs, and so much more! They had some amazing jewellery stores, from the traditional jade and stone carvings to the more modern pieces. It was all stunning, and a little pricey. But it’s our last day in New Zealand so we could spend as we please today. Plus, you can never have enough jade!
We also looked through a fragrances and gift store, where everything is eco-friendly and handmade. The fragrances are named after New Zealand cities, so as my Kiwi family is from Wellington, I bought a diffuser inspired by it! Everything there smelt amazing but this scent was just so beautiful and calming, just what I need in my room. And of course, Dad and I couldn’t walk past the lolly shop without going inside! It was a fairly small store, but at least it allowed me to try out some Kiwi sweets and snacks, something I was super excited about when I first got to New Zealand. They also sold fudge, something I haven’t had in ages, and boy was it delicious!
Once we had done our shopping, we wanted to learn more about the town and its history. The Lakes District Museum and Gallery tells the story of the settlers and miners of Arrowtown and the greater area of Queenstown. There were a variety of artifacts from different types of rocks and gold found in the area, historical clothing and tools used by miners and blacksmiths. The museum set up displays for different times and places, like mines, stables, schools, and workshops, and had videos playing to tell the stories of the gold rush in Arrowtown. It wasn’t just about the gold rush though, it was about Queenstown through the ages. So there were some gorgeous Victorian pieces like a dress and corset! Then skip ahead a hundred years to the old television! I wonder what little kids say about it when they visit the museum. “Why is it in a box?”
Last but not least, we visited the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement, a community of small huts in which the Chinese miners lived during the gold rush. It was only a short walk from the main streets, but definitely worth a visit! The huts have been restored so that visitors can see the conditions the Chinese miners were forced to live in, and trust me it wasn’t great. They were also super small! I don’t know how any of the miners could’ve slept and lived in these, but they must’ve had great resilience. If you want to read more about the gold rush in Queenstown or New Zealand in general, and the treatment of the Chinese miners I definitely recommend it! There’s way too much history to talk about in such a short time, but basically, the Chinese were excluded from the main Arrowtown area, resulting in the creation of the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement by the river.
Well, I can’t believe my New Zealand holiday has come to an end. It’s been absolutely amazing, I’m so lucky to experience such a beautiful country! I also got to see some family that I’ve never met, or haven’t seen since I was a baby anyway. Despite my memory issues, this is going to be an experience I’ll remember for a long time! And even if I don’t, at least I got a bunch of photos and videos to look back on, as well as plenty of souvenirs. Good bye New Zealand. See you next time!
All photos and videos in this post were taken by me.
For more information about Arrowtown, visit https://www.arrowtown.com/
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