Arrowtown’s Chinese Settlement and Gold-Rush History for Campervan Travellers

Quick summary: For campervan travellers parked up in the village, Arrowtown’s history is all within walking distance, and it began with gold. In the 1860s, the discovery of gold in the Arrow River brought thousands of miners to the gorge, and a town grew up on its banks. Later, Chinese miners came to rework the goldfields, living in a small settlement beside Bush Creek, now restored and open to visitors. The story adds depth to every walk and ride a campervan or motorhome traveller takes in the area.

At a glance
Gold rush	The 1860s, after gold was found in the Arrow River
The Chinese settlement	Restored huts and a store beside Bush Creek
Cost	Free to visit
The museum	The Lakes District Museum on Buckingham Street
Nearby	Macetown, a gold-rush ghost town upriver
Tours	Self-guided tours

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How did Arrowtown begin?

Gold was found in the Arrow River in the early 1860s, and news spread quickly. Within months, thousands of miners had arrived, working the river gravels and living in tents and huts along the banks. The town of Arrowtown grew up to supply them, and as the easy gold ran out, many moved on, leaving a smaller, settled community behind.

Who were Arrowtown’s Chinese miners?

Later in the 1860s, Chinese miners, mostly from Guangdong province in southern China, were invited to Otago to rework the goldfields that others had left. They lived and worked in difficult conditions, often facing prejudice and discrimination, and many sent their earnings home to their families. In Arrowtown, they built a small settlement of stone and timber huts beside Bush Creek.

What can you see at the Chinese settlement?

The settlement has been restored and is open to visitors. You can walk among the small huts, some built into the hillside, and visit the restored store, which served as a shop, meeting place and post office for the Chinese community. Information panels tell the stories of the people who lived there. It’s a short walk from the main street, and free to visit.

Is the Chinese settlement easy to reach from the RV park?

Yes. It’s at the western end of the village, a short walk from Buckingham Street and the holiday park, so there’s no need to move the vehicle. There’s limited parking near the settlement itself, so walking is the easiest way to visit.

What does the Lakes District Museum cover?

The museum, housed in historic buildings on Buckingham Street, tells the story of the gold rush, the early settlers, the Chinese miners and the region’s farming and tourism history. It also hires gold pans for visitors who want to try panning in the river.

Where can you see more gold-rush history?

• Macetown, a gold-rush ghost town around 15 km up the Arrow River, reached by 4WD tour. See Macetown.
• Skippers Canyon, a historic gold-mining area near Queenstown, reached by tour. See Skippers Canyon.
• Cromwell’s heritage precinct, with rescued gold-rush buildings on Lake Dunstan, around an hour away.

For a walk through the village, see our self-guided village walk.

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Frequently Asked Questions