Get to know Queenstown’s unique culture and history
Queenstown’s natural wonders have been home to an array of explorers throughout history, from the Maori tribes of the South Island who ventured through the Whakatipu Basin in search of food and pounamu, to the European settlers whose homesteads and gold-mining villages you can still experience today. The stories of these early adventurers can be found in the legacies they've left on the whenua (land), and some of these historically significant places have been recognised as Tohu Whenua - landmarks that tell our stories.
Fast forward one hundred years to a diverse community with a vibrant arts and culture scene, inspired by the same stunning surrounds of our ancestors.
From artists and artisans, to musicians and actors, explore our local offering and connect with our creative community.
Tohu Whenua landmarks are the places that have shaped Aotearoa New Zealand. Located in stunning landscapes and rich with stories, they offer some of our best heritage experiences.
A world of wonders awaits, whether it’s a letter from the King, ancient moa bones or a precious silver tea set once belonging to William Rees. Lakes District Museum is home to a diverse range of artefacts, preserving our past and protecting it for the future by digitising current collections.
Arrowtown is one of New Zealand’s most photographed towns. This picturesque village was established during the Central Otago gold rush. Well-preserved buildings…
Arrowtown's interesting history, beautiful landscape and the picturesque preservation of the buildings that hold such historic significance in the development…
Experience Queenstown’s rich heritage sites at a relaxed pace. Here’s how to explore Queenstown’s three diverse Tohu Whenua sites by bike, accessed via a…
Explore the variety of history-rich heritage walking tracks in and around Queenstown.
FAQs
Does Queenstown have a Museum?
Yes, while Queenstown's Lakes District Museum & Gallery is technically located in nearby Arrowtown (20 minutes' drive), it's the region's primary museum. This award-winning museum brings to life the fascinating history of early Māori, the European settlement, and the 1860s gold rush that shaped the region. The museum also houses an excellent art gallery, research center, and bookshop.
In Queenstown itself, you'll find several heritage sites and collections including the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship (offering guided engine room tours), the original gold mining settlement at Kawarau Village, and various historic buildings around town. Several guided walking tours also showcase Queenstown's rich history and heritage buildings.
Local tip: Visit nearby Arrowtown, a well-preserved gold mining town, to experience a living museum of our region's gold rush era.
When was Queenstown founded?
Queenstown was founded in 1863 during the height of the Otago gold rush. After William Gilbert Rees and Nicholas von Tunzelmann first settled in the area in 1860 to establish a high country farm, gold was discovered in the nearby Shotover River. This discovery quickly transformed the quiet farming settlement into a bustling gold mining town. The settlement was originally named "Camptown," but was soon renamed "Queenstown" – according to local legend, because it was "fit for Queen Victoria."
Before European settlement, the area was known to Māori as Tāhuna, and was an important stopping point in their seasonal food-gathering journeys through the South Island. Today's central Queenstown occupies the site of Rees's original homestead, and while gold mining has long since ceased, the town has reinvented itself as a world-renowned tourism destination.
