Queenstown Region
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See more photos...Historic Arrowtown
Just up the road from Queenstown, Arrowtown is famous for its autumn leaves, gold mining history and heritage buildings.
In April and May the area ignites with colour as deciduous trees prepare for winter. A festival is held in the last week of April, to celebrate the town's seasonal beauty and glittering history.
Arrowtown was established in 1862, during the height of the Otago gold rush. Situated on the banks of the gold-bearing Arrow River, the settlement grew quickly as pioneers constructed cottages, shops, hotels and churches, many of which can still be seen today. They also planted the avenues of European trees that are responsible for autumn's glory.
A special highlight is the Chinese settlement at the edge of the river. Built by Chinese miners from 1868, this area of restored shelters and buildings paints a picture of earlier times. Life was hard, winters were cruel and gold was often elusive.
The Lakes District Museum in Buckingham Street has been described as one of New Zealand's best small museums. A variety of entertaining exhibits presents an authentic picture of early Maori life in the Southern Lakes district, the harsh pioneering days and the exciting gold rush era of the mid to late 1800s.
Lake Wakatipu
Shaped like a lightning bolt, Lake Wakatipu is the third largest lake in New Zealand. The Dart River flows into its northern end; the Kawarau River, beginning near Queenstown, handles its outflow.
The lake occupies a single, glacier-carved trench and is bordered on all sides by tall mountains, the highest of which is Mount Earnslaw (2819 metres). Settlements around the lake shore include Queenstown and the villages of Kingston, Glenorchy and Kinloch.
Because of its unusual shape, Lake Wakatipu has a 'tide' (more correctly, an unusually large seiche or ""standing wave""), which causes the water to rise and fall about 10 centimetres every 25 minutes or so. Maori legend links this phenomenon to the heartbeat of a huge monster named Matau, who is said to be slumbering at the bottom of the lake.
The T.S.S. Earnslaw cruises the lake every day. Complete with a bright red, 12 metre funnel, white hull and kauri timber decks, this vintage paddlesteamer is a New Zealand icon.
Lake Wakatipu offers year-round trout fihsing - the mouths of the Greenstone and Lochy Rivers are particularly rewarding. In summer, the lake's beaches are popular for swimming.
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