Arrowtown - the site of an old Chinese Settlement

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Thursday, 11th April - Day Eight: Queenstown to Wanaka, 114km (69 miles). The distance may be short but today we visit Arrowtown, a mere 19km from the Queenstown Holiday Park. This is where the NZ gold rush began in 1862 and where the site of a restored Chinese settlement still lies. Although the Chinese were invited to help in the mines, and although hard working, they were not welcomed and many were treated badly.



Before our walk around the tiny buildings, we choose to eat breakfast at the AB Bakery and it's enough fodder to keep us going all day. It’s similar to a lovely full English breakfast of eggs, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes and baked beans, but more or less placed on top of each other with the eggs covering thick slices of toast. The bacon is very different from the American type, which is often thin and streaky, but here it’s lean and very tasty and they don’t skimp on the portions.




We're now heading north toward the glaciers on the western side of the country.

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Photos

Arrowtown - 1862 gold rush
where gold was found by "Maori Jack". This led to the "great Wakatipu Gold Rush" and gold miners came from around the world including many Chinese.

coffee is found in many places
don't you love the name?

a beautiful quilting shop
in Arrowtown

Post Office
in Arrowtown

The Library
an old red telephone box that works!

New Zealand Jade
fabulous greenstone

Cafe Mondo and bakery
sitting outside in April weather

Goodies inside the bakery
at one end of Arrowtown

Large breakfast
English style

enjoying the leftovers
all the little birds fly down for food

view above Arrowtown
near the Arrow River

the Arrowtown Chinese
this is a remarkable story of the Settlers who stayed after the gold rush

Ah Lum's Store
centre of the community

small homes in the Chinese Settlement
low to the ground and sheltered

entrance to a home
the original wood door with the leather handle still intact

Comments

[Anthea]

Reading your posts...
My dearest mummy, I LOVE reading all about your exciting adventures across New Zealand and Australia! It is the highlight of my day...Keep it going please! All my love to you and daddy, Annie xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

[Mel and Howard]

Arrowtown
Although we're in Australia now and heading for the outback, Alice Springs, tomorrow morning, I hope we get more wifi somewhere so that I can post a few more photos. Lots of love to you both too. xxxxxxxx