An semi-urban adventure in Otago
The Arrow River has a rich gold-mining history – maybe you’ll even find a flake or two as you float along?
This trip is an easy 4-hour out & return, past gorge walls, mining relics and tree corridors. Often too low to paddle, a little top-up of rain is all that’s needed. Although the paddling is technically easy, the presence of trees and human debris in and around the river means you need to pay attention and know how to avoid such hazards.
After your trip (or partway along the approach), stop in at Arrowtown to explore the Chinese miners’ village and refuel at the bakery, coffee shops, pubs and restaurants.
Thanks to Mel Heather for the info and photos for this write-up.
View Larger Topographic Map
Approach 7.5km 1.5hrs
Depending on how you want to do your trip, leave your car at the Arrowtown public carpark (where the food & drink is) or the Swain Bridge carpark on Whitechapel Road (the takeout). Please ensure you’re not blocking any gates at the Swain Bridge end.
From Swain Bridge, follow the Arrow Bridges trail, which is a wide gravel path, shared with bikers, families with kids and local runners through to Arrowtown.
Cross Bushy Creek on a small footbridge by a toilet block, and continue on the true right of the Arrow up the Sawpit Gully /Arrow River trail.
At the Norma Smith Bridge, you can easily reach the water to put on. Above here, the trail climbs away from the river.
Arrow River (I/II-) Norman Smith to Swain Bridge 6km 2-2.5hrs
In the Arrow Gorge, the river is generally quite shallow, and snakes its way round tree-lined bends and below large water pipes.
The paddling is simple, but there are trees on the banks and debris in the water, which can prove a strainer hazard. Keep an eye out and avoid these early.
Other hazards might include 4WD vehicles and cyclists. The Macetown Road crosses the river in several spots; it’s possible that you might have to give way to a car in the river! Keep your ears and eyes open for this unique hazard.
Below Arrowtown, float along next to the trail and wave to the runners and kids that pass by – just make sure you keep one eye water – there are trees to duck under, and sometimes logs in the little rapids along the way.
Gauge
5-8 cumecs is a nice flow, in line with the nature of the run.
The Arrow is often subject to low flows, so check out the gauge before you head up.
What’s downstream?
Downstream of SH6, the Arrow steepens into a much more difficult river, with three main rapids before reaching the Kawerau, III, III+, IV, all scouting and portaging on the left. After these, it’s more II+/III gradient. There are some major log-jams in this section at present, but some keen locals have been out with a chainsaw to open up this more-technical section of river. Watch this space for a trip page when the river is (mostly) clear of wood.