Located on the banks of the Arrow River, Arrowtown is an historic gold mining town with a lot of charm. Gold was first discovered in the Arrow River in 1862 and shortly after fifteen hundred miners flocked to the area in what became known as the Arrowtown gold rush.
Dudley's Cottage (pictured above) is the perfect place to hone your gold panning skills before venturing down to the river. It has two gold panning troughs set up outside the cafe and the skilled gold panning tutors will guide you through the process - you even get a little 'Arrowtown Mining Company' certificate at the end of your session and you get to keep the gold you pan! For those of us that aren't as keen on gold panning the café is the perfect place to perch up with a tea/coffee and sweet treat whilst the prospectors are off finding their fortune on the river's banks.
Don't be fooled by the quaint store fronts lining the main street - behind the old world facades there are some real gems to be discovered. A standout for me is the Seletti Concept Store just off Buckingham Street. I didn't expect to find designer labels such as Ganni, Anine Bing and Cecilie Copenhagen in this tourist hotspot. This makes sense, however, as behind the town's pioneer heritage lies a modern playground for the rich and famous. Arrowtown and the surrounding area is home to many luxury resorts such as the five star Millbrook Resort after all.
There are many dining options in Arrowtown but there are two in particular that standout for me. The first is the Postmasters Restaurant situated towards the bottom of Buckingham Street and housed in a carefully preserved historic cottage. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, it is the perfect place to kick off a day of sightseeing and shopping (or celebrate a successful day of gold panning) on the cosy veranda with a glass of locally produced pinot noir. The lamb burger comes highly recommended!
The second is Akarua Wines & Kitchen by Artisan. Located just outside of Arrowtown, this restaurant is an absolute gem and is not to be missed. The restaurant is located in the historic 'Walnut Cottage' and if you are visiting on a sunny day then make sure you book a table in the picturesque garden.
The food is top notch with almost everything sourced within the South Island and the very friendly staff will be more than happy to help you choose one of their award winning wines to complement your meal. Their rosé is particularly delicious and you must try the foccacia bread!
On your way home take a moment to stop by the beautiful Lake Hayes to take in the spectacular scenery and idyllic surrounds - captured beautifully by the Fiancé in the picture below.
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