This is my second visit, and it was interesting to learn that the Chinese immigrated to New Zealand…read morein the 1860s as part of the gold rush. During that period. Most were from poorer areas in China seeking gold to send back to their families. They suffered intense discrimination and were kept separate from other parts of society. The settlement here holds remnants of tiny huts they built and lived in. There was even a general store that catered to the small community. At one point, they also farmed and sold produce to make ends meet. Learning history is always such a big part of travel for me. The rest of Arrowtown is full of shops and restaurants, so it's a great place to visit. It was an easy half-hour bus ride from Queenstown.

No visit to Arrowtown is complete without visiting the Historic Chinese Settlement which was…read moreestablished during the Great Otago Gold Rush in the 1860's. From the historic part of Arrowtown, head West and follow the street signs to the Chinese Settlement. The Chinese Settlement consists of a handful of partially restored huts from the gold rush. There is no cost to walk through the settlements that is along the Arrow River. The huts are pretty small with low doorways and pretty rustic. I wish they were more restored and have at least one hut that had a display of life back in the days. Along the pathway, there are informational displays for you to read about life back in the days for these Chinese settlers. Overall, this is a nice historic, educational walk while visiting Arrowtown. Arrowtown is a nice 1/2 day side trip when visiting Queenstown. Arrowtown is about a 40 minute bus ride from Queenstown. Catch the #2 bus at the Stanley Road bus stop in Queenstown.