Arrowtown Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Arrowtown featuring street scenes and a small town or village
Arrowtown
Arrowtown
Arrowtown
Arrowtown

Ever dreamt of striking gold? A day trip to this authentic mining town gives you the chance to do just that.

The nearby Arrow River has contributed more than just a name to the township of Arrowtown. As the source of the gold and the means of transporting said precious metal back to Queenstown, the river is also the main reason the gold-mining town exists. During the 20th century the population of the township fell below 200 people but, thanks to the development of tourism, it has now been restored to its former glory. Some tourists come here to learn about the history of settlement in the area, while others are here to venture along the area's idyllic routes on foot or by bike.History has been preserved here in a way that you can actually reach out and touch. Grab a pan and search for gold the exact same way people did it more than a hundred years ago, or walk amidst the restored original buildings and explore the Chinese part of the settlement. Your visit will bring you as close to the life of the settlers as possible, and even more information on the history of the South Island's lakes district is available in the Lakes District Museum.Arrowtown is also the starting point for a number of exciting mountain biking and hiking trails. Simply rent a bike, get your hands on a map and choose from the various levels of difficulty to pick the perfect track for you, before launching into your next adventure.If you are a Lord of the Rings fan, you can visit the spot where the “Ford of Bruinen” scene was filmed. This picturesque vista is just a short distance from the town and the surrounding area is home to many more sites where some of the most vivid imaginings from the book were brought to life.You can drive from Queenstown to Arrowtown in about 20 minutes. There's plenty of free parking or, alternatively, there is a bus service which takes a little bit longer.

Millbrook Resort

Millbrook Resort

5 out of 5
1124 Malaghans Road, Arrowtown
The price is AU$528 per night from 16 Oct to 17 Oct
AU$528
16 Oct - 17 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Arrowtown. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Millbrook Resort Golf Course and Lakes ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (726 reviews)
"It was gorgeous."

Reviewed on 6 Oct 2025

Millbrook Resort
Hampshire Holiday Parks - Arrowtown

Hampshire Holiday Parks - Arrowtown

2 out of 5
12B Centennial Avenue, Arrowtown
The price is AU$144 per night from 20 Oct to 21 Oct
AU$144
20 Oct - 21 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this golf holiday park in Arrowtown. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Tobins Track and St Patrick's ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (48 reviews)
"We just loved our 1-bedroom cabin ! Comfy beds and very clean !"

Reviewed on 3 Oct 2025

Hampshire Holiday Parks - Arrowtown
Arrowtown Motel Apartments

Arrowtown Motel Apartments

4.5 out of 5
48 Adamson Drive, Arrowtown
Fully refundable
The price is AU$186 per night from 31 Oct to 1 Nov
AU$186
31 Oct - 1 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star eco-certified motel in Arrowtown. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (472 reviews)
"Very comfortable"

Reviewed on 30 Sept 2025

Arrowtown Motel Apartments
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
 One Bedroom unit in Arrowtown, close to cycle trails, and main attractions

One Bedroom unit in Arrowtown, close to cycle trails, and main attractions

Arrowtown
Stay at this apartment in Arrowtown. Enjoy free WiFi and laundry facilities. Popular attractions St Patrick's Catholic Church & Mary MacKillop's Cottage and ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (98 reviews)
"All good"

Reviewed on 30 Sept 2025

One Bedroom unit in Arrowtown, close to cycle trails, and main attractions
Arrowfield Apartments

Arrowfield Apartments

4.5 out of 5
115 Essex Avenue, Butel Park, Arrowtown
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury aparthotel in Arrowtown. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour fitness center. Popular attractions Arrowtown Chinese Settlement ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (109 reviews)
"Great place, comfortable beds."

Reviewed on 14 July 2025

Arrowfield Apartments
La Quinta by Wyndham Remarkables Park Queenstown

La Quinta by Wyndham Remarkables Park Queenstown

4 out of 5
16 - 18 Mountain Ash Drive, Remarkables Park, Queenstown
Stay at this 4-star ski aparthotel in Queenstown. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour fitness center, and a ski shuttle (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,326 reviews)
"There was a small mix-up with our room booking on arrival, but it was later resolved and the refund was processed. The hotel was clean, comfortable, and well-located. A special thank-you to Kevin at reception for his outstanding help and kindness throughout our stay — he truly made a difference."

Reviewed on 9 Oct 2025

La Quinta by Wyndham Remarkables Park Queenstown
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Activities

Reviews of Arrowtown

4.7
Top destination
5 - Excellent
80
5 - Excellent 78%
4 - Good
19
4 - Good 19%
3 - Okay
2
3 - Okay 2%
2 - Disappointing
1
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Beautiful

5/5 - Excellent

Anon

Lots of great places to eat.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Historical and pretty with lots of walks great places to eat and shopping. One of my favourite places

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Public bus service was convenient to get to AMISFIELD winery which was an amazing experience. 

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

I loved the visible history of the town. It was also full of flowers and trees. It looks like every resident is proud to live there. Everyone has a beautiful garden.

4/5 - Good

Francis

Quite a rustic town with a feel of the late 1800s with heritage buildings and set up, but overall, it is quite a small town that is good for 1/2 to 1 day stay (Stopover location). The eateries are nice.

Cities near Arrowtown

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