If you’re looking for things to do in Arrowtown; booking yourself a self guided cycle tour is the best way to explore Arrowtown through to Gibbston Valley. Sitting close to Central Otago and a short drive from Queenstown, Arrowtown is a small mining settlement founded during the Otago gold rush during the 1860’s.  The town sits within the shadows of the nearby Crown Range and is sprinkled with snow every winter and the trees produce fantastic shades of gold and yellow during Autumn.

Cycle tours are one of the best ways to explore any town or city in areas that you wouldn’t otherwise visit if you were in your car. The Arrowtown to Gibbston Valley bike trail is a great way to see a bit of nature, get some exercise, and reward yourself with a glass of wine and a great meal, and a fantastic way to explore Arrowtown  during a day trip or weekend away in the South Island.

From the Chinese Settlement to Gibbston Valley wineries, you can cycle you way around Arrowtown and beyond with a simple bike hire from Better by Bike.

This is our second bike trail in Otago and it definitely won’t be our last, a certain serenity comes with peddling your way under the bright coloured autumn leaves falling from nearby trees while gazing at the incredible scenery that surrounds you.

We decided to take the opportunity while on our West Coast road trip to visit Arrowtown and cycle along the beautiful Arrow River down to Gibbston Valley, which is well known for its wineries and taverns; any tour that ends with a wine and meal is a great idea in my books.

About Arrowtown

Arrowtown is a small historic gold mining town in the Otago region of New Zealand’s south island. Only a 20-minute drive from Queenstown so it makes the perfect location for a day trip or to spend the night without going to far from the main CBD.

Arrowtown sprung up in 1862 not long after gold was discovered in the Arrow River, miners from around New Zealand and the world rushed to the area in the hopes of making a fortune.
The most famous landmark of Arrowtown is the Chinese settlement which follows part of the river. This is where many Chinese miners were forced to live and were unfortunately faced with a lot of racism and prejudice from other settlers in the region.

Parts of the Chinese Settlement are still standing, several huts made out of schist were erected and have stood the test of time. Although extremely cold during winter it’s one of the most beautiful locations in the South Island. The most famous building in the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement is the cottage (pictured below). This sits on the edge of the main carpark so it’s hard to miss.

The main street in Arrowtown has still kept to the colonial theme of the late 1800s’; wooden buildings with verandas outside almost every shop, each pub has its open fire and usually very cozy settings to accommodate guests during winter. Arrowtown isn’t the town you want to miss out on seeing, sure it may be small and damn cold as it sits in the shadow of the surrounding hills, but the rich gold mining history and beautiful coloured forestry surrounding the town aren’t something that should be skipped.

How Far is Arrowtown from Queenstown?

Arrowtown is a 20 minute drive from Queenstown central if you have a private vehicle to use. Other there are frequent buses going from Arrowtown to Queenstown and vice versa daily, and can cost around $10 one way.
There are two routes you can take from Queenstown to Arrowtown if you’re travelling in a private vehicle; and that’s either by following state highway 6 until you reach Arrowtown-Lake Hayes Road which will lead you straight into Arrowtown. Or you can drive the back way via Gorge Road, onto Arthurs Point Road and then onto Malaghans Road which leads you straight into Arrowtown.

Both routes take around the same time but it’s helpful to know in case one road is blocked due to a crash, or you want to see as much scenery as possible when entering and leaving Arrowtown

The Arrowtown to Gibbston Valley Bike Trail and Route

We hired our bicycles through Better By Bike which is based in Arrowtown and Queenstown. They hire out both electric and manual bikes so no one has to miss out on a great day outdoors. Their base in Arrowtown is on Buckingham Street; super close to the Chinese Settlement. There is plenty of parking in Arrowtown but I would still suggest getting there early in case you arrive on a particularly busy day.

The friendly staff at Better By Bike will then give you a map of your chosen cycle trail and talk you through the route and explain any road works or changes on the route that may be happening.
There are 3 cycle trails from Arrowtown and 4 from Queenstown, all taking you around and through amazing scenery and landscapes.

The cycle tour route we chose from Arrowtown was the Gibbston Winery Ride, which was 16.9km one way and followed the Arrow River through the valley, we crossed several bridges, swing bridges (including a swing bridge of 80m long) and cycled past farms and through the bush. The track took us around 2 hours to complete one way, which included a few photo stops. The track wasn’t difficult but there are a few hills and slopes which means you need a good level of fitness unless you choose to go for the electric bike. But there is also no shame in hopping off and walking your bike up the hill…

You don’t have to cycle the full length back either, if you find that you’ve had a few too many wines or Speights then you can call Better By Bike and organise a time to pick you up in their van.

Sights Along the Arrowtown Bike Trail

A couple of swing bridges, llamas, alpacas, front row seats for people jumping off the original bungy jumping bridge (with a bungee cord of course), and last but not least a deserving beverage and meal of your choice at any of the 10 taverns and vineyards along the way. The cycle tour route offers more than just worked quads and a light sweat, it’s a great opportunity to explore parts of the country that you couldn’t if you were in a car.

Kawerau Gorge Bungee Bridge

If you’re not the type to throw yourself off a bridge then you can watch other people do it for free. The Kawerau bridge is over 140 years old having been completed in 1880 and today is listed as a historical landmark which welcomes walkers, hikers, bike riders and bungy jumpers.

Gibbston Valley Wineries

The Gibbston Winery Ride isn’t just about the cycle or the exercise. The main attraction is the reward of food or beverage at the end with some amazing sights and scenery thrown in the mix. Start the trail mid-morning to be able to take as many stops as possible to enjoy the views and the experience. There is an optional shuttle that can pick you up, you just need to organise this with Better by Bike when you arrive.

There are 3 wineries within close range in Gibbston Valley once you cycle across the Kawerau Gorge bridge. Gibbston Valley Winery, Peregrine Wines and Mount Edward Winery

If you need some more ideas or inspiration on what to do and where to go for your South Island escape, check out my scenic 10 days South Island itinerary, or my itinerary for our wild West Coast road trip!

Other Better By Bike Cycle Trails

Better By Bike has 3 different cycle trails you can explore on their daily hire bikes. Choosing between either the Gibbston Winery Ride like above, the Twin Rivers Loop through Queenstown, or the Lake Hayes Loop via Millbrook. Either cycle trail will take you across incredible scenery you won’t forget in a hurry.

Other Cycle Trails Worth Experiencing

As I had said at the beginning, the Arrowtown to Gibbston Valley bike trail was the second cycle tour we have done on the south island. Our first cycle trip was the Otago Central Rail Trail; which is a lot longer and harder than Arrowtown to Gibbston Valley.

Otago Central Rail Trail

The Otago Central Rail Trail is for anyone who wants to explore Central Otagos’ landscapes through cycling. The cycle trail takes around 2-3 days to complete, depending on how physically fit you are, and follows the old train route through central Otago. So the route isn’t drastically steep but there is a steady incline that works your quads quite nicely.
If you book through the Otago Central Rail Trail site then you can book your accommodation and plan how many days it will take you to complete. We did it in 3 days and we are average cyclers at best.

Want More Things to do in Arrowtown?

Arrowtown is a great little town to visit, but there is only enough there to keep you entertained for a day or two. Take a trip further north through to the Cardrona Valley where you can enjoy a pint or two at the Cardrona Pub, then head along to Wanaka where you can enjoy some more hikes, beautiful views across the lakes, or even a boat trip. There is plenty of things to sink your teeth into if you’re visiting the south island, check out any of my itineraries for more ideas and make your south island holiday one you won’t forget!

Arrowtown Chinese Settlement

Visiting the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement is one of the most popular things to do in Arrowtown, the image shown above is one of the oldest buildings in Arrowtown and is used as an information centre for the Chinese settlement. Arrowtown was founded during the gold mining era in the late 1800’s, and Chinese immigrants settled in Arrowtown in small huts and cabins that you can still see today.

The Chinese settlement is a 2 minute walk from the main street in Arrowtown and it is free to roam.

Cardrona Valley

The Cadrona Valley sits high up above Arrowtown and allows a birds eye view back across to the town and beyond to Queenstown. The Crown Range takes you up through windy roads until you see incredible views stretching across the valley. Continue to follow the highway towards the old Cardrona Pub and enjoy a delicious pint or mulled wine either sitting in the spacious garden out in the large garden perfect for kids to roam or cozied up by the fire inside.

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If you’re looking for more things to do in Arrowtown or in Queenstown, be sure to check out my itineraries for the south island.