Arrowtown in Autumn

On Anzac Day we took a trip into Arrowtown. The colours of the autumn trees lived up to their reputation. It was hard to stop snapping them! As we drove in, the hillside to the right was a riot of colour—reds, yellows and greens.

Then along the roadside, green delicious apple coloured trees with the leaves set off to perfection by the stark black branches.

More beautiful autumn trees. Notice those hills at the far right (and also in the background of a few of the following photos)—hills smothered in autumn colours.

Historic Arrowtown's charm is not only in its magnificent displays of nature at her best. The main street of the township is a mixture of interesting shops, cafes, etc., most of them in beautifully restored historic buildings.

A modern day pharmacy housed in a building first built over 150 years ago.

It's a one-way street, which is just as well with so many people spilling off the footpaths with their cameras pointed in all directions, often oblivious to any road traffic.

On one side of this street was a park . . . 

. . . and on the other, a row of beautifully restored, repurposed old settlers' homes.

 Heading back into the main section of town . . . 

All along the street are these beautiful little alleys, just begging you to come explore. There are several art shops, cafes and restaurants down these walkways behind the front row of shops. Notice the lovely brick and stone paved footpaths.

Walking further west, we came to the Chinese Village—a memorial to the Chinese gold miners. From the late 1860s to the 1880s, approximately 8000 Chinese came to the Otago-Southland and West Coast goldfields. This was one of the many camps and settlements established by them.

Ah Lum's Store

Love the door handle on this door!

This bridge across the stream towards the Arrow River was just a couple of planks and tree stumps. Lucy was not all that keen on it and ended up using just the left side plank, going the rest of the way through the water. Hence her rather skinny looking wet legs! On the way back, she did just the same—jumped into the water at mid point rather than trust that dodgy looking plank on the right!

The Arrow River

In case you cannot read the sign in the photo below, it says:

X MARKS THE SPOT

In August 1862, Jack Tewa, known as Maori Jack, found gold near this spot. Tewa was employed as a shearer by William Rees, runholder and the founder of Queenstown. 

Tewa was not particularly interested in gold mining but word of his find got out to those that were.

This led to the Great Wakatipu Gold Rush that drew miners from around the world and laid the foundations for the town of Arrowtown.

Couldn't resist taking a photo of this 21st century Chinese lady among the flowers.

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