With gold rushes came lawlessness. Arrowtown's prisoners were originally manacled to logs, but in 1876 this schist jail, now surrounded by homes, was constructed. The building was used as a jail as recently as 1987 when two men were held here for drunkenness. The jail is kept locked, but you can grab the key ($10 deposit) from the Lakes District Museum.
Arrowtown Gaol
Queenstown & Wanaka
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Strung along the creek, near the site of Arrowtown's first gold find, is NZ’s best example of an early Chinese settlement. Interpretive signs explain the…
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Nearby Queenstown & Wanaka attractions
1. St Patrick's Catholic Church
0.11 MILES
Apart from its impressive Star of David–shaped rose window, this 1874 stone Gothic Revival church, built from local schist rock, wouldn't be worth noting…
2. Lakes District Museum & Gallery
0.18 MILES
Exhibits cover the gold-rush era and the early days of Chinese settlement around Arrowtown. Kids are kept engaged by the likes of an 'Odd One Out' game…
3. Arrowtown Chinese Settlement
0.41 MILES
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Producers of one of the region's most acclaimed pinot noirs; its cellar door is in the front yard of the rustic Gibbston Tavern.