Arrowtown Lifestyle Village – Autumn News 2025

Russel and Christine’s move to Arrowtown Lifestyle Village in 2022 marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Having spent years in a fast-paced corporate roles in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, the move to Central Otago feels like paradise. The peaceful and safe surroundings provide the perfect balance for their active lifestyles, allowing them to enjoy their new home. Being near the airport also gives Christine the opportunity to frequently visit friends and the North Island’s beaches. “We often say that this is so good for our souls.”

Russel, formerly a Manager of the Olympic Centre, and Christine, a senior hair stylist, now share their expertise at the Lodge gym and wellness room, where they contribute to the well-being of the village. They are pictured with their daughter, Debbie and son-in-law, John, who have owned Mora Wines & Artisan Kitchen for 9 years. Mora is a favourite spot for resident champagne breakfasts, and only a few minutes’ drive from the village.

Russel & Christine with daughter Debbie and son-in-law John

Brian and Louise are a fascinating couple to sit down with. Ask them about their lives, and you’ll be drawn into some extraordinary tales.

Brian, an avid alpine climber, has a remarkable history of pioneering first ascents in the Himalayas and pushing the boundaries of high-level mountaineering across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.  Extreme expeditions can take their toll in time, and Brian read the tea leaves – redirecting his expertise into guiding, filmmaking, and writing.

Entering the film industry unexpectedly as a guide on Mont Blanc, he soon found a niche as a safety and logistics consultant within extreme environments. Over the course of three decades, his company Film & Mountain worked in major studio productions, and Brian expanded into acting, directing, producing, and performing stunts in the adventure film industry. His 2023 award winning book, High Risk: Climbing to Extinction, chronicles the lives and untimely deaths of 11 fellow climbers, offering a compelling look into the mindset and consequences of mountaineering on the world’s most dangerous peaks.

Louise, on the other extreme, embraced the excitement of city life as long-haul cabin crew for British Airways. “When I met Brian, I knew that life would never be boring!” she recalls. Having grown up with a mountaineering father and climbed herself, Louise was familiar with the lifestyle and knew how consuming it could be. With her own demanding career, she rarely had time to dwell on his exploits. “Hong Kong one week, New York the next, living out of a suitcase, I only had time to appreciate his dedication.”

Given their careers, an ‘elevated’ retirement was always on the cards for the Halls. At 73, Brian remains an active rock climber, developing routes near Arrowtown. He says, “Success comes from making smart decisions at the right moment to make the best of life. That sums up our move to the Village. It gives Louise and I the opportunity and freedom to enjoy our time in New Zealand to the full.”

For past few years, residents Mary May and Oweena Frew have charmed locals and visitors with their engaging ‘Arrow Ambles’ historical walking tours during the Arrowtown Autumn Festival – plucking quirky, lesser known, and movie-worthy stories from the town’s history. As they step back from guiding, a new group, including local history enthusiast Nick Fifield, is carrying the torch.

Nick first attended the Arrow Ambles when he moved here in 2018 and says that experience helped open the door to learning more about Arrowtown’s past. Having learnt a lot in the intervening years, in 2024 he was honoured to become a guide supporting Oweena and Mary.

Nick’s passion for Arrowtown’s rich history has led him to create an innovative audio tour app, transforming his short video project into an immersive storytelling. He spent over a year meticulously researching, scripting, and producing the tour with authentic voice-over actors. The launch of this self-guided tour was the perfect opportunity for him to take over the Arrowtown Lifestyle Village’s sponsorship of the event and continue the tradition pioneered by our residents.

The Arrowtown Audio Tour covers 35 sites across two tours: the Buckingham Street Tour, showcasing miners’ cottages and heritage shops, and the Churches Tour, which explores four historic churches. Bonus tracks delve into the town’s gold rush origins, the Arrowtown Gaol, and infamous buccaneer Captain ‘Bully’ Hayes. This high-quality experience is available on the App Store.

Nick will be our guest speaker at the Garden Party on April 6^th at the Lodge.

We’re excited to welcome Maddy Summerfield as our new Events and Sponsorships Coordinator

With a passion for bringing people together, Maddy has already curated a fantastic calendar of events designed to engage, entertain, and celebrate our vibrant village community. Her fresh energy and experience in event planning make her a perfect fit for this role, and we can’t wait to see her vision come to life.

Keep an eye out throughout the year for email invitations to our ‘friends of the village’ events open to the public, such as community collaborations, seasonal markets and expo’s, black tie evenings, concerts, and our highly anticipated annual Garden Party. Make sure you are getting our emails via our Contact form on www.arrowtownretirement.co.nz.

This year we are also strengthening our community partnerships through events in collaboration with the Arrowtown Golf Club 9-Hole Ladies Group, Arrowtown Bowling Club, and the Inner Wheel.

Stay tuned for more details on upcoming events—there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

Join us for the Arrowtown Lifestyle Village Annual Garden Party – a delightful afternoon of community, creativity, and celebration!

Sunday, 6th April 2025 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM |

Residents’ Lodge, 1 Lady Fayre Drive, Arrowtown

Enjoy a vibrant gathering featuring market stalls, an art display, delicious food, a special guest speaker, and more! Come rain or shine, we’ll be there to welcome you for a wonderful afternoon.

We look forward to seeing you!

We will be fundraising for the Arrowtown Post Office.

For more information or to arrange a visit, contact Vicci at 0800 442 446 or vicci@arrowtownretirement.co.nz.

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