Route: Otago Gold Rush (New Zealand)

The Otago Gold Rush run celebrates one of history’s greatest gold rushes by linking three historic sites connected by old wagon road — Arrow River, Arthur’s Point, and Queenstown — that would transform New Zealand’s economy, demographics, and destiny. The route begins with a foot in the Arrow River below the historic Chinese miners settlement and continues 21km through Arthur’s Point onto Queenstown where it concludes at iconic Eichardt’s Private Hotel in Queenstown.

In 1862, prospector Jack Tewa (Māori Jack) discovered gold in the Arrow River, igniting a major gold rush in the Otago region. The first resulting settlement, Arrowtown, boomed almost overnight, attracting a flood of miners from around the world. Alluvial gold was plentiful in the riverbanks, and Chinese miners arrived in large numbers, leaving a lasting cultural imprint.

Further downstream, Arthur’s Point grew around rich deposits in the Shotover River, famously dubbed “the richest river in the world.” Its treacherous gorge and powerful currents made mining there both lucrative and perilous, and the settlement became synonymous with hard labor and high stakes.

Queenstown, originally a pastoral outpost on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, swiftly became the commercial and logistical hub of the Otago goldfields. A lakefront wool shed was given a wooden facade and quickly converted to a hotel — what’s now known as Eichardt’s Private Hotel, after the original proprietor — and a fitting terminus for the gold rush run. With its deepwater port, expanding infrastructure, and central location, Queenstown supplied the goldfields, housed officials and merchants, and provided respite for weary miners.

Connecting all three settlements was a rugged wagon road, cut through the hills and river valleys by hand and horse teams. This early track, following the contours of the land between Arrowtown, Arthur’s Point, and Queenstown was essential for transporting supplies, equipment, and gold. Despite its crude beginnings, the route endured, evolving into what is now a winding country road that continues to serve all three communities and provide travelers (and runners) with stunning scenery. Today, it not only facilitates daily life but also forms part of a scenic and historic corridor for visitors retracing the footsteps of gold seekers.

This interconnected region played a foundational role in shaping New Zealand’s South Island, driving rapid European settlement, boosting infrastructure, and leaving a legacy that still echoes in the preserved heritage towns and active tourism of today.