After our run of sunny Wanaka days, we hit the road early for Arrowtown, the historic gold rush village tucked into the mountains near Queenstown.
It’s one of New Zealand’s most charming small towns cobbled lanes, restored miners’ cottages, and old wooden shopfronts that look straight out of a Western.
We arrived to find the town buzzing it was Labour Day in New Zealand, one of their big public holidays. Every car park was packed, the rain was pouring, and it honestly felt like we’d been teleported straight back to Britain.
Cold, wet, and grey we almost expected a Tesco to appear.
Still, the drizzle didn’t dampen the charm. Arrowtown wears bad weather well with the the mist sitting low over the mountains.
Our first stop was the Lakes District Museum, which turned out to be absolutely brilliant.
It’s built on the site of the old Bank of New Zealand, and inside, you walk through Arrowtown’s gold rush history from the 1860s when hopeful miners flooded in after gold was discovered in the Arrow River.
Georgia did not love the interactive displays she saw bones and camped out at the entrance! But we loved it (especially the old cash register and schoolroom), I was fascinated by the gold panning exhibit.
After the museum, we ducked into one of Arrowtown’s classic pubs The New Orleans Hotel, dating back to 1866.
Warm fire, wooden beams, hearty food the perfect shelter from the rain.
Ali had the pumpkin soup, I had the burger and fries (incredible), and the girls devoured their food while watching the rain hammer down on the street outside.
By the time we finished, half the town had shut most places closing early for the public holiday. Classic.
Back at the camper, Dotty crashed for a nap while me and Georgia played cards and took some dvds back to the van!
We were parked up, heater humming, completely content… when the impossible happened.
At first, it looked like sleet. Then big, fat flakes started falling.
Within minutes, Arrowtown was blanketed in snow in October!
Locals were saying it’s almost unheard of this late in spring. The flakes were thick enough to settle on the water, swirling through the lamplight and dusting the camper roof.
We sat by the window in disbelief, watching it fall harder and harder as the night went on.
It was quiet, magical, and surreal like the world had been reset to winter for just one night.
Tomorrow morning’s going to be a sight to see.
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