Destination guides > Pacific Islands > New Zealand > Otago > Arrowtown
Arrowtown
This historic gold mining town sprang to life during the 1862 gold rush, and it still retains the Wild West feel of a frontier town, even though it is inundated with day trippers and half the shops in town sell paua and jade souvenirs. It has a quaint main street with lots of little cafés, old wooden buildings and loads of character. Only 20km from Queenstown, it is probably the best preserved gold mining town in Otago and it deserves a visit, even if just for the day.
Practical information
Arrowtown Visitor Information Centre
49 Buckingham Street, Arrowtown
Tel (03) 442 1824
Website www.arrowtown.org.nz
Open 8.30am-5pm daily
Coming & going
The Arrowtown Scenic Bus (tel (03) 422 1900) runs day trips from Queenstown for $25 that return on a different route so you can see more scenery, but a much cheaper option is the Connectabus (tel (03) 441 4471), which runs every hour and costs $7.50 each way or $13 for a day pass.
Hostel accommodation
Poplar Lodge
4 Merioneth Street, Arrowtown
Tel (03) 442 1466
Riverdown Guesthouse
7 Bedford Street, Arrowtown
Tel (03) 409 8499
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
Lakes District Museum
The Lakes District Museum is a small museum that features interesting displays on the history of the Southern Lakes district with exhibits about early pioneers and the effect of the gold rush.
49 Buckingham Street, Arrowtown
Tel (03) 442 1824
Website www.museumqueenstown.com
Admission $5
Open 8am-5pm daily
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