Arrowtown
Located just 22 minutes from Queenstown, Arrow town is one of New Zealands oldest gems. Established in 1862 following the discovery of Gold, Arrowtown is a town that feels as though its been frozen in time. Though many of the shops have been repaired and restored, the quaint town remains the spitting image of the bustling gold village it once was 150 years ago. Arrowtown is nestled beneath mountains, between which snakes the gold bearing and breathtaking Arrow River. The river is bordered by gorgeous deciduous tress and countless walking tracks that you could explore for hours. It’s no surprise that Arrowtown wins the prettiest town in New Zealand most years. Too add to the towns splendour (as if it needed it), in autumn, Arrowtown bursts into vibrant colour! All of the towering old tress surrounding the river and spread throughout the town turn yellow. It’s clear to see why lots of people opt to have their family photos taken here.
How do we get there?
Arrowtown is only 22 minutes from Queenstown central, and 19 minutes from Frankton (Where the airport is). You can get there by car or bus! There is plenty of parking there, even on it’s busiest tourists days.
What do we wear?
For this location I recommend wearing autumn inspired earthy tones or lighter earthy tones like cream or light brown. It works well to wear colours that suit the autumn scene! Also earthy red tones can really pop in this environment.
When should we go?
AUTUMN!! This is one of the locations that has a clear season to have a photoshoot. Of course it’s gorgeous here all year round, but Arrowtown hosts an annual Autumn festival for a reason.
In the months of April - September the sun will set around 4:30pm, so I recommend meeting at the location at 3pm to make the most of the beautiful golden hour before sunset.
Between October and March, the sun will set much later in the day. The exact time varies from 7:30pm to as late as 9:30pm. During this time of year it is best to meet 2 hours before the official sunset time. However this will be communicated and confirmed with you upon booking.
Meeting here in the morning at around 9 am is also a great time for a photoshoot. The morning light isn’t too harsh yet and it can really make the autumn trees pop! Just remember it will be chilly at this time of day so wear something warm!
If there is one takeaway from this blog, it’s to have your Arrowtown family photoshoot in Autumn! After the photoshoot you’ll want to stick around and visit the quaint town for some great food, shopping and a visit to the incredible museum! If you’d like to book a family photoshoot in Arrowtown, click here.
