Hands up if your favourite season is Autumn! As soon as the first signs of morning frosts begin to appear, leaves start to slowly shift from green hues to an array of rich golds, oranges and reds, until the landscape has turned completely golden. It really is a wondrous sight to take in and the Central Otago region boasts some of the best Autumn landscapes you'll come across.
Every year in April Arrowtown hosts the Akarua Arrowtown Autumn Festival, which celebrates the town's colourful history. The festival first kicked on in 1985 and has been running ever since thanks to the local community. Each year people come in droves to take in the stunning scenery and see festival attractions such as the street parade, the Arrow Miners Band and the Buckingham Belles Can Can.
This year the festival will be held from Tuesday the 23rd April to Sunday the 28th of April. The Official Opening by Mayor Boult will kick things off on the Tuesday evening followed with special performances by the local Arrowtown School Kapa Haka group, the Buckingham Belles and the Lakes Highland Pipe Band. Gather your family and friends and enjoy this unique entertainment!
This year, as part of the festivities, Millbrook are hosting a special Tai Chi on the Greens class on Wednesday 24th April from 10.15am - 11am. Join us and start your day with this energising workout on the greens beside the Hole In One Cafe.
Later that afternoon you will be able to enjoy live acoustic tunes from the talented Robert Glen at our outdoor bar, Smithy's Smoke House. Relax on our bean bags by the fire and indulge in a warming mulled wine or two and some delicious tapas. Robert Glen kicks off at 4pm, we look forward to seeing you there!
One of the best days at the festival is market day! Held on Saturday 27th April, the Arrowtown Village Market features over 100 stalls with some of the best New Zealand made products. Stalls range from art and crafts, jewellery and clothing to furniture and other curios. When you need some delicious food to fuel you head down Food Alley and let your taste buds guide you amongst the amazing choice of artisan foods. This year Millbrook will have a stall offering a selection of refreshing beverages and delicious tapas, so make sure you come and visit us and take some time out on our bean bags!
If you're visiting our luxury resort throughout Autumn you will want to capture the beautiful colours & scenery to remember your trip by. We recommend walking or cycling around the resort as there are many beautiful backdrops that showcase the Autumn colours such as our stunning tree-lined avenue (shown above). Between sight seeing stop by the Hole In One Cafe for a warming cup of coffee and a delicious sweet treat.
We also recommend that you take your camera to Arrowtown, which is only a short drive from your Millbrook accommodation or a 15-20 minute walk. You'll find a variety of beautiful colours everywhere you look, especially around the Chinese Village (shown in picture above) and the Arrow River walking track. The terraces that surround Arrowtown transform into a sea of oranges, golds and dark greens, making a picture perfect backdrop.
If you are looking to visit the Queenstown region, Millbrook Resort is a beautiful and relaxing place to escape the everyday. A provider of luxury accommodation in Queenstown, Millbrook is also one of the top golf resorts in New Zealand with an award-winning day spa. To view accommodation options click here.
