Queenstown Off the Beaten Path Tips by kiwigal_1

A trip to Glenorchy is a must do in my opinion for anyone spending a few days in Queenstown. It is a lovely little town located at the tip of Lake Wakatipu and lies right at the base of Westland World Heritage National Park. It is known as the Gateway to Paradise and is the start point for most people heading to the Routeburn, Caples and Greenstone Tracks (hiking).

There is an information centre and a backpackers in the town. There are also some other types of accommodation on offer.
If you don't have a car there are regular shuttles from Queenstown or you can do what we did and take a guided tour. There are many sites around Glenorchy where the Lord of the Rings was filmed so is a must see for any film buffs.

Leave a Comment

Website: http://www.glenorchyinfocentre.co.nz

The Arrowtown Chinese Settlement was one of at least ten Chinese settlements that grew up adjacent to gold mining towns in nineteenth-century Otago.

The Chinese settlement sprung up on the south bank of Bush Creek not far from the centre of town however there was little integration between the Chinese and the Europeans. There were about 60 Chinese men living here at its peak time with Ah Lum being the last to leave in the 1920's upon his death.

The Arrowtown settlement is the last remaining Chinese settlement in a relatively intact state in Otago. The area is a significant reminder of the Chinese presence on the Central Otago goldfields, and the way in which the miners lived.

Leave a Comment

The Lakes District Centennial Museum is located down one end of Arrowtown's main street.

The museum has information on Maori history in the Lakes District and the colonial history of the region. There is also a showcase on the gold rush of the mid 1800's.

The museum also acts as an information and booking centre and can help with advise on accommodation in the region. There is also a retail outlet with maps and post office. There is a small charge (about $5) to go into the museum

Leave a Comment

Arrowtown which is 25 minutes from Queenstown was settled in 1867 when gold was discovered in the Arrow River. The local museum offers information on the history of the gold rush. It is also possible to pan for gold in the area.

Leave a Comment

On our drive from Queenstown to Arrowtown we stopped in at the infamous Gibbston Valley Winery. This vineyard is famous for its Pinot Noir although they do other wines aswell. We were able to taste the wines by the fire, the atomsphere was really homely.

There is a restaurant (bookings recommended) and a cheesery on site also.

Leave a Comment

Website: http://www.gvwines.co.nz

Just as you drive in to Wanaka on the left is Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World. We were looking for something fun to do and this looked interesting.

The centre has a 1.5km maze which is a challenge in itself. They also have a puzzle musuem and table with puzzles that you can play with. It was fun for us but I imagine it would be even more fun for families and kids.

Leave a Comment

Phone: +64 (03) 443-7489
Website: http://www.puzzlingworld.co.nz/