Gushing down from the Southern Alps the Shotover River carves a dramatic path. Its power is breathtaking. Feel the spray on your face. Imagine the miners of 1862. They first discovered gold here at Arthurs Point. This sparked a gold rush. The Shotover River became one of the world’s richest gold-bearing rivers. Men panned cradled sluiced and dredged for gold. Small-time gold seekers still try their luck. They search its tributaries Moke and Moonlight Creeks.
Today the Shotover River is a playground for tourists. Jet boats roar through its rapids. White water rafters navigate its challenging currents. A canyon swing adds to the thrill. Three jet boat operators and two rafting companies operate here. Much of the land around the river is owned by Robert Lange. He is the ex-husband of singer Shania Twain.
William Gilbert Rees named the Shotover River. He arrived in 1860. He named it after his business partner’s estate Shotover Park in Oxfordshire. Before Rees the river had other names. Scottish pioneers called it Tummel. Early gold miners called it the Overshot. The Maori name Kimi-ākau means looking for the coast. This references the river as a route to the West Coast. The search was for Pounamu a type of greenstone.
The river’s history is marked by impressive structures. The old Lower Shotover Bridge built in 1915 stands as a testament to engineering. It was later used to support a pipeline. Restored in 2004 it’s now part of the Queenstown Trail. The Oxenbridge Tunnel a 170-meter tunnel is a relic of a failed mining scheme. The Oxenbridge brothers tried to divert water to recover gold. Now rafters and kayakers use it. A Department of Conservation track leads to this historic site.
The Shotover River is unpredictable. In 1991 and 1992 it froze completely near Skippers Canyon. In 2007 and 2012 it froze again. Car-tire sized ice blocks disrupted tourist activities. The Shotover River is a place of extremes. Its wild beauty and rich history continue to fascinate and inspire.