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RTW Trip Day #78: A Morning at Arrowtown and a Special Birthday Treat at the Queenstown Onsen Hot Pools
- andrewsco3
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
15 December 2025
Steps: 10,739
Today we took a short drive from Queenstown to Arrowtown and started with a nice walk along the Arrow River Gorge.
The trail followed the river and passed through an old gold mining area, with stone huts and the remains of early settlements tucked into the hillside.
Lupins were everywhere and the views over the river were beautiful the whole way along.
Arrowtown
After the walk we headed into Arrowtown itself. It is a lovely little town with a preserved main street that feels a bit like some of the old streets you find in Alberta.
The Main Street is filled with lovely shops, with many cute gift shops, cafes and clothing shops. There is even a small cinema which would be a wonderful place to watch a movie.
The Lakes District Museum
It started to rain, so the girls and uncle Michael went into the local museum, called the Lakes District Museum.
They had a great time learning about the town’s gold rush history while we had a break from the kids and wondered round browsing the shops. As well as a scavenger hunt and some rather amusing toilet humor, they were kept well entertained!
After the museum, we headed back to to Queenstown, and took the girls to the library as the weather was still pretty miserable. Plus, the girls needed to catch up on some homeschooling, reading and working on their CapCut for school.
Onsen Hot Pools in Queenstown
In the evening Susie and I were surprised with a birthday gift from Michael, for a session at the Onsen Hot Pools in Queenstown.
It was a contrast therapy session, starting with a steam room, followed by a hot pool and then a cold plunge.
The skies were clear, and the views were stunning! It was the perfect way to unwind and enjoy some rare time to ourselves, and a wonderful surprise present!!!
Next Day #79: xxxxxx