Arrowtown

Overview

When gold was discovered in 1862 in the Arrow River, the matagouri covered plains were transformed. 1500 miners arrived and were camping by the river by the end of 1862 with 340 kilograms of gold shipped out of the area in 1863. When the bulk of the miners left for the West Coast, the government invited Chinese miners to come and work, and the village they created was the start of Arrowtown. Many of the buildings in the main street were built during gold rush days and are now used as shops, offices and cafes, so you can really feel part of the history as you wander around.