The best way to comparatively describe Arrowtown is as if a Wild Western town and a rural English village parented a new aesthetic. Arrowtown feels romantically frozen in time, antiquated, a rural English village 100 years ago (to make the comparison most familiar). Though Arrowtown is of course entirely its own cultural entity. Arrowtown is a place of preservation, both in architecture and the working-class spirit of centuries before.
It is a town that pays homage to the Otago Gold Rush of the 19th century and the lives of miners who inhabited this small corner of the world. The Chinese village settlement is still a popular tourist attraction and window into the lives of early miners, along with multiple humble museums and gold panning initiatives along the Arrow River. The image of Millbrook Resort below, where we spent many a month working, is a great example of Arrowtown’s historic architectural identity.
Not only in its architecture, but in the communal imagination Arrowtown is a place unabridged from the modern world and unburdened by 21st-century revolution. The town covets natural conservation and the preservation of a golden age. It is everything rural English romanticism dreams of. Arrowtown reminds me of the Yorkshire dales, despite obvious topographical differences. So naturally we felt right at home. There are no chain supermarkets, bottle stores, or vape shops. Only boutique shops, independent retailers, and small markets.
Arrowtown is very much akin to the Wild West, at least the Wild West depicted in western film. Its emphasis on the gold rush and saloon-like architecture all point to American influence. But of course historic Arrowtown, despite the parallels I have drawn to the English historicism and the Wild West aesthetic, is ultimately a preserved timestamp of New Zealand history. Arrowtown is proud of its local history and displays it everywhere. This is only added to by Arrowtown’s natural setting; the town is one with its surroundings, not at odds with it.
Arrowtown is most likely recognised by visitors as the small town next to the tourism giant Queenstown. Both towns are blessed with incredible alpine views and stunning lakes, but bear opposite personalities. Arrowtown has all the beauty of Queenstown but a greater sense of homeliness and community. Whilst Queenstown is the playground of tourists, Arrowtown is a haven for travellers and settlers. Arrowtown has the same feeling as many small New Zealand towns but is set apart by the unparalleled beauty of the Queenstown-Lakes District.
Looking from the Queenstown junction, Arrowtown is nestled in the arms of a large forest. In autumn these trees all turn shades of red, orange, and gold. It is an autumn transition you will seldom find elsewhere in the world. The sheer number of trees that paint the town red and orange is a sight I will never forget. Arrowtown is well coveted in autumn for this reason. We were fortunate enough to spend the entire season working in Arrowtown, and our daily commute was nothing short of spectacular. The Arrowtown autumn festival pays ode to this magical season.
Arrowtown is a small town, with one high street and a couple of miles of homes. But it will occupy a large space in our New Zealand memories. We spent countless hours biking beside the Arrow River, relaxing at Lake Hayes Reserve, and, of course, working at Millbrook. Alongside Queenstown, it is the place we wish most we could share with all our friends and family. I hope I have painted a vivid enough picture that you can all share, at least imaginatively, in our Arrowtown adventure.
