There are about 34 miles between Wanaka and Arrowtown. About half the distance runs parallel to the 25 mile long Cardrona River in the Cardrona Valley. During the 1860s, this area was a hotbed for prospectors. But like many gold rushes, the promise of prosperity was a flash in the pan. The enthusiasm and dreams were mostly gone after 15 years. One of the few remnants left behind is the Cardrona Hotel, built in 1863. The namesake for the valley and former settlement is Cardrona, Scotland, a small town south of Edinburgh.
