Visited on 18 April 2025
On this trip, I visited Wānaka, Queenstown, Kingston, and Milford Sound, but the place that impressed me the most was Arrowtown.
To be honest, I hadn’t heard much about Arrowtown before this trip. I hadn’t researched it either. A friend suggested stopping by, so I went without really knowing what to expect.
It was mid-April, and the town was covered in beautiful autumn colours, with golden trees on the hills and along the streets. The view from the lookout was so lovely—it felt like something out of a storybook.
Arrowtown still has old buildings from the gold rush days. Walking through the town, you can really feel its history. The main street is very charming, and every corner looks like it could be a postcard. The mix of old architecture and colourful leaves made the whole experience feel special.
I was also surprised by how much there was to see in such a small town. I hadn’t expected to spend so much time wandering around.
Next to the town is a beautiful river flowing through the yellow trees and mountains. It was the most stunning river view I’ve ever seen.
The trees along the riverbanks had turned golden yellow, and the scenery genuinely took my breath away.
The Arrow River is also associated with The Lord of the Rings. The area was used for scenes involving Arwen, Frodo and the Nazgûl, making it an interesting stop for fans of the films.
Arrowtown is roughly 20–30 minutes by car from Queenstown and around an hour from Wānaka, depending on the route and traffic.
If you’re hoping to see the autumn colours, April and early May are worth considering, although the timing varies from year to year. I visited on 18 April and was lucky enough to find the town looking absolutely beautiful.
Arrowtown also holds an annual autumn festival, so it’s worth checking the dates if you’re planning a trip around that time.
I hadn’t expected much from Arrowtown when I arrived, but it ended up being my favourite place on the trip.
