Arrowtown’s Autumn Festival: The Perfect Autumn Day Trip from Queenstown

There is something about Arrowtown in autumn. The trees turn gold, the air picks up a crisp edge, and the old gold rush village looks like it was designed for exactly this week. In 2025, the Arrowtown Autumn Festival ran from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 April, its 39th year, and it was a very good excuse to get over there.

Arrowtown is 20 to 25 minutes from Queenstown, so the festival is an easy day trip, and an even easier one with your own car from Evolve Rentals.

When was the Arrowtown Autumn Festival 2025?

The 39th Arrowtown Autumn Festival ran for four days, from Thursday 24 April to Sunday 27 April 2025, opening with an official ceremony at noon on the Thursday at Buckingham Green.

That put it right across Anzac Day, and the RSA Anzac service on the Friday morning was part of the festival week, a reminder that this is an event run by the community, for the community.

What was on at the 2025 festival?

More than 50 events across food, wine, arts, comedy, music and sport, and more than 70% of them were free. The highlights included:

The Parade and Market Day on the Saturday afternoon, with more than 100 stalls and street performers filling the village.

Pie, Pint and Pinot, which sold out.

Comedy Night with Josh Thomson and Friends.

An outdoor screening of Despicable Me on the Friday night for the kids.

Casino Royale at the New Orleans Hotel on the Sunday, a new event for 2025, with the Lions Foundation running the tables and croupiers.

The photography competition and art exhibition, showing work from around the district.

Who runs the Arrowtown Autumn Festival?

The community. The festival is run by and for the people of Arrowtown, showcasing local talent and heritage and celebrating the town before winter sets in. In 2025 the festival coordinator was Vanessa Williams, and that local feel is exactly why the event works: it is not a festival that arrives in Arrowtown, it is Arrowtown throwing one.

How do you make a day of it from Queenstown?

Arrive early, especially on Parade and Market Day, when the village is at its busiest. There are two routes from Queenstown that take about the same time: the back way through Arthurs Point and along Malaghans Road, or the main road past Lake Hayes. Take one there and the other home, and stop wherever the colour catches your eye.

Between events, walk along the Arrow River, wander the main street, and visit the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement at the top of Buckingham Street, the restored home of the gold miners who worked the river in the 1800s. Our Arrowtown day trip guide covers the village and where to eat once you are there.

If you have more autumn days in the region, our post on an autumn day trip to Glenorchy covers the other great drive of the season.

What came next?

The festival came back in 2026 for its 40th celebration, and our post on the Arrowtown Autumn Festival 2026 has what was on that year and the dates for 2027.

Getting the car sorted

In Queenstown, we bring the car to you. Nobody else in Queenstown does that. Someone from our team meets you where you are staying, walks you round the car and hands over the keys, so an autumn day in Arrowtown starts with the drive over rather than a wait for a bus.

Whenever you are planning an autumn visit, book your car with Evolve Rentals and give yourself time to take Arrowtown slowly.

FAQs

When was the Arrowtown Autumn Festival in 2025?
From Thursday 24 April to Sunday 27 April 2025. It was the festival's 39th year.

How many events were free at the 2025 festival?
More than 70% of the festival's 50 plus events were free to attend.

When was the Parade and Market Day in 2025?
On Saturday 26 April 2025 in the afternoon, with more than 100 stalls and street performers.

How far is Arrowtown from Queenstown?
About 20 to 25 minutes by car, via Arthurs Point and Malaghans Road or via Frankton Road and Lake Hayes.