Arrowtown New Zealand
Courtesy of Kiwibloke - Click on picture for full screen
Arrowtown is 20 minutes outside of the tourist resort of Queenstown in the South Island.
Arrowtown, a former gold rush town, retains all the charm of the original gold rush era. The original town center has been maintained in its (largely) original feel (you won’t find MacDonalds here).
In the middle of summer it offers an outdoor experience that is hard to beat. You don’t have to be an extreme hiker (although you can)Â because there are levels of tracks suitable for everyone. Just after new years, we picked a beautiful 6 hour hike into the back of Arrowtown called Big Hill trail.
This is a route rather than a well formed trail. The inexperienced tramper is best to access Macetown via the River Trail. This walk crosses private land. Landowner’s property is to be respected at all times. Please remain on the trail. Strictly no dogs or trail bikes. Until the opening of the Macetown road in 1884, this trail was the main route over to Macetown. It often took days to reach the town battling harsh mountain weather and often an impassable track. Today the trail follows the old bridle trail and climbs steadily from Bush Creek for an hour to reach Eichardt’s Flat where there are grand views over the Arrow Basin and Lake Hayes. Here the trail branches right to Sawpit Gully, but looking ahead two distinctive water races traverse the slpes towards Big Hill itself. The trail follows the races through dry tussock lands to a patch of mountain beech forest before climbing up to Big Hill Saddle, where Advance Peak stands out behind Macetown. From the Saddle drop down to the Eight Mile or Coronet Creek via a poled route. From here follow the road for a further 20 minutes upstream to Macetown or you can return to Arrowtown via the Arrow Gorge Road.
As Dave Dobbyn would say it is a “Slice of heaven”.
The picture is of the original settlers cottages in the middle of town. It is now a restaurant.
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That does look like a cozy slice of heaven. I’d love to site in that yard, smell the flowers, and what not. I haven’t seen grass that vibrantly green in ages.
~ Kristi
Ps. Added you to my Technorati favorites!
@Kikolani: Cheers Kristi, everyone Kristi has a great blog. Please check it out.
I would like to settle myself with my family at this beautiful place.
Wow, it looks great. I am looking forward to the next because i will study in new zealand for one year
I hope I will live in such a nice house
A slice of heaven indeed. I’m so jealous – my sister has just visited NZ as part of her world tour and says it’s beautiful. This proves it.
We only drove past Arrowtown, and I cursed (silently) that we were on a bus and couldn’t stop. I will definitely have to go back. Thanks for sharing the lovely photo. It would be fun to hike (tramp?) the trail you mentioned.
Cath…next time.
KB
That is one trail I have not attempted but its on the to do list.
Thanks for sharing your experiences in wonderful Arrowtown
thanks for your comment Arrowtown people.
Kiwibloke
Wow, it looks great. I am looking forward to the next because i will study in newzealand for one year. Heaven in the earth is newzealand.
Wasn’t this the building that caught fire a few months back? Queenstown over summer; best holiday ever.
We had the best dining experience at Amisfield best. Their second tier wind called Lake Hayes is excellent value.
If given a chance, I would like to have my retirement in that kind of place. It’s very look peaceful and quiet. By the way, is it true that the fart smell from cows can be smelled anywhere in new zealand? just asking.
@Val simple answer is no. You have to get up close and personal with cows to get a wiff of manure smell.
This looks lovely and just the sort of area that people take pride in (based on the lovely grass and flowers that have been planted!).
This is one of the best tourist hill station resorts I have seen in the recent years. Always knew that New Zealand has some of the finest resorts in the world but this is the first time I am seeing something as awesome as this. Many thanks for the photograph and blog entry about it.
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What a beautiful cottage i can but dream!!