Arrow River

The Arrow River is a small, icy river located in New Zealand’s South Island. Arrowtown, which is rich in heritage and natural beauty is on the western side of the river. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Queenstown, Arrow River is a great place and just a 45 minute’s drive away from Queenstown. The river is famous because of its gold deposits and the discovery led to many miners entering the district. This led to the formation of various settlements and Arrowtown was formed.

There is parking on both ends of the Arrow River Bridges which also have good vantage points. The river was first called Haihainui by the Maori which translates to ‘big scratches’ resembling the many brambles along the banks. This is also the location of many important scenes from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. A popular activity is going panning for gold for those who want to invest time and money. You can rent a pan and shovel from Lake District Museum and can even pick up a ‘How to’ manual. There is a rough trail following the river upstream which is popular among motor cross enthusiasts and 4WD. There are also walking trails for those interested in walking and tramping.