5 Days in Arrowtown and Central Otago: A Campervan Loop from Queenstown

Quick summary: This five-day campervan loop uses Arrowtown as the anchor for a short Central Otago trip. Spend two nights in the village for riding and the gold-rush history, then follow the Kawarau Gorge to Cromwell’s lakeside heritage precinct, continue to Wānaka for the lake and mountains, and return over the Crown Range, descending the famous zigzag into Arrowtown. It’s only around 220 km in total, so the campervan or motorhome stays parked more than it moves.

At a glance
Length	5 days, 4 nights
Start and finish	Queenstown loop
Total driving	Around 220 km
Overnight stops	Arrowtown (2 nights), Cromwell, Wānaka
Highlights	The Arrow River Bridges ride, Old Cromwell Town, Lake Wānaka, the Crown Range
Tours	E-bike tours, Gibbston Valley tours

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Day 1: Queenstown to Arrowtown (around 20 km)

Collect the vehicle, stock up in Frankton and settle into Arrowtown’s holiday park. Spend the afternoon exploring the village and the Chinese settlement. See Queenstown Airport to Arrowtown.

Day 2: On the trails (no driving)

Ride the Arrow River Bridges trail to the Kawarau bridge and on to Gibbston, or join an e-bike tour. Take the shuttle back for a second night in Arrowtown. See the Arrow River Bridges ride.

Day 3: Arrowtown to Cromwell (around 55 km)

Drive east through the Kawarau Gorge, stopping at the bungy bridge and, if you’d like, at a Gibbston cellar door to buy bottles for later. Arrive in Cromwell and explore Old Cromwell Town, the heritage precinct of rescued gold-rush buildings on Lake Dunstan. In summer, stop at the roadside fruit stalls. Stay beside the lake.

Day 4: Cromwell to Wānaka (around 55 km)

Drive north along Lake Dunstan and the Clutha River to Wānaka. Walk the lakefront to That Wānaka Tree, climb Mount Iron for a view over the lake, or take a lake cruise. Stay the night in Wānaka.

Day 5: Wānaka to Queenstown over the Crown Range (around 80 km)

Drive up the Cardrona Valley, past the historic hotel, and over the Crown Range, stopping at the zigzag lookout above Arrowtown. Descend into the village for lunch, then drive the short distance to the depot. See Wānaka to Arrowtown over the Crown Range.

Is this a relaxed loop for an RV beginner?

Yes, apart from the Crown Range. The driving days are short and mostly on easy main roads, with the steep zigzag descent on the last day as the only challenging section. If you’d rather avoid it, return from Wānaka via Cromwell and the Kawarau Gorge, around 115 km. See the Crown Range and Cardrona.

How can you change the loop?

• Add a wine day with a Gibbston Valley tour from Arrowtown, or a tour of Bannockburn from Cromwell.
• Add Glenorchy as a day trip from Arrowtown along Lake Wakatipu.
• Extend north from Wānaka over the Haast Pass to the West Coast glaciers. See our sister site’s Queenstown to the glaciers guide.

For a wine-focused version of this region, see our sister site’s Central Otago wine loop.

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Frequently Asked Questions