They were bloody tough those early pioneers. Many of them literally built the foundations of the country we enjoy today with their bare hands.
When you go to Arrowtown, take time off from the craft shops and local wine trails to reflect on our earliest European history and the heroic efforts of new migrants who rebuilt their lives in a harsh and foreign land.
It was gold, discovered in 1862, that drew them in droves to this region. The chance to dig quick riches attracted thousands from around the world. However, very few found their pot of gold.
You can still see where they tried — the ruins of a cottage with its wild plot of daffodils and briar roses, or a primitive stone hut on the riverside built by Chinese migrants. Try gold-panning for a few minutes in the freezing river waters to appreciate just how difficult this work was.
Eventually, farming replaced gold. And, as tourism and viticulture replaced farming, some of the old settlements, such as Arrowtown, boomed again.
Stop at the Lakes District Museum on cobbled Buckingham Street and get a map of the historic walks featuring old buildings that have witnessed the town's changing fortunes.