NZ History

New Zealand’s unique culture, environment and ‘can-do’ attitude has created some of the most inspiring people of the 20th century. To really understand the culture of New Zealand and what we’re about, learning more about these kiwi greats will shed a great deal of light on what it means to be a New Zealander. From adventurers to sporting greats and passionate environmentalists, here’s a list of our top 5 greatest New Zealanders.

The West Coast of New Zealand is wild place with a fascinating and colourful heritage. Rugged landscapes and pristine wilderness have been the locations for exciting stories of times gone by, when brave pioneers flocked to the region to make their fortunes and rugged adventurers seized the opportunity to strike it rich. We’ve put together a brief history of some famous West Coast settlements – how they came about and what makes them tick, from gold and coal to glass, greenstone and wild venison recovery.

A pretty town steeped in gold rush history, Arrowtown’s historic streets and restored cottages have many stories to tell. A short drive from Queenstown, this pretty settlement captures the imagination; transporting visitors back to the exciting gold rush days of the mid 1800’s.

Arrowtown is a highlight on many of our small group tours – read on to find out why.