Macetown

Macetown is a hauntingly beautiful ghost town tucked deep in the rugged Skippers Canyon, a 40-minute drive from Arrowtown. Once a bustling gold-mining settlement in the 1860s, today it’s a collection of crumbling stone cottages, rusting machinery, and silent streets that whisper tales of fortune and hardship. Accessible only by a challenging 4WD track or a strenuous mountain-bike ride, this remote historic site offers a raw, unfiltered glimpse into New Zealand’s gold-rush past. The journey itself is an adventure, winding through precipitous cliffs and crossing the Shotover River multiple times.

Highlights & What to See

• Historic Ruins: Explore the remains of nearly 30 buildings, including the bakery, schoolhouse, and Chinese miners’ huts, all slowly reclaimed by nature.
• Macetown Track: A challenging 4WD road (high-clearance vehicle essential) or a 15 km mountain-bike ride from Arrowtown, offering dramatic canyon views and river crossings.
• Gold Panning: Try your luck in the Shotover River – you can still find flecks of gold in the gravel.
• Wildlife Spotting: Keep an eye out for native birds like the South Island robin and the occasional kea (mountain parrot).
• Photography: The contrast between decaying human structures and the dramatic alpine landscape makes for compelling photos, especially in the soft light of late afternoon.

Suggested Time to Spend

Plan for a half-day to a full-day excursion. The drive from Arrowtown takes about 40 minutes each way on a rough road, so allow at least 2–3 hours for the round trip plus exploration. If you’re mountain biking, the 15 km track can take 1.5–2 hours each way, depending on fitness. Most visitors spend 1–2 hours wandering the ruins and soaking up the atmosphere. Combine with a picnic lunch to make a day of it.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Arrowtown: The charming gold-rush town itself is worth exploring for its historic Chinese settlement, boutique shops, and lakeside walks.
• Skippers Canyon: The dramatic gorge road to Macetown is an attraction in its own right, with sheer cliffs and historic bridges.
• Queenstown: Just 20 minutes from Arrowtown, Queenstown offers adventure activities, bungee jumping, and lake cruises.
• Glenorchy: A scenic drive from Queenstown leads to this lakeside village with stunning mountain views and the start of the Routeburn Track.
• Wanaka: About an hour’s drive from Arrowtown, Wanaka is famous for its lake, the puzzling world, and nearby hiking trails.

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